No matter what the cost.

The wood broke.

The light poured in.

And the face of the intruder was revealed.

It was the one person I never expected.

Dr. Shah.

He held a syringe in his hand.

“Step away from the children, Claire,” he said.

“Your treatment is not finished.”

My mind reeled.

The hospital.

The estate.

The fire.

It was all connected.

And the doctor was the one holding the keys.

“Who are you working for?” I asked.

“The board,” he said.

“And your husband.”

I looked at Daniel, who was standing behind the doctor.

His hands were not tied.

He was holding a set of keys.

The keys to the SUV.

“I am sorry, Claire,” Daniel said.

“It was the only way to keep them safe.”

“From you.”

The world began to spin.

The smell of the antiseptic from the hospital returned.

The walls of the cellar seemed to fade.

And the sound of the rain grew louder.

I looked down at my hands.

They were clean.

No mud.

No blood.

I was back in the hospital bed.

The IV was still in my arm.