How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

He found it preposterous.

Especially at a time like this.

The child was the key.

What struck him most was Jarrod's tense attitude when they discussed the kid. Jarrod had looked ready to kill him-clearly, the child had to be—

Suddenly, Watts' expression shifted.

A belated realization dawned on him.

Jarrod... had he been faking it all along?

Playing a part?

A jolt of clarity shot through Watts. Jarrod was stalling for time-he must have already known Watts was somewhere in the city.

It all fell into place.

Watts' face darkened, thunderous and grim.

So, when his men reported that Jarrod had already boarded a plane out of the country, it was probably just a smokescreen too.

Watts abruptly hung up, spun on his heel, and dialed another number. "Prep the jet, now. We're leaving immediately!"

Not far away, hidden behind a leafy planter, Elodie had overheard every word.

Her heart pounded faster.

The child wasn't here.

Watts hadn't found him.

child was safe, out

and adrenaline through

to leave, Elodie quickly slipped away, making her way back to her room. Her mind raced, searching for any and every

Watts to get the plane

still had

minutes

his composure restored. "Change of plans,"

didn't offer

of telling her the truth. Once she made her call home

slightest hint that anything was amiss, acting

nodded calmly and stood, slipping her phone silently into

a helicopter parked on the wide, manicured lawn nearby. The whirling

approached slowly and

her, then seized her

tried to wrench free. But he was far too strong for her-barely breaking stride, he simply dragged her

ready for anything; Elodie's face was set in an

reached the helicopter, Watts finally released her. "It's safe," he said. "Go on, climb

was cool. "You first. Give

he nodded and

a long shard of glass, one end wrapped in a towel, from behind her back. Without hesitation, she

Watts' shirt in a

his balance from

That was her chance.

car they'd arrived in-she knew the keys were still

could just make