"Then how?"
"I found her."
The room got quieter.
"Found her where?"
Sandstone's voice now.
He'd moved closer. Phone still in hand. Recorder app open.
Emmett's eyes stayed closed this time. But his mouth kept moving.
"Hospital. Emergency entrance. I was sheltering there. From the storm. Man came out. Collapsed on the steps. Lily was with him. He wasn't moving. I tried to help. But he... he just told me to take her. Said find the angels. She knows where. Then he passed out. Ambulance came. They took him inside. I tried to follow, but they wouldn't let me in. Security said I couldn't stay, so I... I picked her up. And she kept pointing. Kept saying Daddy's angels. So I walked."
"What did the man look like?"
Specter's voice was very careful now.
"Big guy? 50s, maybe? Vest like yours? Scar on his face? Left side? Ear to jaw?"
Nobody spoke.
Diesel's hands had stopped moving.
Specter was staring at Emmett like he'd just spoken a language nobody should know.
Because that description matched Luther Burnham exactly.
The scar. The age. The vest.
Luther had collapsed at the hospital tonight. Around 9:50. Exactly when Emmett said.
Luther had been with Lily when it happened.
And Luther had sent this boy, a homeless stranger, to bring his daughter to the only place he knew she'd be safe.
To the brothers.
To the angels.
"Jesus," Sandstone said quietly.
Specter stood slowly, still holding Lily.
His eyes hadn't left Emmett's face.
"What's your name?"
"Emmett. Emmett Holloway."
"Emmett, I need you to stay awake a little longer. Can you do that for me?"
Emmett's eyes opened. Just slits again.
"Why?"
"Because the man who sent you here, that's Lily's father. And he's on his way. He's going to want to meet the person who walked 6 miles through hell to bring his daughter home."
Emmett's expression didn't change.
He just nodded once. Small movement.
Like he'd expected something like this.
"Okay."
"Okay," Specter echoed.
He looked at Diesel.
"How's the hand?"
"Rewarming. Slow and steady. Fingers are pinking up. If we keep this pace, he'll be fine. No permanent damage."
"Good."
Specter shifted Lily slightly in his arms.
She was getting heavy. Or maybe he was just getting old.
"Sandstone, get a blanket for her. And some water for him when he's ready."
"On it."
The front door opened. Cold air rushed in.
Then Luther.
He didn't walk. He moved.
Fast and controlled and barely breathing.
Hospital wristband still on. Discharge papers crumpled in one hand.
Eyes locked on Specter. Then on Lily.
His face did something complicated. Relief and rage and something older than both.
He crossed the room in four strides.