Mother Adella pulls a key ring from beneath her robe and opens the door on the other side of the room. She steps in and holds the door open for Daniel and Lynell. They both step through and look around. Lynell has never been inside Mother Adella’s room. There has never been a reason.

The room’s only obvious decoration is a large cross hanging on the wall behind the door. A curtain splits the room in half. Lynell assumes Mother Adella’s bed and sleeping quarters are on the other side of the curtain. On this side sits a long desk with a lamp, bible, cross, notebook, several pieces of paper, and a pencil sharpener. One wall is covered in filing cabinets, all closed and alphabetically labeled. The other wall has two bookshelves that are stacked full of books of all genres, religious, fiction, secular, and nonfiction. Mother Adella always stressed the importance of having a well-rounded knowledge and understanding of as many world views as possible.

Mother Adella walks around the desk and sits, folding her hands in her lap. Without being asked, Lynell and Daniel follow suit, sitting in the two chairs on the other side of the desk, facing the nun.

“The man looking for Anna will do whatever it takes,” Lynell says. “I know the rules, and I don’t want to break them, but he won’t care. He is ruthless. If he doesn’t get Anna’s information from you, he’ll get it from someone else. He’ll threaten whoever he needs to and won’t hesitate to follow through on his threats.”

Mother Adella nods, listening carefully. After a pause, she says, her voice strong and steady, “Have you considered that he will find her through you? Perhaps this man is watching you and the moment you know where Anna is, so will he.”

“We have considered that,” Daniel says, speaking for the first time. “Which is why we didn’t come until now.”

“You’re the child’s father, I presume?” Mother Adella asks.

Daniel nods. Lynell says, “Daniel only wants what is best for Anna too. We don’t want to take her away from the life and family she knows. We just want to protect her.”

“You said you’re the one with enemies, correct?” Mother Adella asks. “So what does he want with Anna?”

Lynell closes her eyes and swallows hard. They agreed not to share the details of their situation, but if anyone can keep it a secret, it’s Mother Adella.

Lynell opens her eyes and looks at the nun. Her light, hazel eyes are surrounded by laugh lines from years of smiling. Lynell says in a whisper, “Eric Elysian is after me and any children I have.”

Daniel sucks in a breath, and she can feel him staring at her. She keeps her gaze on Mother Adella, who doesn’t show a sign of shock or fear. She doesn’t reply immediately and with every second of silence, Lynell is worried she shouldn’t have told her. But then Mother Adella leans back in her chair and gives a slight shake of her head.