Page 86 of Alpha Queen
"Tell me you found something," Ares said without preamble.
"I might have. The neighbor's notes mentioned deliveries through a secondary company, Evergreen Supplies. We traced it to a warehouse outside Montreal, but that's not the interesting part."
"What is?"
"The supplies. Specialized equipment for creating a contained living environment. Air filtration systems, water purification, and custom lighting panels that simulate natural daylight cycles."
Ares' heart pounded harder. "They were building a prison."
"Not just any prison. One designed for long-term captivity, with attention to psychological comfort. Why bother with simulated daylight unless you're planning to keep someone for months?"
"Where were these deliveries sent?" Ares demanded.
"That's what we're working on now. The warehouse records show shipments to various locations, but there's one address that stands out, a property about thirty miles northwest of here, registered to a hunting club that doesn't seem to exist."
"Text me the coordinates." Ares moved toward the car. "We'll meet you there."
Ares ended the call, and his phone buzzed with an incoming text from Apollo with the location. He pulled up the map, studying it before showing it to Cherry and Duncan.
"It's semi-remote," Duncan observed. “Surrounded by forest, minimal road access. Defensible."
"Perfect place to hide someone you don't want found," Cherry added.
Ares nodded, a cold determination settling over him. "Let's go. Duncan, call Theo and tell him to bring everything we have. If River's there, we're getting her out tonight."
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
APOLLO
Apollo searched his computer for the Hunter's Club, which owned the house, when he heard a commotion in the hallway.
"Move! Move!" Regan yelled.
Apollo looked up as Regan raced through the door, phone in hand.
"It's for you." He held out the phone.
"Who is it?"
"The answering service forwarded a call to me since you told them you didn't want to be disturbed."
He looked back at his computer screen. "I don't have time for business crap. Don't you know-"
"Apollo!"
Apollo looked up and growled.
"You need to hear this." Regan shoved the phone at Apollo.
Apollo took the phone. "Hello?"
"Mr. Wolvenguard?" A woman's hesitant voice came through the line. "My name is Dr. Sarah Mitchell. I'm a veterinarian at Pine Creek Emergency Animal Hospital."
Apollo frowned. "I don't have time for-"
"Sir, I have someone here. A young woman named River. She asked specifically for you."
Apollo's heart stopped. The world around him froze as the words registered. "River?" he whispered. "You have River?"
