Chapter 11 - The Empty Car
Daniel ran through the service door.
The driveway behind the house was filled with catering vans and staff vehicles. One black sedan was moving toward the eastern gate.
“Close the gate,” Daniel shouted into his phone.
His security director responded immediately.
The iron gate began sliding shut.
The sedan accelerated.
Daniel ran toward his own vehicle, but Claire appeared from the side entrance.
“That’s Eleanor’s car.”
“Lily is inside.”
Claire grabbed the passenger door as Daniel started the engine.
“I’m coming.”
They drove across the lawn toward the gate.
The black sedan stopped inches before the closing barrier.
Daniel left his car and ran.
The driver’s seat was empty.
The rear door stood open.
Inside, Eleanor was unconscious.
Lily was not there.
Daniel checked his mother’s pulse.
She was breathing.
A small cut near her hairline explained the blood found beside the necklace.
Claire searched the floor.
“Someone moved them into another vehicle.”
Daniel looked toward the service road beyond the trees.
A delivery van had left through the western gate minutes before the lockdown.
His phone rang.
Rebecca.
“Where is Lily?” Daniel demanded.
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I was inside when the lights went out.”
“You disappeared after the recording.”
“Because someone pushed me.”
“Who?”
“I couldn’t see.”
Daniel looked back toward the house.
“Did you take the silver key?”
“No.”
“Did Mother?”
“She thought you had it.”
Daniel ended the call and contacted his security team.
“Stop every vehicle within five miles. Find the delivery van that exited the western gate.”
Claire looked inside Eleanor’s car.
“There’s something under the seat.”
She removed a white envelope.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was one of the photographs from Lily’s scrapbook.
Anna stood beside the lake, wearing the sapphire necklace.
Someone had written across the image in black ink.
Bring token seventeen to the old center.
Come alone if you want the child alive.
Daniel crushed the edge of the photograph in his hand.
Claire took it from him.
“The old center was demolished.”
“Then what remains?”
“The underground records room.”
“Where?”
Claire hesitated.
“Beneath the east wing.”
Daniel looked at the brass token.
“Why would the kidnapper want this?”
“Because the token and necklace must be used together.”
“The necklace was left behind.”
Claire glanced toward Eleanor.
“Maybe they already opened the first lock.”
Daniel called his security director again.
“Send police to the old Monroe Center.”
Claire grabbed his wrist.
“No.”
“They have Lily.”
“And if the person sees police, they will disappear through the tunnels.”
“What tunnels?”
“The records room connected to the old heating system. Martin Vale used it to move files without staff seeing him.”
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
“Did she know?”
“Eleanor knew more than she admitted, but I don’t think she took Lily.”
“She was standing beside her before the lights went out.”
“She was also struck.”
Daniel wanted to believe his mother was responsible. It would make the enemy familiar.
But the open car door, the envelope and Eleanor’s injury suggested someone else had entered the house during the blackout.
“Who could disable the power?” he asked.
“Someone with access to the original security system.”
“Thomas Vale.”
Claire nodded.
Daniel called his security team.
“Locate Thomas Vale.”
The answer came after several seconds.
“Mr. Vale arrived at the party twenty minutes ago. His car is still in the driveway.”
“Where is he now?”
“We thought he was with the guests.”
Daniel looked toward the house.
Thomas had been inside when Amelia’s recording played.
He had heard Eleanor’s voice.
He had seen Daniel discover the sapphire necklace and token.
Daniel ran back toward the estate.
Inside the main hall, guests were being questioned.
Rebecca sat beside Sophie.
Daniel crossed the room.
“Where is Thomas?”
Rebecca looked confused.
“He left after the fire.”
“His car is still here.”
Eleanor was brought inside on a stretcher. She opened her eyes.
Daniel moved beside her.
“Who took Lily?”
Eleanor struggled to focus.
“A man.”
“What man?”
“He said Anna should have kept the agreement.”
“Was it Thomas?”
Eleanor’s fingers closed around Daniel’s wrist.
“No.”
“Who?”
Her eyes filled with terror.
“Your father.”
Daniel stared at her.
“My father is dead.”
May you like
Eleanor’s grip tightened.
“That is what he paid Thomas to make you believe.”
