Chapter 5 - The Rescue
The Evergreen Care Center was a picture of pristine, terrifying tranquility. Nestled in a secluded valley, it was the perfect place to hide a man from the world. My mother had chosen it for its isolation and its board of directors, all of whom were hand-picked cronies of hers.
I didn't go in with a warrant; the legal system moves too slowly for a woman who has already spent a lifetime buying time. I went in with a team of private investigators and a medical transport crew, posing as a state-mandated audit team.
"Mr. Sterling is not accepting visitors," the facility director said, blocking the doorway with an oily, practiced smile.
"He isn't accepting visitors," I agreed, stepping into his personal space, my height and cold resolve forcing him to retreat. "He’s accepting his son. And unless you want me to call the state attorney general to report the irregular administration of sedatives I have documented in your files, you will move."
I found my father in a room at the end of a long, white corridor. When I entered, the man in the bed looked like a ghost. He was frail, his eyes unfocused, staring at a ceiling he had likely seen for thousands of hours.
"Dad?"
He blinked. His head turned slowly, the movement jerky. "David?" His voice was a dry rattle. "Is it… is it time for my medication, Diane?"
The sound of her name on his lips broke something in me, but I didn't let it show. "No, Dad. It’s time to leave."
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The extraction was tense. As we wheeled him out, we passed Diane’s hired security, who were hesitant to stop a man of my stature. I didn't give them a chance to hesitate. We loaded him into a private ambulance before the facility could call my mother.
As we pulled away, I watched the rearview mirror. I could see the staff on their phones, likely frantically calling the estate. I knew the storm was coming, but for the first time, I had the eye of it with me. We weren't just fleeing anymore; we were gathering our forces.
