Chapter 10 - NO HEIRS
Adrian left the restaurant before Grant finished standing.
He called Grace.
No answer.
Thomas called.
No answer.
Elias reached the apartment first.
The door was open.
Grace lay unconscious in the hallway.
Emma was crying beside her.
The crib was empty.
Adrian arrived seconds later.
He looked once at Grace.
Then at the crib.
“Lily.”
Emma ran toward him.
“Mr. Adrian!”
He dropped to his knees.
“Where’s the baby?”
“The police man took her.”
“What police man?”
“The one with Uncle Marcus.”
Adrian’s blood went cold.
Grace stirred.
Thomas helped her sit.
She touched the back of her head.
“He had a badge.”
“I thought Elias sent him.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Marcus had used one of the compromised officers from his files.
Thomas asked Emma, “Did Marcus say anything?”
Emma nodded.
“He said baby Lily had to go home.”
Adrian stood.
Elias said, “We’ll find her.”
“No.”
Everyone looked at Adrian.
“He wants me to find him.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Lily was crying in the background.
Adrian’s hand tightened.
Marcus spoke.
“Now we can finally stop pretending you’re in control.”
“Put her on.”
“She’s eight months old.”
“She doesn’t have much to say.”
“Marcus.”
His voice turned quiet.
“If you touch her—”
“There.”
Marcus laughed.
“That’s the man I understand.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“What do you want?”
“Everything Evelyn collected.”
“Every copy.”
“Every account.”
“Every recording.”
“And Thomas.”
Thomas looked at him.
“Where?”
Marcus gave an address.
The old riverfront terminal.
The same development Adrian had been sent to on the day Evelyn died.
The circle was complete.
“Midnight.”
“Come alone.”
The line ended.
Thomas immediately said, “I’m going.”
“No.”
“He asked for me.”
“He asked because he wants you dead.”
“And Lily?”
Adrian looked toward Emma.
She was crying silently against Grace.
Adrian knelt beside her.
“Emma.”
She wiped her eyes.
“Yes?”
“You helped me find Lily once.”
She nodded.
“I need you to help me again.”
He showed her a picture of Marcus.
“When he took Lily, what was he wearing?”
“A blue coat.”
“Anything else?”
Emma thought.
“His shoe was dirty.”
“What kind of dirt?”
“White.”
Thomas frowned.
“White?”
Emma nodded.
“Like chalk.”
Elias looked at Adrian.
“The river terminal is under renovation.”
“Drywall dust.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Too easy.”
Then Grace spoke.
“St. Catherine’s.”
Everyone turned.
“The clinic basement had white plaster dust.”
“Marcus used the river terminal address to pull us away.”
Adrian understood.
“He expects Elias to prepare the terminal.”
“Which leaves the clinic empty.”
Thomas grabbed his coat.
They arrived at St. Catherine’s at 11:18.
No exterior lights.
No visible guards.
Adrian entered through the rear tunnel.
He heard Lily before he saw Marcus.
Her cry came from the old surgical wing.
Adrian moved toward it.
Marcus sat in the operating room.
Lily was strapped safely into an infant carrier on the far side of the room.
Adrian’s heart nearly stopped at the sight of her.
Marcus held a pistol.
He smiled.
“I knew you’d figure it out.”
Adrian looked at Lily.
“Are you hurt?”
Marcus laughed.
“She’s fine.”
“I’m not a monster.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You murdered her mother.”
Marcus’s smile faded.
“She was collateral.”
“No.”
“She was the point.”
Marcus stood.
“Give me the evidence.”
Adrian held up a drive.
“First, Lily.”
“No.”
“Then nothing.”
Marcus walked closer.
“You still think you have leverage?”
Adrian looked toward his daughter.
“She’s my leverage.”
Marcus nodded.
“Exactly.”
“And that has always been your weakness.”
Adrian took a slow breath.
“No.”
“She’s the first strength I’ve ever had that didn’t depend on someone being afraid of me.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You sound like Evelyn.”
“Good.”
Marcus raised the gun.
“You should’ve buried the child when you had the chance to believe she was dead.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
May you like
“You should never have said that.”
Behind Marcus, Thomas stepped silently from the dark.
