Chapter 5 - The Apartment
Victor wanted Grant confronted immediately.
Marcus refused.
“You have suspicion, not proof.”
“I have a vehicle chasing children.”
“You have a vehicle owned through three companies by a trust his office manages. If we move too early, everybody burns documents.”
Victor hated when Marcus was right.
Eli hated something else.
“You’re talking while my mom’s notebook is still there.”
Victor looked at him. “Where exactly?”
Eli hesitated.
“Inside the wall behind the stove.”
Marcus swore under his breath.
An hour later, Marcus and Eli went to the abandoned apartment in East Boston while Victor stayed behind with Leah and the younger children.
Victor hated waiting. The wheelchair had stolen more than his legs; it had made other people become his hands.
Leah watched him glare at the clock.
“You know paralysis didn’t make you patient.”
“Nothing has.”
She almost smiled.
Then Victor’s right calf jumped.
He stared down.
Leah immediately knelt.
“Again?”
“Yes.”
She tested his reflexes.
This time his foot moved clearly.
Victor’s breath caught.
Nora clapped both hands over her mouth.
Sam yelled, “He did it!”
Rosie laughed because everyone else had made noise.
Victor looked at the baby.
For the first time in eleven months, hope hurt more than despair.
His phone rang.
Marcus.
Victor answered immediately.
“We found the notebook,” Marcus said.
“Good.”
“No. Not good.”
A crash sounded through the phone.
Then Eli shouted.
Victor gripped the receiver.
“Marcus?”
Gunfire cracked once.
Twice.
The line went dead.
Victor shouted for his driver, forgetting for half a second that Marcus was his driver.
Leah grabbed his shoulder.
“Victor.”
He looked toward the door.
Another phone rang.
This one belonged to Eli.
Nora picked it up from the table.
A text message appeared from an unknown number.
WE HAVE THE BOY.
BRING VICTOR HALE THE RED NOTEBOOK IF YOU WANT HIM BACK.
Nora whispered, “But Marcus has the notebook.”
Victor’s phone buzzed.
A photo arrived.
May you like
Marcus lay bleeding on the apartment floor.
The notebook was gone.
