Page 113 of Borrowed Pain
He swallowed, eyes shining now with something more than exhaustion. "She told me that hurt is part of loving. Someone has to witness it when it gets too heavy to carry. Not fix it. Not cure it. Sit with it."
His voice strengthened as the memory rooted itself. "That's what I remembered. That's who I am. Not someone who eliminates pain—someone who sits with it."
Silence filled the hospital room. Miles's brothers lowered their heads.
"He's my boy," Ma McCabe whispered.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to reveal Andrews's name appeared on the display.
"Agent Andrews," I answered, putting the call on speaker so the family could hear any updates.
"Mr. Ashcroft, I'm calling with developments regarding Patricia Hendricks. She's requested immediate contact with you."
Miles straightened against his pillows. "What kind of contact?"
"She says she's ready to provide complete evidence about Meridian's operations, but she needs to speak with you first. Says there are personal safeguards she built into the documentation that only she can dismantle."
I glanced around the room at faces reflecting confusion and hope. "Personal safeguards?"
"Patricia Hendricks is being held at the federal detention center. She's cooperating fully but insists that the digital safeguards require specific knowledge she will only share with you. She's requesting a meeting tomorrow morning. Says time is critical."
"Tell her yes," Miles said before I could respond. "Tell her we'll meet with her tomorrow."
"Miles, you need recovery time—"
"I need to know that what happened to me serves some purpose beyond my own trauma." His voice was quietly steely. "If Patricia can help us destroy the entire network, then everything we've been through matters."
Ma nodded. "Then it's decided. Rowan and Miles will be with her tomorrow, and we will prepare for whatever comes next."
Matthew finished organizing his medical supplies. "Miles gets tonight and tomorrow morning for medical recovery. No exceptions."
I squeezed Miles's hand. "Get some rest. Tomorrow we find out whether Patricia can help us finish what Rook started."
"Tomorrow," Miles agreed, eyes already heavy with exhaustion. "But tonight, I just want to be here. Safe."
***
My phone rang at 6:15 AM, dragging me from restless sleep in the hospital chair beside Miles's bed. Andrews's name glowed on the display, and I answered before the second ring could wake the family scattered across visitor chairs.
"Agent Andrews." I kept my voice low, stepping toward the window where downtown Seattle sparkled under morning light.
"Mr. Ashcroft, Patricia Hendricks has made her decision. She's already dismantling the safeguards."
I pressed the phone tighter against my ear. "What does that mean practically?"
"It means she's providing access to years of documentation. Financial records, patient files, facility locations, shell company structures, and pharmaceutical supplier networks." Papers rustled through the connection. "Mr. Ashcroft, we're looking at criminal operations spanning seventeen facilities across six states."
"Timeline for raids?"
"Coordinated operations beginning in ninety minutes. Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, Denver, Baltimore, Richmond, and Atlanta. Federal teams are already in position." I heard grim satisfaction in his voice. "Patricia Hendricks's evidence provides probable cause for simultaneous seizure of all Meridian-affiliated facilities."
Miles stirred against his pillows. "What's happening?" he asked.
I covered the phone's microphone. "Patricia's already releasing everything. Federal raids start in an hour and a half."
Miles pushed himself upright with determination that impressed me and terrified Ma simultaneously. "Put it on speaker."
"Agent Andrews, you're now speaking with the McCabe family. What can you tell us about Patricia's cooperation?"
