Chapter 3 - THE CAR WAITING OUTSIDE
Victoria’s bridal suite was empty.
Her gown bag, passport, and purse were gone. A service elevator camera showed her leaving with her father, Charles Mercer, the Vale Group’s chief financial officer.
But Marcus found something worse.
A black SUV had been idling across from the hotel since noon.
The driver was the same man who appeared on Clara’s hidden phone in a photograph labeled MR. DANE.
When security approached, the SUV tore into traffic.
Adrian left Clara with two female officers and ran with Marcus to the garage.
“Tell the police everything,” Marcus said.
“I am.”
“You’re also about to chase a man through downtown Boston in a tuxedo.”
“He knows where Elise is.”
“That is not evidence.”
“No. Clara is.”
They caught the SUV at a red light three blocks away.
Marcus boxed it in with a security vehicle. Dane jumped out, ran through an alley, and nearly reached a crowded subway entrance before Adrian tackled him against a brick wall.
Dane laughed through a split lip.
“You still don’t understand what you married into.”
“I didn’t marry anyone.”
“Then Victoria failed.”
Adrian grabbed his collar.
“Where is Elise?”
Dane’s smile disappeared.
“You think Victoria built this by herself?”
Police sirens closed in.
Dane reached inside his coat.
Marcus slammed him to the pavement before he could pull the object free.
It wasn’t a gun.
It was a key card.
RAVENWOOD RECOVERY CENTER.
Adrian stared at the name.
He knew Ravenwood.
A private neurological clinic north of the city. The Vale Foundation had donated three million dollars to it the previous year.
At Victoria’s request.
Dane began laughing again.
“You paid for the place yourself.”
May you like
Adrian felt sick.
Then Dane leaned closer and whispered, “If you want Elise alive, don’t let the police get there first.”
