Page 22 of Perfect Sin
Holbrook thrusts a paper at her, and she peruses it quickly. Her chin juts up. “There’s no one here by that name.”
“Of course no one islistedunder that name, and yet there he is,” he says, pointing at me.
“You cannot remove a patient from this facility. His parents had him placed here out of concern for his mental health,” she argues.
“He’s over eighteen. Where is the court order mandating his involuntary commitment?” Holbrook demands.
“Well, his father is the governor, we didn’t think it necessary to have such documents,” she states.
“Wrong. Sin, are you being held here against your will?” he asks me.
“Yes,” I answer.
The other two agents with him share a look. “That’s enough for me,” one of them replies.
I get up and move with them toward the door, just as Dr. North runs in.
“What is going on here? You can’t take him! Guard, get Mr. Whitmore back to his room.”
When the guard produces a syringe, Holbrook draws his gun. “We’ve got you on involuntary captivity and one count of drugging a patient without consent. I will shoot you before I allow you to inject that into Mr. Sinclair.”
More agents enter the room, and the medical staff is placed in handcuffs.
“I thought you were only calling a few agents,” I remind him.
“Blackthorne isn’t the only one who can find a new angle. I went ahead and looked up the video and interview after we got off the phone and called him myself. I told him I believed his story and wanted to help get his son-in-law back.”
“Smart,” I comment.
“Now, if we need to speak to each other it can be under the guise of building a case against your father,” he tells me smugly.
“Let’s get out of here. I want to see my wife.”
His car is out in front of the building. I climb in the passenger seat of the Escalade while agents place the nursing staff in the back of a police van.
“You get into the most interesting situations, kid,” Holbrook says as he climbs behind the wheel.
* * *
We headout of Cedar Hills back to Devil’s Crossing. It’s late by the time we pull into the driveway of a small grey house in one of the quieter neighborhoods in town. It’s several miles away from Blackthorne Manor, but I can feel the presence of Damien the moment we cross into town.
Raven rushes out the front door and leaps into my arms as soon as I step out of the car. I hold her tight, unwilling to ever let her go again. She trembles in my arms, and I hate how much our separation has impacted her.
Lucien stands in the doorway of the house. “Missed you, brother.”
“Don’t go getting mushy on me, Blackthorne, it doesn’t suit you.”
“Let’s go inside,” Holbrook urges.
Damien stands in the living room, and I instinctively move Raven behind me. He sees the move and shakes his head. “You don’t have to protect her from me, boy.”
It goes against all of my instincts, but I let her come around to stand next to me.
“I intended to give the two of you this house as a wedding present after the benefit, but your parents kind of ruined the surprise.”
He holds out a hand to Holbrook, who hesitates a moment before shaking it. “Thank you for rescuing my son-in-law.”
“When I saw the video and interview it was clear federal intervention was necessary. We’re opening an investigation into the governor. Holding someone against their will is a serious crime. In fact, for their protection, I’d like to take them out of state and place them in protective custody.”