Chapter 2: The Ferguson Name
I read the message twice.
Then I showed it to Abigail.
Her face drained of color.
“That wasn't them,” she whispered.
“How do you know?””
“Because they don't text.””
“What do they do?””
She looked toward the door.
“They send people.””
A cold silence settled between us.
I slipped the phone into my pocket.
“Start from the beginning.””
Abigail pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
“I knew something was wrong about a month ago.””
“With Nicholas?””
She nodded.
“He started disappearing at night.””
“How often?””
“Almost every night.””
“Did you confront him?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
“That I was paranoid.””
I watched her carefully.
“Did he hurt you before tonight?””
Her eyes lowered.
“Once.””
“Abigail.””
“He grabbed my arm.””
I looked at the bruises.
“Once?””
She didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
I stood.
“I need a doctor.””
“Mom, please.””
“I need your medical records.””
“I don't want to go back.””
“You won't.””
The door opened.
A middle-aged doctor stepped inside holding a tablet.
“Ms. Ferguson?””
Abigail flinched.
The doctor noticed.
“My name is Dr. Samuel Hayes. I'm overseeing your evaluation.””
I nodded.
“Doctor, I need every documented injury, photograph, lab result, and imaging report associated with my daughter.””
He looked at my uniform.
Then at Abigail.
“Are you her mother?””
“Yes.””
“Then you can request them.””
“Good.””
He hesitated.
“There is something you should know.””
I waited.
“Your daughter told the triage nurse she was afraid someone would remove her from the hospital.””
“Who?””
“She wouldn't say.””
Abigail whispered, “Nicholas.””
Dr. Hayes glanced at the hallway.
“Your daughter's injuries are consistent with blunt-force trauma and restraint.””
Patricia's story flashed through my mind.
She fell.
I asked, “Are they consistent with a fall down stairs?””
Dr. Hayes shook his head.
“Not the bruising around her wrists.””
“Thank you.””
He nodded.
“I'll have the records prepared.””
He left.
Abigail exhaled.
“I thought you wouldn't believe me.””
I sat beside her.
“Abby, look at me.””
She did.
“I believe you.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“Even after everything?””
“Especially after everything.””
She reached for my hand.
“There's more.””
I waited.
“Nicholas made me sign something.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
“Where is it?””
“At the house.””
“Which house?””
“The Ferguson estate.””
I stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me this before?””
“Because they said if I told you, they'd make you look unstable.””
I felt something inside me go still.
“Why me?””
Abigail shook her head.
“They said your career made you dangerous.””
“To whom?””
“I don't know.””
A knock came at the door.
Before either of us answered, Patricia walked in.
She was alone.
Her expression was no longer polished.
It was cold.
“You're making a mistake,” she said.
I stood.
“You have five seconds to leave.””
She ignored me.
“Abigail belongs to this family now.””
“She is my daughter.””
“She married Nicholas.””
“She didn't marry ownership.””
Patricia's lips tightened.
“You have no idea what you're interfering with.””
“Then explain it.””
“I don't owe you an explanation.””
“You're right.””
I stepped closer.
“You owe one to my daughter.””
Patricia looked at Abigail.
“You should have kept your mouth shut.””
Abigail recoiled.
I stepped between them.
“Leave.””
Patricia smiled.
“You think your uniform protects you?””
“No.””
I leaned closer.
“It protects the country.””
Then I pointed toward the door.
“My daughter protects herself now.””
Patricia turned.
Before leaving, she stopped.
“Colonel Gardner?””
“Yes?””
“You should ask your daughter what happened four years ago.””
She walked out.
I stared after her.
Four years.
The words hit me harder than they should have.
Abigail noticed.
“What?””
“Why four years?””
“I don't know.””
My phone vibrated again.
This time it was a text from an unknown number.
*YOU WERE WARNED IN 2022.*
I felt my pulse change.
Abigail looked at me.
“Mom?””
I didn't answer.
Because I remembered 2022.
I remembered a classified Army investigation.
A missing officer.
A sealed report.
And one name that had disappeared from every official record.
*Ethan Ferguson.*
Nicholas's father.
I looked at Abigail.
“Your husband's family told you anything about Ethan?””
She shook her head.
“Who is Ethan?””
May you like
I didn't respond.
Because the last time I'd heard that name, a commander had ordered me never to say it again.
