Page 85 of Vortex (FBI Thriller 25)

He blinked, his eyes still sheened with tears. She wiped away another tear before it slipped under the oxygen mask. She said in a soft voice, “Remember that night at the rave, how we were laughing? I enjoyed that so much, I thought we were so much alike, but then I saw what Alex did, and then I was afraid, and felt this great pain, then nothing at all. Kent, please tell me where I am. No one knows what happened to me, where I’m buried. My parents grieve for me. Please tell me, Kent, tell me where I am.”

“You’re in a beautiful place, Aolith, in Valley Forge National Park. Near Pauley’s Farm.”

He was fading again, his eyelashes fluttering, his breathing slowing.

“Where near Pauley’s Farm?”

His voice was dreamy, as if he was seeing the place again. “Not far off the dirt road, by that huge old oak tree that stands alone. In the summer I knew its leaves would cover your grave, shade it. It would be nice.”

“Where, Kent?”

She was losing him. She leaned close, her warm breath on his cheek, willing him to speak, and he whispered, his voice insubstantial, “A rough path off a narrow road that leads to the Schuylkill River Trail and that old oak tree. I’m sorry, Aolith, I’m sorry.”

She leaned down, kissed him on the cheek, whispered, “Thank you, Kent. I hope you won’t die.”

One of his monitors began to beep. The curtain flew back and a nurse stepped in. “Who are you? Why are you here?”

Mia jumped out of her way. “I’m his sister. He was awake and we were talking. Please, help him.”