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He nodded. “They told the men that I’d taken her out for a walk, but by the time they came outside, we’d already left. I switched her chart with one of the other patients.” He looked shame-faced. “I knew it would cause a bit of consternation, but I wanted to buy your mom some time. I didn’t know they were going to come to transfer her!”

“But that lady said her name was Charlotte Lucas!”

He grinned. “She was high on meds. She would’ve said her name was Minnie Mouse too!”

“And my mom? Where is she?”

He looked at me. “I don’t know.”

“What? Didn’t she tell you where she was going?”

He shrugged, “She asked for some clothes and money and said it was better that I didn’t know. She said you might come looking for her and that I should tell you that you know where she’d go.”

“She said that?”

I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Isn’t it dangerous for her to be out of the hospital? I mean, I thought she needed treatment?”

“Her condition had stabilized, she was actually coming up for a discharge. As long as she doesn’t get any infections and takes it easy, she will be fine.”

I was stunned.

“She said you were in trouble, with vampires and shifters.”

I bit my lip and nodded. “They’re going to come looking for me and for you. Did she say how she was going to get out of here? By bus or taxi?”

He shook his head. “She said she’d pay me back, and that was it, she just walked out of here.”

I thought about what he said.

It made sense. I knew my mother hated vampires and that she wouldn’t trust any of them coming to look for her. I had a better chance of finding her without Captain Dennington and his team.

“You’d better get back to the hospital,” I said, “before people notice you’re missing.”

He walked me out of the house. “Good luck!” he called out to me.

“Thanks for helping my mom and me!” I said and he waved.

“Humans have got to stand together now!”

Chapter 24

Luc

Harris asked me to come to the Castle to meet him.

“You will be safe,” he said.

“No assassination attempts?” I asked him, only half-joking.

“We have upped security. No unscheduled visitors, only top command.”

I met him in his office and noticed that he was looking stressed.

When I commented on it, he gave a dry laugh.

“I can see those days off have been good for you.” He was having a go at me, for being able to step away from the war. The implication was that he couldn’t. I let it go.