Chapter 4 - The First Challenge
Elena removed the cassette from the recorder and placed it inside her shirt.
Beatrice gripped her cane with both hands.
“I can hit him,” the older woman whispered.
“He weighs nearly three hundred pounds.”
“I’ll aim low.”
Elena pointed toward a narrow ventilation shaft at the back of the room.
“Can you fit through there?”
“At my age, I can fit anywhere if properly motivated.”
The footsteps above shifted.
Marcus struck the steel panel with something heavy.
“You have one minute,” he called. “Then I burn the garage.”
Elena examined the chamber.
There was one entrance, one ventilation shaft, and no obvious emergency exit.
Her father would never have built a secure room without a second way out.
She moved to the map and pulled its corners away from the wall.
Behind the map was a red lever.
Elena pulled it.
A section of shelving released with a soft click.
Beyond it, a tunnel extended toward Beatrice’s property.
The old woman smiled.
“Your father always liked dramatic exits.”
Elena guided Beatrice inside.
“What about you?”
“I need to keep Marcus here while you get Lily.”
“Elena—”
“Take Lily through your basement and call Maya from a landline. Use the phrase ‘Lantern is active.’ She’ll understand.”
“What will you do?”
“Make Marcus believe he won.”
Beatrice entered the tunnel.
Elena closed the shelf behind her and climbed the stairs.
Marcus stood near the center of the garage holding a red gasoline can.
Two of Warren’s security employees waited beside him.
They wore gray jackets and carried expandable batons.
Marcus looked at Elena’s empty hands.
“Where’s the old woman?”
“What old woman?”
He studied her face.
“You were downstairs.”
“Was I?”
Marcus kicked the steel door wider.
One guard descended.
The other remained near the exit.
Marcus set down the gasoline.
“My father offered you a fair price for this place.”
“My answer hasn’t changed.”
“It will.”
He walked toward the medal case and tapped the glass.
“Your father thought the same way. Proud men always believe pride makes them difficult to kill.”
Elena’s expression did not change.
“You know how he died?”
“Everyone knows. Tragic accident.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
Marcus smiled.
“Neither do you.”
The guard returned from below.
“Room’s empty.”
Marcus stared at him.
“That’s impossible.”
“Shelves, desk, old equipment. Nobody else.”
Elena folded her arms.
“You entered private property, threatened arson, and found an empty storage room. Your evening is going well.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
He stepped within inches of her.
“You think the rank on your uniform protects you here?”
“No.”
“What protects you?”
“The fact that you’re afraid of what my father left behind.”
Marcus struck her.
It was not a full punch.
It was a calculated backhand intended to humiliate rather than disable.
Elena allowed her head to turn with the blow.
She did not retaliate.
Marcus looked disappointed.
“You’re supposed to be dangerous.”
“I am.”
“Then fight.”
“Not while your employee records from the van outside.”
His eyes flickered toward the garage window.
Only for a fraction of a second.
It confirmed her guess.
Warren wanted footage of Elena attacking Marcus. An unstable officer assaulting a civilian could lose custody, rank, property, and credibility.
Marcus leaned closer.
“You think you’re clever.”
“I think your father is.”
“He built an empire.”
“On graves.”
Marcus grabbed her collar.
Elena whispered, “That camera is also recording you.”
He released her.
A child’s cry came from the house.
Lily.
Elena’s blood turned cold.
Beatrice had not reached her in time.
Marcus heard it too.
He smiled.
“Looks like your daughter woke up.”
Elena moved toward the connecting door.
The guard blocked her.
Marcus picked up the gasoline can.
“Here’s my offer. You sign the property transfer tomorrow. In return, nothing unfortunate happens to the child.”
Elena looked at the man blocking her path.
“You have five seconds to move.”
He laughed.
At four seconds, Elena struck the nerve above his elbow.
His baton fell.
At three, she drove her shoulder into his chest.
At two, she caught the baton before it hit the floor.
At one, she pressed it beneath his jaw.
The guard froze.
Marcus watched with renewed interest.
Elena released the man and entered the house.
Lily stood in the kitchen.
She was alone.
The back door was open.
Her teddy bear was missing.
Elena rushed to her.
“Are you hurt?”
Lily shook her head.
“A man came through the window.”
“What man?”
“He took Teddy.”
Elena looked back toward the garage.
Marcus had followed her.
He held the teddy bear by one arm.
A small seam along its back had been cut open.
Something metallic gleamed inside the stuffing.
Marcus pulled out a silver key.
His triumphant expression slowly changed.
Attached to the key was a tiny digital recorder.
May you like
A red light blinked.
It had recorded every threat.
