Page 74 of Dig Your Grave

The robed man slumped to the ground, panting.Another policeman pinned his arms behind him.“You’re under arrest,” the officer barked, reading him his rights while the man glared daggers at us.

A quick glance around showed Dr.Lansing cowering behind the altar, hands raised.Another watcher lay on the floor, clutching a wound.The rest had fled.Kate emerged, phone camera pointed at the scuffle, capturing every second.

Then a frantic cry: “Officer, over here!”The policeman with the robed man’s phone stepped into the open, addressing a detective who’d just arrived.“We’ve got a live feed of hostages.”

I pressed both hands to my mouth, tears threatening again.They can save Mom.My legs shook, relief mingling with shock.

Within moments, a swirl of uniformed officers flooded the chapel, securing the scene.Paramedics arrived to treat the injured watchers.Dr.Lansing surrendered, tearfully begging for leniency.She told the cops about the forced gene therapy research, the blackmail, everything.Kate kept filming, tears in her eyes too, probably for the Howler or the Undercurrent’s archives.Hell, she was the brave journalist I’d always wanted to be.Maybe she would win a Pulitzer for this story.

One of the detectives recognized Anubis.“Captain Edenvane?We’ve been wanting to talk to you about the Dean and Toccara’s case.”

Anubis exchanged a grim nod.“We’ll cooperate fully.Just help rescue her mother.”

I stood there, arms wrapped around myself, the brand on my shoulder still burning from tension.My cheek throbbed where the robed man struck me, but I scarcely cared.It was almost over.

In the next hour, I learned from scattered conversations that the police traced the phone’s location, dispatching a squad to free my mom in a suburban motel.The robed man and two watchers were arrested on charges ranging from kidnapping to attempted murder.Dr.Lansing was detained, but an empathetic detective said she might avoid the worst if she cooperated.

Kate gave me a fierce hug.“We did it,” she whispered, her voice shaking.“We got the cops here just in time.”

I clung to her, tears dampening my cheeks.“You saved my life—my mom, too.Thank you.”

She shook her head, choked up.“All of us made it happen, Suede.Toccara’s story will finally come out.We’ll force them to release the files, hold them accountable.”

I turned to find Anubis.He stood speaking with a detective, describing the caretaker’s cottage and the genealogical manipulations.He spotted me, excused himself, and hurried over.Without a word, he pulled me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe.

“It’s ending,” he murmured, voice raw.“We’re free.”

I buried my face in his chest, inhaling the scent of sweat and relief.Free.The word felt foreign.Could it really be that the Skulls’ stranglehold was broken?

Chapter 28

That evening, the police detective arranged a safe meeting spot at the local station, away from campus.I sat in a stiff chair in an interrogation room turned witness lounge, ankle bouncing with anxiety.Kate sat with me, flipping through her phone, updating me on the massive media coverage.

At last, an officer poked his head in.“Ms.Divore?We found your mother.She’s on her way.”

My heart leaped.I rushed into the corridor.A few minutes later, Mom—Ambrosia—rounded the corner.She looked disheveled, watery eyes ringed with mascara smudges, but otherwise unharmed.Rock hovered behind her, expression grim.My mom spotted me, let out a sob, and practically collapsed into my arms.

“Suede,” she choked, hugging me fiercely.“Oh God, they told me if I tried to contact you, they’d kill you.I was so scared.”

Tears blurred my vision.“They threatened you to get to me.I’m so sorry.”My voice cracked under the weight of everything.

She cupped my cheeks, eyes brimming.“Baby, I’m just glad you’re safe.We’re both safe.The police said you helped expose these psychos.I… never meant for you to get tangled in something like this.”

We held each other, the tension of years and near-death overshadowed by raw relief.Ambrosia insisted on hearing every detail, though it was too fresh, too complicated to unravel fully.She clung to me like she’d never let go.

Rock stood by, clearing his throat.“Man, these dudes in black suits jumped us at a roadside motel.Tied us up for a day.Craziest stuff I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been on tour with some wild rock bands.You all right, kid?”

I managed a tremulous smile.“I’m okay.You?”

He patted my shoulder.“Better now.We owe you big.”

Inside me, a knot loosened.My mother was safe.The watchers no longer could use her against me.A detective gently guided them to give formal statements.I returned to the lounge, where Kate hovered anxiously.

She rubbed my back.“You deserve a moment with them.I’ll wait.”

I squeezed her hand gratefully.Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw Anubis approach, guided by another detective.He hung back, letting me finish my reunion with Mom.She noticed him and raised an eyebrow.

“Is that the Edenvane boy you mentioned?”she asked softly, wiping her tears.

---