Chapter 7 - THE EMPTY MOTEL ROOM
Evelyn’s car was found outside a motel near Interstate 17.
The room was empty.
No blood.
No struggle.
No luggage.
Only her purse sitting on the bed.
Inside was her phone.
And a handwritten note.
I'M SORRY.
Nothing else.
Police assumed she left voluntarily.
Christopher didn't.
Neither did I.
We pulled surveillance video.
At 1:43 a.m., my mother entered the motel alone.
At 2:06, a man wearing a baseball cap entered through a side door.
At 2:19, the camera feed cut out.
At 2:41, the man left.
My mother never appeared again.
Naomi froze a frame.
“Look.”
The man’s left hand rested briefly against the door.
He wore a heavy silver ring.
Christopher leaned closer.
“I know that ring.”
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
My stomach turned.
“How?”
“He wore it when he worked for me.”
“Twenty-three years later?”
“Victor likes symbols.”
The police were notified.
But we had something they didn't.
Victor wanted the Meridian Trust.
That meant he needed something from me.
Which meant my mother was leverage.
At noon, I received a message.
Unknown number.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT EVELYN ALIVE.
Then an address.
An abandoned warehouse near the Salt River.
Christopher read it.
“No.”
“She’s my mother.”
“She betrayed you.”
“She’s still my mother.”
“He expects that.”
I looked at him.
“You would leave her?”
Christopher's expression hardened.
“I would not trade you for Evelyn.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
“You're considering walking into a trap.”
“Yes.”
“That is the same thing.”
I stared at him.
Twenty years earlier, I might have obeyed.
Not anymore.
“Then help me make it a bad trap.”
An hour later, I drove alone toward the warehouse.
At least, that was what Victor was supposed to believe.
A tiny microphone was hidden beneath my shirt.
Christopher’s security team remained several blocks away.
Police had not been informed.
I didn't love that.
Christopher trusted police slightly less than he trusted snakes.
The warehouse door stood open.
I stepped inside.
“Mom?”
Nothing.
Then a light clicked on.
Evelyn sat tied to a chair.
Her mouth was taped.
Behind her stood Victor Sloane.
He was older than I expected.
Sixty-five, maybe.
Thin.
Silver hair.
Expensive coat.
He looked more like a retired professor than a criminal.
“Genevieve.”
“Let her go.”
He smiled.
“You have your father’s directness.”
“And my mother’s bad judgment.”
Evelyn started crying.
Victor chuckled.
“She finally told you.”
“Enough.”
He stepped closer.
“Do you know what Christopher took from me?”
“You stole from him.”
“That is his version.”
“What’s yours?”
“We were partners.”
“Were you?”
“I built half his empire.”
“And then stole twelve million dollars?”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“He stole my life first.”
I didn't care.
“What do you want?”
“Access.”
“To Meridian?”
“Yes.”
“I don't control it.”
“Not yet.”
“My birthday is six weeks away.”
“Exactly.”
He knew everything.
“What does Chad get?”
Victor laughed.
“Chad?”
His expression made my skin crawl.
“Chad gets what weak men always get.”
“What?”
“Used.”
A sound came from behind me.
The warehouse door slammed shut.
I turned.
May you like
Chad stepped from the shadows holding a gun.
And the barrel was pointed directly at my chest.
