Chapter 8: The Woman They Took From My Family Twice
“WHERE IS MY MOTHER?””
Nathaniel's shout echoed through the penthouse.
Marcus immediately checked the security monitors.
“Everyone lock down the building! Nobody leaves!””
Two guards ran toward the private elevator.
I rushed to Eleanor's chair.
Her handbag was still there.
Her reading glasses lay beside it.
But she was gone.
Grace grabbed my arm.
“Rose, look at this.””
A small piece of paper had been tucked beneath Eleanor's handbag.
I unfolded it.
Three words were written in black ink.
Bring the girl.
Nathaniel read it over my shoulder.
His face became expressionless.
“No.””
I turned toward him.
“What?””
“You're not going anywhere.””
“She's my family too!””
“Victoria wants you. That's exactly why we can't give her what she wants.””
Grace stepped forward.
“She won't hurt Eleanor if she believes Rose is coming.””
Nathaniel looked at her.
“That's not a plan. That's a death sentence.””
Marcus returned from the security room.
“Sir, we've recovered footage from the private elevator.””
He played the recording.
Eleanor was walking toward the penthouse kitchen when a man wearing a maintenance uniform approached her.
He spoke briefly.
Then he showed her something on his phone.
Eleanor's expression changed.
She followed him willingly.
A second man entered the frame and blocked the camera.
Then both disappeared into the service elevator.
I pointed at the screen.
“Who is that?””
Marcus enlarged the image.
“Detective Miller.””
Nathaniel slammed his fist against the table.
“The detective assigned to investigate the attack?””
“Yes, sir.””
Grace closed her eyes.
“I knew it.””
Nathaniel turned.
“Knew what?””
“Richard had someone inside the police department. Someone who protected him for years.””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
“Detective Miller has worked for the Callaway family for seventeen years.””
I stared at him.
“Why was he assigned to the investigation?””
Nathaniel looked sick.
“Because someone requested him.””
Nobody spoke.
The realization was unbearable.
The man supposed to protect Eleanor had helped kidnap her.
Nathaniel called the police commissioner directly.
“I'm reporting a kidnapping involving a compromised detective. I need an independent response team immediately.””
He listened.
Then his face darkened.
“What do you mean he's already there?””
He ended the call.
“Commissioner says Miller reported Eleanor missing twenty minutes ago. He's claiming she left voluntarily.””
Grace laughed without humor.
“Of course he did.””
I looked toward the window.
“Where is Victoria taking her?””
Grace pointed to the note.
“There's a warehouse address on the back.””
She turned the paper over.
A location had been written in tiny letters.
Pier 41.
Nathaniel looked at Marcus.
“Get the car.””
Marcus hesitated.
“Sir, we should wait for the independent team.””
“Every minute we wait puts my mother in more danger.””
I stepped forward.
“I'm coming.””
Nathaniel shook his head.
“No.””
“I'm not asking.””
“Rose—”
“She took Eleanor because she wants me. If I stay here, she'll hurt her to force you to bring me anyway.””
Grace took my hand.
“Your brother is right. You shouldn't go.””
I looked at her.
“You spent sixteen years away from me. I'm not letting another member of this family disappear.””
Nathaniel studied my face.
Then he nodded.
“Fine. But you stay behind Marcus at all times.””
We left through the private garage.
The city was cold and wet.
Rain streaked across the windshield as our SUV moved toward the East River.
I sat beside Grace.
For the first time since finding her, I wanted to ask her a hundred questions.
Instead, I stared at her hands.
They were trembling.
“Mom?””
She looked at me.
“I'm sorry.””
I swallowed.
“Why didn't you tell me the truth before?””
“Because I thought if you hated me, you'd still be alive.””
I looked away.
“I spent sixteen years thinking I wasn't worth coming back for.””
Grace began crying.
“You were the only reason I kept breathing.””
The SUV stopped outside an abandoned warehouse.
Two security vehicles were parked near the entrance.
Marcus checked his weapon.
“Stay behind me.””
Nathaniel opened the door.
“Eleanor!””
His voice disappeared into the darkness.
Then a light flickered on.
We saw Eleanor sitting in a metal chair.
Her hands were tied.
Victoria stood behind her.
She was no longer wearing her wedding dress.
Instead, she wore a black leather jacket and carried a small pistol.
Detective Miller stood beside her.
Victoria smiled.
“Look who's here.””
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“Let my mother go.””
“Not until I get what I want.””
“What do you want?””
“The original trust.””
Nathaniel held up the leather pouch.
“It's here.””
Victoria laughed.
“Throw it over.””
Marcus moved slightly.
Miller raised his gun.
“Don't.””
Victoria pointed toward me.
“Rose, come here.””
I froze.
Nathaniel stepped in front of me.
“She's not part of this.””
“Oh, she's very much part of this.””
Victoria approached Eleanor and pulled her hair backward.
Eleanor cried out.
“Stop!”” Nathaniel shouted.
Victoria pressed the gun against Eleanor's head.
“Give me the pouch.””
Nathaniel threw it across the concrete floor.
Victoria kicked it toward Miller.
He picked it up and examined the contents.
Then he smiled.
“Looks authentic.””
Victoria nodded.
“Good. Now we can finish this.””
Nathaniel's face tightened.
“You have the documents. Let her go.””
Victoria tilted her head.
“Did you really think I wanted the money?””
She turned toward me.
“I want something much more valuable.””
“What?”” I asked.
Victoria smiled.
“Your mother's confession.””
Grace stepped forward.
“Leave my daughter out of this.””
Victoria laughed.
“Your daughter? You mean the little girl you abandoned?””
I felt Nathaniel tense beside me.
Victoria continued.
“Tell them, Grace. Tell them what happened after you escaped the fire.””
Grace went pale.
“Don't.””
Victoria pulled a folded document from her jacket.
“Your mother didn't spend sixteen years hiding from Richard.””
She threw the document at my feet.
“She spent sixteen years working for him.””
I stared at the paper.
It contained photographs of Grace entering several Callaway properties over the years.
There were payment records.
Bank transfers.
And a signed agreement.
I looked up at my mother.
“Is this true?””
Grace's eyes filled.
“Yes.””
My stomach dropped.
Victoria laughed.
“Now we're getting somewhere.””
Nathaniel shook his head.
“Explain yourself, Grace.””
My mother looked at me.
“I had no choice.””
Victoria stepped closer.
“You always had a choice.””
Then she pointed at Grace.
“Tell Rose who gave Richard the information that led to her foster placement.””
Grace covered her mouth.
I looked between them.
“Who?””
My mother began to cry.
“I did.””
The words hit harder than any slap.
“You told them where I was?””
Grace nodded.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
Victoria laughed.
“Such a beautiful excuse.””
Then she pulled another document from her jacket.
“This is the original agreement. And it proves something even worse.””
Nathaniel took one step forward.
“What?””
Victoria smiled.
“Your mother was paid to keep Rose hidden until her twenty-eighth birthday.””
I looked at Grace.
“Why my birthday?””
She couldn't answer.
Victoria leaned toward me.
“Because tomorrow, sweetheart, you become the only person who can unlock your father's real inheritance.””
May you like
And then she raised her gun.
“Unfortunately, you won't live long enough to collect it.””
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