Chapter 12 - THE LAST SAFE PLACE
The kidnappers didn't call immediately.
That was what frightened Marco.
People who wanted money usually called quickly.
People who wanted revenge didn't.
And people who wanted information could wait.
Marco assembled every trusted person he had left.
Daniel arrived.
Lucas arrived.
Sofia stayed with Elena.
They searched every security camera in Manhattan.
Then Daniel found something.
"The van disappeared from surveillance here."
He pointed at the screen.
An abandoned subway entrance.
Marco looked at Lucas.
"You know the place?"
Lucas nodded.
"Old Bellini property."
"Why would they take Mia there?"
"Because my father used it."
Marco grabbed his coat.
Elena stopped him.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"My daughter is there."
"I'm bringing her back."
"I am coming."
Marco stared at her.
Then nodded.
"Stay behind me."
The underground property was dark.
Water dripped from the ceiling.
Old rooms lined the corridor.
Then they heard a child's voice.
"Mommy?"
Elena ran.
Marco caught her arm.
"Wait."
A door opened.
Mia stepped out.
Alone.
Elena pulled her into her arms.
"Are you hurt?"
Mia shook her head.
"No."
"Who brought you here?"
Mia pointed behind her.
"A lady."
"What lady?"
"She said she knew Grandma."
Sofia approached.
"What did she look like?"
Mia described her.
Sofia's face went pale.
"The lawyer."
Marco frowned.
"The woman from the photograph?"
Sofia nodded.
"She's alive."
A voice came from the darkness.
"Very much alive."
The woman stepped forward.
She was elegant.
Calm.
Older.
And smiling.
Marco raised his weapon.
"You."
She laughed.
"Put that down."
"Where is my father?"
"Dead."
Marco's eyes narrowed.
"You killed him?"
"I finished what he started."
Lucas stepped forward.
"What do you want?"
She looked at Elena.
"Her mother's evidence."
Elena shook her head.
"I don't have it."
"You do."
"No."
"Your mother hid it inside something you have carried since childhood."
Elena thought about the box.
The ring.
The photographs.
The old driver's license.
Then she remembered.
A music box.
She had never opened the bottom compartment.
She looked at the woman.
"You don't know where it is."
The woman smiled.
"I know exactly where it is."
She raised a small remote.
"Give it to me."
Marco stepped closer.
"No."
The woman pressed the button.
A timer appeared.
Five minutes.
Lucas whispered:
"She's wired the building."
Elena looked at Mia.
Then at Marco.
Then at Lucas.
She knew what she had to do.
"Take Mia."
Marco shook his head.
"No."
"Take her."
"I'm not leaving you."
"You said you'd protect her."
"I will."
"Then do it."
Elena walked toward the woman.
She removed the old necklace she had worn since childhood.
Inside the pendant was a tiny key.
The woman's smile disappeared.
"You have it."
Elena held it up.
"What does it open?"
The woman whispered:
"The truth."
Suddenly gunfire erupted above them.
The ceiling shook.
Marco pulled Elena down.
Lucas grabbed Mia.
Daniel shouted:
"We're surrounded!"
The woman disappeared through a side passage.
Marco looked at the timer.
03:42
Elena grabbed his hand.
"We need to move."
May you like
They ran.
The explosion came before they reached the exit.
