Page 16 of Night Fall (The Quantico Files 1)

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Nettie hurried over to Willow. As she helped her to the couch, Alex watched her aunt. Alex hadn’t seen her in eighteen years. Although Willow was definitely older and Alex could see the effects of the stroke, she was happy to note how clean her aunt looked. Her wild, curly hair had been cut short, and her clothes were much more stylish. Appropriate for a woman her age. Probably Nettie’s doing. Just like the house.

“Willow, look who’s here,” Nettie was saying. “It’s Alex. Alexandra.”

Willow stared at her as if she didn’t know her. Then the corners of her lips ticked upward into a smile, although one side of her mouth was higher than the other. After her reaction to hearing that Alex wanted The Book, Alex was surprised to see her smile.

“Hi, Willow,” Alex said. “It’s nice to see you.”

Willow mumbled something that sounded as if she were trying to say she was happy to see her too.

Alex glanced at her watch. She’d been here close to fifteen minutes. If she didn’t move this along, Logan and Mike would be knocking on the door.

She scooted closer to her aunt. “Listen, Willow. I need your help. A very bad man plans to hurt a lot of people. If we don’t find him in time, many will die. Do you understand?”

Willow nodded, her eyes trained on Alex’s.

“I know you’re not supposed to talk about The Book, but this evil man is using it to carry out a terrible plan. We need it so we can figure out what he might do next.” Alex reached into her jacket pocket and removed the search warrant. “This gives me the authority to take The Book by force if I have to, but I’d rather you help me of your own free will.”

Willow’s body stiffened, and her face contorted with fear. She began to breathe quickly and say, “No ... no ... no ... no...”

Alex’s gaze shifted to Nettie. What was she thinking? Did she know about The Book? Nettie frowned at her. “I’m sorry, Alex, but Willow needs to lie down again. I’m afraid this kind of stress could bring on another stroke.”

Before Alex could protest, Nettie helped Willow to her feet and guided her out of the living room, but not before Willow looked back and shook her head at Alex. Her fear was palpable.

Alex looked at her watch again. Time was up. The house would have to be searched. She wondered how upset that would make her aunt—and her aunt’s roommate. When Nettie came back into the room, Alex stood.

“I work for the FBI, Nettie. We have to have that book. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said lives are at stake.” She put the warrant on the coffee table. “Unless you’re able to give it to me, this house will have to be searched.”

“Oh, honey, I wasn’t getting your aunt out of the room because I don’t want you to take that thing. I just didn’t want her to see this.” She walked over to a large bookshelf, reached behind it, and pulled out something wrapped in plastic. She handed it to Alex. The Book. Alex removed an evidence bag from her other pocket and put The Book in it.

“Thank you,” Alex said, meaning it with every fiber of her being. “If it wasn’t for you—”

“No, honey. If it wasn’t for the Lord. I knew He’d sent me here. At first I thought it was just to care for your aunt, and that was enough for me. But now I know there’s more. I’m here so I can get this horrible thing out of this house.”

“You’re not—”

“Part of the Circle? Heavens no. I’m a Christian. The first time Willow showed this to me, I knew it was evil. I would have thrown it away, but she made me promise not to do that until she was ready. I’ve talked to your aunt about the Lord, and she’s very close to accepting Him instead of these lies.”

“I’m surprised she let you see it. No one but members of the Circle are supposed to read it.”

“Willow was beginning to question her beliefs, but I think she showed me out of fear. Fear that someone would come to take it forcibly.”

“So you promised her you wouldn’t throw it away?”

A smile lit up Nettie’s face. “But I’m not throwing it away, am I? I’m giving it to you so you can save people’s lives.” Tears filled her eyes, and her voice choked.

Alex heard a car door slam. “Hold on a minute, Nettie,” she said. She opened the door just as Logan reached the top of the porch steps.

“Time’s up,” he said.

“I’ve got it.” She handed the evidence bag to him, and he took it with a smile.

“Good work,” he said. “I’ll note the time. We need to get going.”

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Did you tell your aunt the FBI will need to get her fingerprints?”

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