Chapter 10 - The Nation’s Daughter
Daniel learned about the collapse from a television in the generator workshop.
The first report showed smoke rising from both sides of the North River.
The second showed children being carried from a maintenance shaft.
The third showed Lily.
Her face appeared on every screen in the workshop.
A reporter spoke over shaky footage.
“Authorities have identified the teenager who repeatedly entered the burning tunnel as fourteen-year-old Lily Mercer.”
Daniel dropped the wrench in his hand.
He did not remember driving to the hospital.
He remembered red lights.
He remembered police barriers.
He remembered shouting Lily’s name until a nurse recognized him.
He remembered signing forms with hands that would not stop shaking.
When he finally reached the trauma unit, Lily was in surgery.
Her injuries included a fractured shoulder, smoke inhalation, a concussion, deep cuts, and burns across her hands.
Doctors said she was fortunate.
Daniel hated the word.
Fortunate children did not have to run into burning tunnels because adults had failed them.
The hospital lobby filled with reporters.
Government officials praised her courage.
Parents of the rescued children arrived crying.
Ava’s mother fell to her knees in front of Daniel.
“Your daughter gave me my child back.”
Daniel lifted her.
“Lily did what she believed was right.”
“She’s a hero.”
Daniel looked toward the operating room doors.
“She’s my little girl.”
By midnight, the video of Lily’s rescue had become the most viewed recording in the country.
People created murals.
Schools held vigils.
Strangers left flowers outside the hospital.
The President’s office issued a statement.
The Ministry of Public Safety announced that Lily would receive the National Medal of Civilian Courage.
Then Daniel’s phone began ringing.
First Margaret.
Then Scott.
Then Vanessa.
Then relatives who had not spoken to Lily in years.
Daniel ignored them.
At two in the morning, Margaret left a voice message.
“Please let me know she’s alive.”
At three, Scott sent a text.
We should present a united family during this difficult time.
Daniel deleted it.
At four, a bouquet arrived from Mercer Urban Development, Scott’s company.
Daniel threw it away.
Naomi arrived shortly before dawn.
She wore a press badge borrowed from a foreign network.
“This was intentional,” she said.
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
“The collapse. Investigators found explosive residue.”
“Why would anyone destroy the tunnel?”
“To erase evidence.”
“With children inside?”
“Halcyon was facing a federal audit. The damaged supports would have exposed the material fraud.”
Daniel’s voice became dangerous.
“They knew Lily’s bus was in there.”
“We don’t know that.”
“The detonation happened after the bus entered.”
“It may have been a coincidence.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Do you believe that?”
Naomi said nothing.
A surgeon entered the waiting room.
Daniel stood.
“Mr. Mercer?”
“Yes.”
“Lily is stable.”
His knees nearly failed.
The surgeon continued speaking, but Daniel heard only fragments.
Successful procedure.
Close monitoring.
Possible nerve damage.
Expected recovery.
Alive.
Lily was alive.
Daniel entered her room an hour later.
She looked impossibly small beneath the blankets.
He sat beside her and held her uninjured hand.
“You scared me.”
Her eyes remained closed.
“You’re grounded until you’re forty.”
No response.
“You were supposed to visit a museum.”
The monitor traced steady heartbeats.
Daniel lowered his head.
“I should have kept you away from that tunnel.”
Lily’s fingers moved weakly around his.
Daniel looked up.
Her eyes opened.
“Dad?”
“I’m here.”
“Did Ava make it?”
“Yes.”
“The others?”
“All alive.”
Lily closed her eyes.
“Good.”
Daniel pressed her hand to his forehead.
Reporters remained outside for the next two days.
The hospital assigned security after strangers attempted to enter Lily’s room.
On the third day, Scott arrived with a public relations team.
Daniel intercepted him in the lobby.
“Leave.”
Scott glanced at the cameras.
“We need to talk privately.”
“We have nothing to discuss.”
“This affects the entire family.”
“There is no entire family.”
Scott lowered his voice.
“Halcyon is connected to the bombing.”
Daniel watched him carefully.
“How do you know?”
“Because they contacted me.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
“What did they want?”
“They believe you still have our father’s records.”
Daniel did not react.
Scott continued.
“They will come for them.”
“They already have.”
“This is different.”
“How?”
“They’re afraid.”
“Good.”
Scott seized Daniel’s arm.
“You don’t understand. They think Lily saw something inside the tunnel.”
Daniel pulled free.
“What could she have seen?”
“A person. A device. Something that identifies who triggered the charges.”
“Did they say that?”
“They asked whether she had spoken.”
Daniel felt cold.
“Get out.”
“I’m trying to warn you.”
“You threatened my custody. You helped bury evidence. You had Rachel followed.”
Scott’s face tightened.
“I did not kill Rachel.”
“But you knew she was being followed.”
“I was trying to recover the flash drive.”
“You chose them over us.”
“I was trapped.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“No. Rachel was trapped. Lily was trapped. You were paid.”
Scott looked toward the cameras.
“You think the public attention protects her?”
“It makes it harder for them to hide what happens.”
“It also tells them exactly where she is.”
Daniel looked toward the elevators.
At that moment, every screen in the hospital lobby changed.
A live news conference appeared.
The national police commissioner stood at a podium.
“We have identified a preliminary suspect in connection with the North River attack.”
A photograph appeared beside him.
Daniel stopped breathing.
The suspect was the man in the gray jacket.
The man who had stolen Lily’s music box.
The man who claimed to work for Thomas.
His name was Adrian Cross.
The commissioner continued.
“Cross is believed to have planted the explosive devices and may have intentionally targeted the school bus.”
Lily’s hospital room appeared on a monitor behind the commissioner.
The footage was live.
Someone had gained access to the hospital security cameras.
May you like
Then a message appeared across the screen.
LILY REMEMBERS.
