After a long pause, a distorted, electronic voice on the other end, neither male nor female, simply replied with a single, "Good," before falling silent.


    A thinyer of sweat broke out on David''s forehead. "So, sir... the matter you promised us. Is it still on the table?"


    The voice replied with another terse, electronic affirmation and then the line went dead.


    Edith watched her husband put down the phone. "Well? Did he agree?" she asked excitedly.


    David nodded, a wave of relief washing over him. "It''s done. The Woods family is saved!"


    Edith sped her hands together, bowing her head in every direction.


    "Thank God, thank God! The Woods family is saved! It''s a miracle!"


    As dawn broke, the sky slowly brightened. Morning light filtered through the trees and into the hospital room.


    Lionel had waited all night, but Sandra never woke up. He had even called a doctor to check on her, but was told only that the anesthesia was taking longer than usual to wear off and there was no cause for rm.


    He stood and looked out the window at the fiery clouds painting the sky. After a moment''s thought, he decided to go find Hannah.


    She should be awake by now.


    When he arrived at her room, he saw no sign of the guards Quennel had supposedly called.


    He walked to the door and knocked.


    After a few seconds, there was no response.


    Assuming she was still angry, Lionel didn''t think much of it and knocked again. But no matter how many times he knocked, the room remained silent.


    Just as he was debating whether to push the door open, a nurse walked by.


    "The patient in this room was dischargedst night."


    "Discharged?" Lionel was stunned.


    "That''s right. Left in the middle of the night. Said she didn''t want to stay," the nurse replied before continuing on her way.


    Lionel stood frozen for a moment, then pulled out his phone and called Hannah.


    The call went straight to a blocked number message.


    He was used to it by now, but the electronic voice still filled him with a surge of anger. He dialed Quennel instead.


    "Where is Hannah?" he demanded.


    Quennel rose and walked out to the balcony. Through the ss door, he could see Hannah eating breakfast, and a smile involuntarily touched his lips.


    "Hannah''s having breakfast with me. Isn''t Sandra keeping youpany?"


    Hearing the arrogant satisfaction in his voice, Lionel clenched his fist. "She''s at your house, isn''t she? I''ming overto get heright now. If you try to hide her I''ll call the police. I doubt Mom would want to see that happen."


    "Come on over," Quennel chuckled. "I''ll let Hannan know you''re on your way. But let me give you a friendly warning: don''t be surprised if you''re halfway here when you get a call that Sandra''s woken up. You wouldn''t want to turnaround and Heave Hannah waiting for nothing would you?"


    True to his word, Quennel hung up without waiting for a reply and walked back to the dining room.


    "Lionel says he''sing to pick you up," he said, pulling out his chair. "But since Sandra hasn''t woken up yet, who knows if he''s just talking."


    At the mention of Lionel''s name, Hannah''s appetite vanished. She put down her fork with a grimace.


    "I''m sorry, that was my fault. I shouldn''t have brought him up,"


    う


    Quennel said, gently cing the fork back in her hand. "Finish your food. Don''t Starve yourself over him You''ll need your strength to fight himter."


    "He... he won''te for me," Hannah said, her grip tightening on the fork.