Margie was right. Clem and Bart were back at the diner by suppertime. To everyone’s delight, they were sitting at the same table, having dinner. The diner was not as crowded as the previous night, which gave the family a chance to talk without every word being overheard.
There were only four of them—Wade, Rachel, Drake, and Dane—at the table tonight. They discussed the plan for getting onto the estate. Drake had been keeping an eye on the clinic down the street to see what activity was taking place since the attack on Rachel. Everyone in the know believed that whatever was in the syringe was being manufactured inside that clinic.
“It looks like they are packing the place up to me. Men with boxes have been walking in and out of the back entrance all evening,” Drake advised. “There were three white vans parked out behind the building with the back door open. I took a peek inside. Each box had small vials of something. Based on the events of the day, I believe it was the serum.”
“While I was watching the estate this morning, I did see white vans coming and going,” Ross stated. “Something else I noticed. The gate opened before they reached it.”
“They have an electronic opener,” Dane summarized.
“That could be our way in,” Wade suggested.
“When was the last time you stole a car?” he asked Drake.
“I never stole a car. I borrowed Dan’s car on different occasions to visit a few people of the female persuasion.”
Rachel laughed, then looked at Wade. “And you? How many times did you borrow Dan’s car?”
“Never,” Drake smirked. “He was always in the books.”
“You didn’t have to take Dan’s car. We all had cars,” Dane commented.
“Yes, but Dan had the Beamer,” Ross marveled. “It was nice. Rode smooth as high-class cognac.”
“How would you know?” Wade asked.
“I may have taken a round or two inside.”
They all laughed.
“I hope you still have that skillset. It’s the only way we are going to get on the grounds of the estate. The security is tight. They have cameras throughout the facility. I can’t remember, but I am certain that system covers the ground, too. If we are able to borrow one of their vans, we might make it to the building undetected.”
“Do we know for a fact that these people are doing something illegal?” Dane asked. “Everything we have, other than the attack on Rachel, would be thrown out in a court of law.”
Rachel nodded. “He has a point. We don’t know that these people killed Star or Godwin. The men, Winston and Godwin, were emotionally attached to the women involved. As for Monty, we really don’t know what happened to him as a child. But something happened to Star, Nannette, and now Monty. It may not be illegal, but it is certainly unethical. If nothing else, we have to bring the injustice to the attention of the authorities. We have to get answers for these people.”
“Then there is the question about us,” Drake glanced at Wade. “Do you think we were created at that lab, like Monty?”
“Something happened to Monty in that building,” Wade started. “Exactly what, I don’t know. I do know it doesn’t matter how it happened—we are a family. When something happens to one of us, it impacts all of us. I was led here for a reason; we all were. Once we know how this connects us, we can all move forward.”
“If they are using in vitro fertilization, you may have some siblings out there you don’t know about,” Rachel stated.
“I have my brothers. I don’t need to know about any others,” Drake replied.
“If there are others out there who went through the hell we did before we met Kate, don’t we owe it to them to help?” Ross asked. “They don’t have a Kate. We may be all they have.”
“If these people had anything to do with Kate’s murder, that is reason enough for me to bring them down,” Drake acknowledged.
“Our lives were entwined the day Chambers targeted Star,” Wade stated. “He started this nightmare thirty years ago. We are going to bring it to an end.”
Later that night, Wade and Ross were about to leave. Rachel was not happy. “Why can’t I go? I know how to drive a stolen car.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Wade stated again. “Look,” he took her hand as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Today, when I heard those shots, my heart sank. I had sworn not to leave you alone once we got here. We knew they were going to try to get to you. My mind was so wrapped up in what we had discovered, I lost sight of the big picture. You. I have to bring some closure to my parents’ death, and for my brothers now, too. Something happened in that place that will impact their lives. I need to know what before I can guide them.”
Rachel sat beside him on the bed. “Do you think all of them came from there, like Monty did?”
Wade hesitated, then nodded. “I do. I think they were created in incubators and then discarded for some reason.”
Rachel hugged him. “This is going to be tough on them if that is true. Will they be able to handle it?”
“This is one time I hope I’m wrong.” He held her tight.
“You know,” she stood, then looked down at him. “What you said earlier was right. It doesn’t matter how they came to be; they are your brothers. That makes them family.”
Wade smiled at her as he stood. He ran a finger down her cheek. “This is why I love you. You make everything right.” He kissed her, then walked towards the door. “I have no idea what is going to happen. But you stay with Dane and Drake. They will keep you safe.”
“What about you? Who’s going to keep you safe?”
He looked back at her. “Remember, I’m the force who was placed her for this purpose.”
“That doesn’t make you invincible,” she replied.
“No, but your love does,” he smiled, then closed the door.