Chapter 17 - THE OLD THEATER
The Bellini Lyric stood dark on the west side, its marquee stripped for renovation and plywood covering half the lobby windows.
Police sealed the block. Julian stopped Cesare from rushing inside. "Dad. Let them go first." For once, he wasn't protecting himself.
Then a radio call came.
"Child located backstage. Suspect moving toward fly loft."
Cesare and Julian were allowed inside behind officers.
They found Elsie in the wings, tied loosely to a chair with costume ribbon, furious more than frightened.
"Grandpa! Dad!"
Julian reached her first.
He dropped to his knees and untied her hands.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Elsie looked at him carefully.
"Are you still sending me to Vermont?"
Julian broke.
"No. Never. I was wrong. I was stupid and selfish and I hurt you."
"You lied about me."
"I did."
"Because Vanessa didn't like me."
He swallowed. "Yes."
Elsie stared at him for a long second, then leaned into his chest.
"I'm still mad."
Julian held her and cried.
"You should be."
Above them, something crashed.
The kidnapper was running across the fly loft catwalk.
Officers chased her. A bag fell from the railing and burst open on the stage below.
Papers rained down.
Cesare picked one up.
It was another transfer sheet.
Then another.
And another.
Marta, arriving behind him, stared upward.
"That's the missing ledger."
Elsie pointed to the catwalk.
"That lady said she was taking it to the river."
The suspect reached the end of the catwalk and stopped.
Police closed in from both sides.
She ripped off her cap.
Rosa gasped.
"I know her."
It was Vanessa's personal assistant, Lauren Price.
May you like
And Lauren shouted down one sentence before officers grabbed her.
"Vanessa didn't start this. Julian did."
