CHAPTER 20 : The Guardian List
Daniel ordered an immediate evacuation.
Everyone moved into the open courtyard while security shut down the center’s gas lines.
Snow fell around frightened children wrapped in blankets.
The countdown reached zero.
Nothing happened.
Then a muffled explosion shook the eastern wing.
Glass shattered from several windows.
Smoke poured from the underground nursery.
“They weren’t trying to destroy the center,” Daniel said. “They were destroying evidence.”
Firefighters reached the mountain an hour later.
The hidden Room 314 was damaged, but Olivia managed to recover several metal filing drawers.
Most documents had burned.
One sheet survived inside a fireproof case.
It contained a list of names.
Judges.
Doctors.
Private guardians.
School administrators.
Hospital directors.
Beside each name was a number representing a completed case.
Rachel read the final entry.
“Judge Elias Wren. Forty-three cases.”
Olivia looked at Marissa.
“Wren signed the order appointing Gideon Price as your children’s guardian.”
Marissa sat down slowly.
“He said he wanted to protect them.”
“He wanted to place them inside Northstar,” Emily replied.
Ethan studied the document.
One name had been circled in Laura’s handwriting.
E. WREN — THE GUARDIAN?
Before they could investigate further, Olivia received an electronic notice from the county court.
Judge Wren had scheduled an emergency hearing for the following morning.
He was ordering Marissa to surrender Noah and Elsie.
He was also demanding that the Laura Blackwood Center release every protected family currently staying on the property.
“He wants the center closed,” Mia said.
“He wants access to the children,” Rachel corrected.
Olivia prepared through the night.
By morning, the courthouse was surrounded by reporters.
Judge Wren entered wearing black robes and an expression of calm authority.
He appeared to be in his late sixties, with silver hair and kind eyes.
He looked like the sort of man frightened parents might trust.
His first words destroyed that impression.
“The Laura Blackwood Center has taken children without lawful authorization.”
Olivia stood.
“The families entered voluntarily.”
“Children cannot volunteer to violate court orders.”
“These orders were signed based on fraudulent psychological evaluations.”
“An accusation is not evidence.”
Olivia presented the Northstar list.
Wren barely looked at it.
“A damaged paper discovered inside a secret room does not prove a national conspiracy.”
“It contains your name.”
“So does the courthouse directory.”
Several people laughed nervously.
Wren leaned forward.
“Ms. Blackwood, this center was created from the emotional response to one highly publicized criminal case. It does not possess the authority to replace the courts.”
Ethan looked at Sophie.
She was seated beside Rachel.
Wren noticed her.
“Nor should a child’s trauma be used to justify ignoring the law.”
Sophie stood.
“I’m not being used.”
Wren’s expression hardened.
Olivia touched Sophie’s shoulder.
“You don’t have to respond.”
Sophie looked at the judge.
“You signed papers for people who hurt kids.”
Wren remained silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
“Children often believe complicated situations have simple villains.”
“And adults often use complicated words when they don’t want children to understand.”
The courtroom became silent.
Wren ordered a recess.
As Ethan walked into the hallway, the judge approached him privately.
“You should take your daughter and leave the mountain,” Wren said.
“Is that a threat?”
“It is the same advice I gave Laura.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“You knew my wife?”
“She came to me asking questions about Northstar.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That some doors protect the world from what is behind them.”
“And she kept asking.”
Wren smiled without warmth.
“Laura always asked the wrong question.”
“What question?”
“She wanted to know who created Northstar.”
Wren looked toward Sophie.
“She should have asked why the Blackwood family paid for it.”
Before Ethan could respond, alarms sounded inside the courthouse.
Rachel came running from the waiting room.
“Marissa is gone.”
Noah and Elsie stood behind her.
On Marissa’s empty chair lay a handwritten note.
May you like
I LEFT WITH RACHEL.
But Rachel had been standing beside Sophie the entire time.
