Chapter 5 - The Man Noah Was Told to Trust
The operation lasted eleven minutes.
For Olivia, it lasted a lifetime.
She remained in the vehicle with Adrian’s driver as instructed.
Then the radio crackled.
“Building secure.”
Olivia stopped breathing.
“Boy located.”
She opened the door.
The driver tried to stop her.
“Ms. Carter—”
She ran.
Inside the pumping station, Noah was crouched beside a metal shelf with his hands over his ears.
Adrian knelt several feet away.
He didn't touch him.
“Noah.”
The boy stared at the floor.
“My name is Adrian.”
No response.
“Olivia sent me.”
Noah’s breathing remained rapid.
Adrian remembered the words.
“The peregrine always comes home.”
Noah slowly raised his head.
“You're the muffin man.”
Adrian blinked.
“What?”
“Olivia told me about you.”
Despite everything, Adrian almost laughed.
Then Olivia’s voice echoed through the room.
“Noah!”
He stood.
Noah ran.
Olivia dropped to her knees and caught him.
For several seconds she couldn't speak.
She simply held him.
Noah finally whispered, “You're squeezing.”
Olivia immediately loosened her arms.
“Sorry.”
“I don't like squeezing.”
“I know.”
“You're crying.”
“I know.”
“You said crying makes your nose ugly.”
Adrian looked away, hiding a smile.
Olivia laughed through her tears.
“You remembered that?”
“I remember everything.”
She checked his face and hands.
“Did anybody hurt you?”
Noah shook his head.
“They yelled.”
Olivia closed her eyes briefly.
“But I counted pipes.”
“Yes, you did.”
“And I told you.”
“You saved yourself, Noah.”
“No.”
He pointed at Adrian.
“The muffin man did.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
Olivia looked at him.
For the first time, neither of them had anything clever to say.
Later, outside, Adrian approached her.
“Soren escaped.”
Olivia’s relief faded.
“He wasn't inside?”
“No.”
“So this isn't finished.”
“No.”
She looked at Noah sitting inside the car.
“Then finish it.”
Adrian studied her.
“But don't become worse than him doing it.”
He went still.
Olivia stepped closer.
“Whatever you are, Adrian, Noah thinks you're a good man.”
“He doesn't know me.”
“Maybe children notice things adults stop looking for.”
Adrian glanced toward Noah.
The boy waved.
Adrian slowly raised a hand.
Olivia said, “Bring Soren down legally.”
“That world doesn't always work that way.”
“Then make it.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You ask impossible things.”
“You ate a stranger's muffin.”
His mouth moved.
May you like
“Apparently I'm changing.”
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