Chapter 8 - THE MAN IN THE PARKING GARAGE
Evelyn moved faster than security.
She ran toward the elevator.
Rachel chased her.
“What are you doing?”
“Someone's outside.”
“You don't know that.”
“They just took a picture of Noah.”
Rachel stopped.
“Stay with him.”
Evelyn entered the elevator.
Claire jumped inside before the doors closed.
“You're not doing this alone.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Since when do you ignore orders?”
“About nine years ago.”
The elevator descended.
Evelyn almost smiled.
Almost.
They reached the parking garage.
Rows of black vehicles sat beneath fluorescent lights.
Evelyn's phone buzzed again.
LEVEL THREE.
Claire whispered, “That's not creepy at all.”
They climbed one level.
Nothing.
A car alarm chirped.
Evelyn turned.
A man stood beside a concrete column.
Martin Vale.
His gray suit was covered in blood.
Claire stepped backward.
Evelyn stared.
“Martin.”
He lifted both hands.
“It's not mine.”
“Whose is it?”
“Victor's son.”
Evelyn frowned.
“Victor doesn't have a son.”
“Yes, he does.”
Martin laughed bitterly.
“Apparently this family isn't the only one keeping secrets.”
He leaned against the wall.
He looked weak.
“What happened?”
“He came to my office.”
“Who?”
“Ethan Shaw.”
Martin swallowed.
“He thinks the original records belong to him.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor promised him control of the company.”
Evelyn stared.
“My company.”
Martin nodded.
“Charles promised Victor enough shares to take control if anything happened to Daniel.”
Claire whispered, “Jesus.”
Martin looked at Evelyn.
“But then Charles died before restructuring everything.”
“So Victor waited.”
“Victor built alliances.”
“Bought directors.”
“Moved shares.”
“And now Noah threatens all of it.”
Evelyn's phone buzzed.
Another photograph.
This one showed Rachel standing beside Noah's hospital bed.
Taken through the glass from the hallway.
Evelyn's blood went cold.
“He's inside.”
Martin straightened.
“Who?”
“Ethan.”
They ran.
Back upstairs.
Through the lobby.
Toward Noah's floor.
Rachel was yelling before they reached the room.
“My son!”
Evelyn turned the corner.
The hospital door stood open.
The bed was empty.
Rachel grabbed a nurse.
“Where is he?”
“He was just here.”
Security alarms began sounding.
Evelyn looked at Rachel.
Rachel looked back.
Neither needed to speak.
They ran.
A security guard shouted from the far corridor.
“Loading dock!”
Evelyn took the stairs.
Her lungs burned.
Rachel was close behind.
They burst through a steel door.
A black SUV was pulling away.
Noah slammed both hands against the rear window.
“Mom!”
Rachel screamed.
Evelyn ran directly into the road.
The SUV accelerated.
Claire shouted, “Evelyn!”
She didn't move.
At the last second, the vehicle swerved.
Its mirror clipped Evelyn's shoulder.
She spun to the pavement.
Rachel screamed.
The SUV disappeared.
Noah's face vanished behind tinted glass.
Rachel dropped beside Evelyn.
“You idiot!”
Evelyn tried to stand.
Her shoulder wouldn't cooperate.
“Plate.”
“What?”
“License plate.”
Claire arrived.
“I got it.”
Detective Price was already calling dispatch.
Rachel crouched beside Evelyn.
Tears ran down her face.
“They took him.”
Evelyn looked at the road.
“No.”
Rachel stared.
“They took my son.”
Evelyn pushed herself upright despite the pain.
“No.”
Her voice hardened.
“They borrowed him.”
Rachel blinked.
May you like
Evelyn stood.
“And we're taking him back.”
