Chapter 4 - THE ESCAPE THROUGH THE KITCHEN
The first masked man charged toward Evelyn.
She fired into the metal floor near his foot.
The shot forced him back.
The second man grabbed Lena.
He pulled her in front of his body like a shield.
Evelyn lowered the gun immediately.
“Let her go.”
The man tightened his arm around Lena’s throat.
“Drop the weapon.”
Lena’s face twisted with pain.
Evelyn slowly placed the pistol on the floor.
The third masked man kicked it away.
The mechanic struggled to stand.
“Take Evelyn.”
“Leave the other one.”
Lena looked at Evelyn.
There was fear in her eyes.
But there was also understanding.
She suddenly drove her elbow into the masked man’s ribs.
At the same time, Evelyn pulled a silver serving knife from her sleeve.
She threw it.
The blade struck the emergency release beside the fire door.
A heavy steel panel dropped between the corridor and the elevator.
One masked man was trapped on the opposite side.
Evelyn grabbed Lena’s wrist.
“Run.”
They raced into the hotel kitchen.
Chefs and dishwashers scattered as the masked men followed.
Trays crashed.
Steam filled the air.
The executive chef shouted for everyone to take cover.
Evelyn overturned a preparation table behind them.
The masked men jumped over it.
Lena pointed toward the freezer.
“There is another exit.”
They rushed inside.
The cold air hit them immediately.
Rows of frozen food surrounded them.
Evelyn pulled the door shut.
Lena locked it.
For one second, both women breathed.
Then the freezer light went out.
Lena whispered.
“They cut the power.”
A shadow moved between the storage shelves.
Evelyn raised the serving knife.
“Stay behind me.”
The shadow stepped closer.
A man emerged wearing a hotel security uniform.
Evelyn recognized him.
Caleb Ross.
Her former chief financial officer.
The man who had cried the loudest at her memorial.
Caleb raised his empty hands.
“Do not attack me.”
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.
“You signed the transfer that removed me from the hotel trust.”
“I was forced.”
“You became acting chairman two days after my disappearance.”
“I was trying to keep the company alive.”
Lena looked between them.
“You chose an interesting place to explain yourself.”
Caleb moved closer.
“Adrian has people everywhere.”
“I came through the loading dock.”
Evelyn did not lower the knife.
“How did you know I was alive?”
Caleb reached into his jacket.
Evelyn pressed the blade against his throat.
“Slowly.”
He removed a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Evelyn standing outside a clinic in northern Italy six months earlier.
Someone had circled her face in red ink.
On the back, three words were written.
FINISH HER TONIGHT.
Lena’s breathing became shallow.
Caleb looked at Evelyn.
“Adrian did not hire the shooter.”
“Then who did?”
May you like
Caleb swallowed.
“Your sister.”
