Chương 14
“Does it?”
“No.”
Camille spoke for the first time. “Vincent also may need Lucia moved before the court expands federal protection. Adrian’s disclosure has connected the case to interstate racketeering and public corruption. Jurisdiction is shifting.”
Maya looked at her. “How much trouble is he in?”
Camille’s eyes went to Adrian.
“Significant.”
“Prison?”
“Yes.”
Adrian did not react.
Maya sat on the edge of the bed.
A plane passed overhead. The lamp shade trembled.
“When does the disclosure happen?” she asked.
“Tomorrow morning,” Camille said.
“Vincent knows?”
“He will assume.”
Maya looked at Adrian.
“He’ll move before then.”
“Yes.”
“Lucy’s at Elena’s house.”
“With county security.”
“Owen Pritchard entered an intensive care unit.”
Camille’s jaw tightened.
Adrian said, “I want you moved to a secure residence.”
“No.”
“Maya.”
“No.”
“Vincent contacted you.”
“And the last secure place had a fake medic.”
His restraint thinned.
“I cannot protect you in a motel.”
“You don’t own me.”
The sentence struck something old in him.
His anger changed shape.
“No,” he said. “I don’t.”
He left without arguing further.
At two in the morning, the motel fire alarm sounded.
Maya woke to red light flashing across the ceiling.
Smoke did not enter beneath the door, but guests shouted in the hallway. She pulled on the black sneakers Elena had bought and grabbed her phone.
The stairwell smelled of burned plastic.
On the second-floor landing, a woman carrying a sleeping toddler struggled with a suitcase. Maya took the suitcase without asking. They descended into the parking lot with thirty other guests.
Fire engines arrived.
The alarm had been triggered by a burning trash can near the laundry room.
Maya stood beneath the airport glow, watching firefighters enter.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Elena’s number appeared.
LUCY IS MISSING. ADRIAN TOOK HER.
Maya called.
No answer.
She called Nora Bell. Voicemail.
She called Ortiz.
The detective answered on the first ring.
“Where are you?”
“Outside the motel. I got a text from Elena’s phone saying Adrian took Lucy.”
“Do not respond. I’m calling county security.”
Another message arrived.
HE HAS HER AT SOUTH FREIGHT TERMINAL. PLEASE HELP.
The south freight terminal belonged to Vale Meridian.
Maya showed the message to a patrol officer.
Ortiz remained on the phone.
“County security reports Lucia is asleep in Elena’s house,” the detective said. “They have visual confirmation.”
Maya exhaled.
The motel alarm, the crowd, the false message—Vincent wanted her moving and frightened.
A third message arrived.
CHECK YOUR JACKET.
Maya looked down.
She was wearing donated clothes.
The denim jacket was with Lucia.
Her breath stopped.
“Ortiz.”
“I heard you.”
“If he has access to the jacket—”
“I’m calling Elena now.”
The line went silent except for distant typing.
Then Ortiz swore.
The county officer who confirmed Lucia’s presence had checked the bedroom through a partially open door. The child-shaped figure beneath the blanket was the stuffed rabbit and pillows.
Lucia was gone.
Elena was unconscious in the downstairs pantry.
One security officer was missing.
Adrian had not taken the child.
His location was confirmed at Vale Meridian’s legal office with federal investigators.
The missing officer, Scott Baines, had previously worked for Northstar Protective Services.
Maya stood in the motel parking lot while cold rain began to fall.
The world narrowed to Lucia’s jacket.
Check your jacket.
The inner seam.
The prepaid phone had been hidden there. Vincent knew Maya associated the pocket with evidence.
“There’s something in the jacket,” she said.
Ortiz’s voice sharpened. “What?”
“I don’t know. He wants me to think about it.”
“Do not go anywhere.”
“He took Lucy because of the disclosure.”
“We know.”
“He needs something Adrian has.”
“We know.”
“He’ll contact him.”
“Maya, stay with the officer.”
She ended the call.
Three minutes later, an unknown number called.
Maya answered.
Lucia was crying.
“Maya?”
“I’m here.”
“He says Papa won’t come.”
“He will.”
A man took the phone.
Vincent’s voice sounded exactly as it had on the motel recording—calm, educated, faintly breathless.
“The jacket pocket,” he said. “Feel beneath the lining when you see her.”
“What did you put there?”
“Insurance.”
“Where is she?”
“You know the warehouse.”
Maya looked across the wet parking lot at the motel’s red sign reflected in puddles.
“Why me?”
“Because Adrian will bring an army for his daughter. He might bring only honesty for you.”
“You don’t know him very well.”
“I made him.”
“No. You made yourself useful to him.”
Vincent was silent for a moment.
“That is an expensive distinction.”
“What do you want?”
“The black drive Adrian keeps in his private safe.”
“What’s on it?”
“Everything he plans to surrender tomorrow.”
“You expect me to get it?”
“He will trade it for Lucia.”
“Then call him.”
“I have. He believes he can take her back by force.”
Maya believed that.
Vincent continued, “Tell him there is a pressure trigger beneath the child’s chair. If armed men enter, she dies.”
Maya closed her eyes.
“Let me speak to her.”
A pause.
Lucia came back on the line.
“Maya?”
“Listen to me. Are you wearing my jacket?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Keep it on.”
“I’m cold.”
“I know. Is anyone hurt?”
“Aunt Ellie fell down.”
“Anyone with you besides the man?”
“Mr. Baines.”
Vincent took the phone again.
“Thirty minutes,” he said.
The call ended.
Ortiz’s car entered the parking lot with no siren. Adrian arrived behind her in a dark sedan driven by Camille.
He was out before the car stopped.
“What did he say?”
Maya repeated everything.
At the mention of the pressure trigger, Adrian’s face went blank.
“We give him the drive,” Camille said.
Ortiz shook her head. “Not until we verify the device.”
“He gave us thirty minutes,” Adrian said.
“He wants you rushed.”
“He has my daughter.”
“And he expects you to behave predictably.”
Adrian turned toward his car.
Ortiz blocked him.
“You enter that warehouse with armed men, you may trigger exactly what he described.”
“I will go alone.”
May you like
“With a tracker and an open line.”
“No police perimeter close enough for him to see.”
