Not after what he had done to the child I was meant to protect.

“There!” I yelled, pointing ahead.

Through the trees, the massive iron bars of the estate’s main gates loomed.

The stone pillars on either side were topped with concrete eagles, their wings spread in the dark.

A figure was standing by the small pedestrian gate, his fingers frantically pressing the buttons on the glowing keypad.

It was Dr. Halloran.

He was wearing his dark wool overcoat, but his hair was wild, and his glasses were slipping down his nose.

In his right hand, he clutched a small, leather medical case.

“Halloran!” Lorenzo shouted.

The doctor froze.

He turned his head slowly, his face illuminated by the green light of the keypad.

His eyes were wide with terror.

He looked at Lorenzo, then at the gun in Lorenzo’s hand.

He didn’t run.

Instead, he took a step back, pressing his back against the cold iron of the gate.

He gripped the leather case tighter against his chest.

“Lorenzo,” Halloran said, his voice shaking. “Let me go.”