Chapter 2 - The Locked Service Elevator
Adrian pushed himself up from the ballroom floor.
Blood ran from a cut near his temple.
“Find them!”
Security guards spread through the ballroom.
Guests crowded against locked doors.
Celeste stood near the stage.
She looked frightened.
But not surprised.
Adrian noticed.
He walked directly toward her.
“You knew the lights would go out.”
Celeste shook her head.
“You’re not thinking clearly.”
Adrian grabbed her shoulders.
“Where is the child?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is the baby?”
“I said I don’t know!”
A security guard rushed toward them.
“Mr. Vale, the west service door was forced open.”
Adrian released Celeste.
“Show me.”
They ran through the catering corridor.
A trail of broken champagne glasses led toward the service elevator.
Mia’s torn scarf lay on the floor.
Adrian picked it up.
Fresh blood stained one corner.
His stomach tightened.
The elevator indicator showed basement level two.
“Open it.”
The guard pressed the call button.
Nothing happened.
“The system is locked.”
Adrian slammed his palm against the doors.
“Override it.”
The guard used his radio.
“No response from the basement team.”
Adrian looked at the emergency stairwell.
“Then we go down.”
They reached basement level two in less than a minute.
The underground loading area was almost completely dark.
One delivery truck stood with its rear doors open.
Its engine was running.
Adrian saw movement inside.
“Mia!”
The little girl kicked against a man wearing a catering uniform.
The man held one hand over her mouth.
The baby was inside a cardboard crate lined with tablecloths.
Adrian charged forward.
The man threw Mia aside and reached into his jacket.
A gun appeared in his hand.
“Stop!”
Adrian froze.
The man pointed the weapon at the baby.
“One more step and this ends badly.”
Mia struggled to stand.
“Don’t hurt him!”
The gunman glanced toward the exit ramp.
A black SUV was waiting outside.
Adrian raised both hands.
“Take whatever money you want.”
“This isn’t about money.”
The gunman smiled.
“It’s about making sure some stories are never told.”
Celeste appeared behind Adrian.
She stood at the bottom of the stairwell.
Her breathing was uneven.
The gunman looked at her.
For one brief second, their eyes met.
Adrian saw the recognition between them.
“You know him.”
Celeste’s face went blank.
“No.”
The gunman cursed.
Then he grabbed the baby’s crate and began backing toward the SUV.
Mia suddenly bit his hand.
He yelled and struck her across the face.
Adrian lunged.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the concrete wall.
Adrian slammed into the man and knocked him to the ground.
The baby’s crate tipped sideways.
Mia threw herself forward and caught it before it hit the floor.
The gunman punched Adrian in the ribs.
Then he ran toward the SUV.
A security guard tried to block him.
The SUV accelerated.
The guard dove out of the way.
The vehicle disappeared up the ramp.
Adrian knelt beside Mia.
A red mark spread across her cheek.
The baby screamed in her arms.
“You saved him.”
Mia shook her head.
“He saved me first.”
Adrian looked confused.
Mia gently touched the baby’s small hand.
“When I was sleeping behind the bakery, I heard him crying.”
“If he hadn’t cried, I wouldn’t have moved.”
“The garbage truck came two minutes later.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
The baby had been almost crushed.
A police siren echoed outside.
Celeste turned toward the stairwell.
Adrian stood.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
She stared at him.
“You think I hired that man?”
“I think he looked at you before he ran.”
Celeste crossed her arms.
“I have never seen him before.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Then you won’t mind answering questions.”
Detectives entered the garage.
The first was a broad-shouldered woman named Lena Brooks.
She looked at Adrian’s bleeding head.
Then at Mia’s bruised face.
Then at Celeste.
“No one leaves until I understand what happened.”
Mia carefully handed the baby to a paramedic.
As the paramedic checked him, something fell from inside his blanket.
It was a small black flash drive.
Mia stared at it.
“That wasn’t there before.”
Adrian picked it up.
A white label had been attached to one side.
Only three words were written on it.
May you like
FOR ADRIAN VALE.
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