Chapter 3 - The Service Elevator
Grant took the paper before Andrew could read further.
“This is a personnel issue.”
Andrew caught his wrist.
“Give it back.”
The two brothers stood almost chest to chest.
Around them, guests pretended not to watch while recording every word.
Grant released the page.
“Your daughter is exhausted.
Let’s handle this privately.”
Lily hated how reasonable he sounded.
He always sounded reasonable when somebody else was frightened.
Rosa stepped beside her.
“Would you like me to stay?”
“Yes.”
Dr. Keller folded his arms.
“Mrs. Alvarez was dismissed for disregarding medical instructions.”
“I was dismissed for writing down what happened after you changed her medication.”
“You’re not qualified to interpret—”
“I can read a clock.”
Noah looked toward the service doors.
Lily noticed.
So did Grant.
“Security,” Grant said quietly.
Two men approached.
Andrew raised a hand.
“Nobody touches anyone.”
But Grant had already leaned toward the taller guard.
A short instruction.
Too low for Lily to hear.
Rosa heard enough.
She grabbed Noah’s hand.
“We’re leaving.”
“No,” Lily said.
Rosa bent close.
“Baby, I’m not leaving you again.
I’m getting him somewhere safe.”
Andrew pulled out his phone.
“I’ll have my driver take you.”
Grant interrupted.
“That won’t be necessary.”
The taller guard stepped between Andrew and Rosa.
“Sir, we need to clear the floor.”
In the confusion, Rosa and Noah disappeared through the service doors.
Lily spun her chair.
“Where are they going?”
Nobody answered.
She pushed toward the exit.
A hand caught one handle.
Dr. Keller.
“Lily.”
“Let go.”
“You’re upset.”
She slapped his hand away.
The sound cracked across the ballroom.
Andrew stared.
Lily didn’t apologize.
She rolled through the doors and into a narrow corridor smelling of dish soap.
At the far end, the service elevator stood open.
Noah was inside with the tall guard.
Rosa was on the floor.
For half a second, Lily couldn’t understand what she was seeing.
Then Rosa lifted her head.
“He took my phone.”
The elevator doors began closing.
“Noah!”
The boy shoved something through the narrowing gap.
A small black flash drive skidded across the tile.
“Your mom knew!” he shouted.
The doors shut.
Lily reached the elevator too late.
Behind her, Andrew entered the corridor.
He looked down at Rosa, then at the flash drive beneath Lily’s wheel.
May you like
From inside the descending elevator came a single heavy bang.
Then nothing.
