“Wait until Peter sees the surprise we have for him,” Jill whispered.
Ryan broke his hand free and pointed. “There they are! There they are!”
He waved both arms over his head, and Laura Emerson came running. Beth and Peter followed, but the little Emerson boys were held back by their father. There was a lot of giggling and hugging until Beth said, “I can’t believe you guys are here.”
Kate and Danny and Natalie reached the group and hands were shook all around.
Once they were inside the park, Chris tugged at Danny’s leg and asked, “Where’s Mickey and Donald? I want to see Mickey! Is Goofy here? Are we gonna go on rides?”
Joey squealed with delight. “Mickey Mouse!”
The adults laughed and a knowing look was exchanged between Jill and Natalie.
“Let me ask someone,” Jill said, “There’s a man over there.” She walked through the crowd, making Peter ask why she had to talk to that man in particular. When he turned around, the answer became obvious.
“Dad! Dad!” Peter yelled so loudly other people turned to stare curiously. But he was unaware of their presence as he raced toward Ralph Colpan’s open arms. Ralph, who had not seen his child since he was taken from the hospital in New Mexico, gathered the boy up and covered him with kisses. Tears brimmed in the women’s eyes, and Danny gazed at the scene in amazement.
“How . . . how . . . ?” He couldn’t choke out the question.
“It took a lot of work,” Natalie explained. “But since the FBI was not pursuing the case, and since the Morses refused to press charges against Ralph Colpan, there was little reason to keep him locked up. With Lou Vermont’s help and influence, we were able to have him released on probation. The judge was able to see that Ralph was as much a victim as the others, and he let him go on the stipulation that he come forward to testify if ever the other members of the LaMane Center are found.”
“You kept this a secret from Tommy?” Kate asked.
“From Peter,” Natalie corrected. “I was afraid to say anything in case Ralph wanted to cut himself off completely. You can see what a fool I was to believe that.”
“This is an incredible day,” Kate said, shaking her head.
Beth and Laura and Ryan hugged one another and jumped up and down. “It’s the best, best day ever,” they cried out in unison.
The adults nodded. Maybe, just maybe, things were going to be all right.
As the happy group walked into the park, a man turned and walked away from the door of a gift shop. He wore a fringed suede jacket and tattered jeans. His face was plain, except for one startling feature—blue eyes that were so pale they seemed colorless. He followed the group for a while, but when they stopped at the gate to one of the rides, he ducked back into a crowd.
His mind was full of sick thoughts.
I’ll get them, Father. I’ll get them back again, and I’ll continue your work, no matter how long it takes.
Gregory Adams, son of the late Lincoln Adams and his most successful experiment, stared at the children, especially the red-haired boy who had murdered his father. Michael Colpan would pay for that.
Gregory listened to the children’s laughter, hating the sound of it.
Also available as eBooks from Clare McNally:
Come Down Into Darkness
Cries of the Children
Ghost House
Ghost House Revenge
Good Night Sweet Angel
Hear the Children Calling Page 34
