Chapter 7 - The Missing Boy
Valentina was out of the office before anyone could stop her.
“Elliot!”
She ran through the ballroom, past overturned chairs and guests pretending not to stare.
The east sitting room was empty.
A juice box sat open on the table. Elliot’s little jacket was still over the chair.
Marco barked into his radio. “Lock every gate. Nobody leaves.”
Nathan rushed in behind them.
“How does a six-year-old disappear from a guarded room?”
The guard assigned to Elliot looked sick.
“Mrs. Caldwell came in.”
Valentina spun around.
“Gloria?”
“She said you sent her to take him to the car.”
“You let the woman who slapped him take him?”
“She had Mr. Caldwell’s security code.”
Everyone looked at Nathan.
He stared at the guard. “I never gave her my code.”
Marco said, “She didn’t need you to.”
They checked the cameras.
At 9:42 p.m., Gloria walked down the west corridor holding Elliot’s hand.
Elliot looked uncertain but not frightened.
At 9:44, they entered the service elevator.
At 9:46, the loading dock camera went black.
Valentina felt panic rising like fire in her throat.
Then her phone buzzed.
A text from Gloria.
STOP THE POLICE. STOP THE LAWYERS. COME TO THE OLD GREENHOUSE ALONE.
Nathan read over her shoulder.
“No.”
Valentina looked at him.
“She has our son.”
“Our son?” she repeated. “You remembered that now?”
He flinched.
Marco stepped between them. “We can track her.”
Valentina’s phone buzzed again.
A photograph appeared.
Elliot sat inside the dark greenhouse, clutching the same cupcake he had never gotten to eat.
May you like
Below it, Gloria had written:
BRING THE ORIGINAL DEED.
