Page 17 of Night Fall (The Quantico Files 1)

“No. I’ll tell her caregiver. Willow has had a stroke. It will be difficult to get her to the local RA for fingerprinting. Tell Mike they’ll need to come here to do it.”

“I will.”

“I still need to get a signed receipt. It will only take me a few minutes. Wait in the car for me.”

Logan nodded and headed down the steps. Alex shut the door and turned back to Nettie. “What about the others in the Circle?” she asked. “I’m surprised they haven’t been around, trying to find this copy if they suspect Willow is backing away from them. Or at least because she’s had a stroke.”

“Oh, they’ve called, more than once, but I told them Willow couldn’t remember what she’d done with it.” She shook her finger at Alex. “I wanted to tell them I burned the nasty thing, but I couldn’t lie. What I said was completely true. About a year ago she hid it and then forgot where it was. I just happened to stumble across it. I haven’t told her I found it. She’s convinced it’s lost. She’s searched the house more than once, but I had it put away in a spot she didn’t think of looking.”

“But she heard me ask you for it.”

“She won’t remember, honey. Her memory has grown worse and worse.” Nettie reached over and patted Alex’s arm. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”

Alex wanted to do as Nettie asked, but she wasn’t certain how vengeful the members of the Circle could be—angels or no. She was worried they’d retaliate in some way if they found out Nettie had given her The Book.

“Do you have a cell phone, Nettie? If so, I need it too. We may be able to find members of the Circle with it.”

Nettie shook her head slowly and clicked her tongue. “Oh dear. I had an old flip phone. You know, the kind where you have to buy minutes for it?”

Alex nodded. She had a bad feeling about where this was going.

“I threw that away when I got my new iPhone, and none of those people have called since then. I also recently changed your aunt’s landline number, just to be safe.” She paused a moment, then her eyes widened. “I’m so sorry. You wanted to see who called me. Track them. Though, I don’t think it would help you. I think they use burner phones. You know, the kind you can’t trace?” She smiled. “I watch a lot of Criminal Minds. I know about burner phones.”

Alex smiled back at her. “I’m sure you do. Can you give me the number for your flip phone and Willow’s new landline? We may be able to get some records that would help us. And if you hear from anyone from the Circle again, will you let me know?”

“Of course, honey.” Nettie walked over to the same small desk and this time took a pen and pad of paper from the drawer. After writing something down, she tore off the top sheet and handed it to Alex. “Here are the numbers. I hope they help you.” She put the paper and pen on the coffee table, then sat down on the couch.

“Call me immediately if you need help,” Alex said as she handed her a card from her pocket. “If you feel threatened in any way.” Then she took the receipt form out of another pocket. “I need you to sign this, please. It just says you turned The Book over to me.”

Nettie nodded and retrieved the pen she’d just used. She quickly signed the form and gave it back to Alex.

“Please don’t worry about us. I think those people finally gave up.” Her eyebrows knit together, and she stared at Alex with an odd expression. “I have to tell you something, honey,” she said. “Something God wants you to know.”

“Look, I’m grateful you’ve freed my aunt from the Circle, but your God is just another version of the Master she worshiped.” Alex expected Nettie to be offended, but she just smiled.

“No, honey. There’s only one true God. He wants me to tell you that He saw your tears, and He’s been watching over you all this time. Before this present journey is over, you will meet Him.”

A chill washed through Alex. “Are you saying I’m going to die?”

“I don’t think so. I hope not. But you be careful, honey. And watch for Him.”

Nettie stood and gave Alex a hug.

Alex thanked her for her help before hurrying out the door, closing it behind her. Her emotions were all jumbled up. She wasn’t angry with Nettie for believing in a God that didn’t exist; she was just upset that she’d pretended to have a message from Him. Yet the words the woman spoke echoed through her mind over and over. “He wants me to tell you that He saw your tears, and He’s been watching over you all this time.”

Alex started down the steps but halted momentarily. Nettie hadn’t lived on this street when a young Alex had sat here, crying and asking a silent God for help. And Alex knew Willow had never noticed.

How could Nettie know?

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