Chapter 6 - THE PRICE OF SILENCE
The wedding became a search operation in less than five minutes.
Marcus put hotel exits under watch. Daniel called the police. Noah stood in the service hall repeating Eli's name as if saying it could bring the boy back.
Vivian tried to leave.
Daniel blocked her path.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"A child is missing."
"And what exactly do you want me to do?"
Daniel stared at her.
"Care."
Her face tightened.
"Don't perform morality for me because you're having a crisis."
A detective arrived and began interviewing staff. When he reached Vivian, she calmly denied knowing Marissa beyond event planning.
Noah paced near the elevators.
Then another message came.
DELETE THE LIST. SAY THE SPILL WAS YOUR FAULT. YOUR SON COMES HOME.
Noah showed Daniel.
"I'll do it," he said immediately.
"No."
"He's five."
"I know."
"Then don't tell me no."
Daniel lowered his voice. "If you give them what they want, they learn this works. We get Eli back by making them believe they still have leverage."
Noah looked ready to hit him.
Daniel didn't blame him.
The detective traced the message to a disposable phone last active near the old Mercer textile warehouse by the river.
Marcus looked at Daniel. "Police are moving."
"I'm going."
"No."
"That's not a request."
Vivian laughed softly behind them.
Everyone turned.
"What?" Daniel said.
She shook her head. "You really don't understand what you're walking into."
Noah stepped toward her. "Where is my son?"
Vivian's eyes flicked to him.
"I don't know."
"Then what do you understand?"
For the first time that night, real fear appeared on her face.
Not fear for Eli.
Fear of something else.
She looked at Daniel.
"If Marissa took that child," Vivian whispered, "she isn't doing it for me."
Daniel frowned.
"Then who is she doing it for?"
May you like
Vivian glanced toward her mother.
Celia Cross was no longer in the ballroom.
