Chapter 3 - THE GIRL THEY TOOK
Lucy Croft woke up with duct tape over her mouth and the smell of gasoline in her nose.
Her wrists were tied to the arms of a metal chair.
The room was cold.
Concrete floor.
No windows.
A single bulb swung overhead.
She tried to remember what had happened.
The apartment.
Her chemistry textbook.
Someone knocking.
She had assumed Adeline had forgotten her keys again.
Then the door opened before she reached it.
A man entered.
Another behind him.
Lucy had fought.
She remembered scratching someone’s face.
She remembered a needle.
After that, darkness.
Now she heard voices beyond the door.
A woman.
A man.
The woman sounded angry.
“She wasn’t supposed to see anything.”
Lucy stopped struggling.
“Her sister saw the folder.”
“That doesn’t explain tonight.”
“She took the glass.”
“Exactly.”
A pause.
Then the man said, “Marchetti knows.”
Lucy’s heart pounded.
She didn’t understand the names.
But she understood fear.
The people outside the door were afraid.
That mattered.
She shifted her fingers.
Her left hand was numb.
Her right could still move slightly.
Adeline had taught her something when they were teenagers living with their mother’s boyfriend.
When people bigger than you think they’ve trapped you, don’t waste all your strength proving them right.
Wait.
Watch.
Find the stupid thing they forgot.
Lucy looked around.
A broken piece of metal protruded from the chair’s underside.
Sharp.
Maybe sharp enough.
She began moving her wrist very slowly.
Back at the Marchetti mansion, the engagement party had become a controlled hostage situation of another kind.
Nobody was technically under arrest.
But nobody was leaving.
Enzo stood inside the library with Harrison Ashford.
Camilla sat on a velvet sofa.
Beatrice remained near the fireplace.
Dante stood beside the door.
Marco had begun separating guests according to where they had been standing during the champagne service.
Adeline refused to sit.
“You said you were closing the Ashfords’ gates.”
Enzo looked at her.
“I’m searching their properties.”
Harrison slammed his palm against the desk.
“You will do no such thing.”
Enzo didn’t blink.
“I already am.”
“You have no authority.”
“You’re confusing legal authority with practical ability.”
Dante sighed.
“Enzo.”
“What?”
“As your attorney, I’m required to remind you that sentences like that become expensive in court.”
Enzo looked at Harrison.
“Fine. We’re checking publicly available properties with the enthusiastic cooperation of law enforcement.”
Dante nodded.
“Much better.”
Harrison pointed toward Adeline.
“This entire circus is based on the word of a maid.”
Adeline stiffened.
Enzo walked around the desk.
“The word ‘maid’ keeps leaving your mouth like you think it means ‘liar.’”
“I think it means employee.”
“And your daughter thought it meant target.”
Camilla stood.
“I am right here.”
“I know.”
“Then stop speaking about me as though I’m some monster.”
Enzo looked at the welts on Adeline’s arm.
“I’m using the evidence available.”
Camilla folded her arms.
“Fine. I lost my temper.”
“You hit her four times.”
“Three.”
“The fourth was on the way down.”
Camilla’s nostrils flared.
Beatrice intervened.
“This is getting us nowhere.”
Enzo turned toward her.
“Then help.”
Beatrice stared at him.
“With what?”
“The red folder.”
Her face remained calm.
“What red folder?”
Enzo almost smiled.
It was the first mistake.
Tiny.
But real.
He had not told her what color the altered document folder was.
Adeline noticed too.
Beatrice’s eyes shifted.
Enzo leaned against the desk.
“I didn’t say it was red.”
Nobody moved.
Beatrice recovered quickly.
“You brought a folder upstairs.”
“You were downstairs.”
“I saw it in your hand.”
“No.”
Enzo’s voice was quiet.
“You saw Marco carrying a black evidence envelope.”
Beatrice’s face hardened.
Camilla looked at her.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared between them.
Enzo saw that too.
Interesting.
Maybe they weren’t equal partners.
Maybe one had been using the other.
Harrison stepped between them.
“This is insanity.”
Enzo ignored him.
“Camilla.”
She looked at him.
“What did Beatrice promise you?”
“Nothing.”
“Your father was nervous about something.”
Harrison’s face twitched.
Enzo continued.
“You expected me to sign a document tomorrow.”
Camilla’s lips parted.
“You’re making things up.”
“Which document?”
“I don’t know.”
“You just told me I was making it up before I told you what it was.”
Camilla froze.
Dante looked toward the ceiling.
“People really should hire lawyers before talking.”
Harrison glared at him.
“Shut up, Russo.”
Dante smiled.
“Billable silence costs extra.”
Enzo stepped closer to Camilla.
“What did she promise you?”
Camilla’s confidence cracked.
Beatrice spoke sharply.
“Don’t answer him.”
Enzo looked at his aunt.
That was mistake number two.
Camilla turned slowly toward Beatrice.
“Why not?”
“Because he’s twisting everything.”
“Then explain it.”
“There is nothing to explain.”
Camilla’s breathing changed.
Enzo saw something he had missed during their eighteen-month relationship.
Camilla was cruel.
Entitled.
Violent when embarrassed.
But she was not fearless.
And right now she was afraid of Beatrice.
Not him.
Beatrice.
Enzo softened his voice.
“Camilla.”
She looked at him.
“What did Beatrice tell you would happen after we married?”
“Don’t,” Beatrice said.
Camilla snapped.
“You don’t get to order me around anymore.”
Beatrice’s eyes became ice.
“Think carefully.”
Camilla laughed once.
The sound was shaky.
“You told me this would be easy.”
Harrison grabbed her arm.
“Camilla.”
She jerked free.
“You said Enzo never reads ceremonial paperwork himself because Russo handles it.”
Dante’s expression hardened.
Beatrice lifted her chin.
“You’re confused.”
“No, I’m not.”
Camilla pointed at her.
“You said the trust would give us control.”
Harrison whispered, “Stop.”
Camilla turned on him too.
“You knew!”
“I knew nothing about poison.”
Adeline’s stomach dropped.
Nobody had asked Harrison about poison.
Enzo stared at him.
Harrison realized his mistake.
Too late.
“You knew there was a plan,” Enzo said.
“No.”
“You just separated yourself from the poison.”
“I was responding to what you said downstairs.”
“No, you weren’t.”
Harrison’s face reddened.
Beatrice struck her cane once against the marble floor.
“Enough.”
Everyone looked at her.
The sweet elderly matriarch had disappeared.
Her shoulders were straighter now.
Her voice sharper.
“You all seem determined to destroy yourselves.”
Enzo stared at her.
“You forged the trust.”
Beatrice said nothing.
“You wanted control of my companies.”
Nothing.
“You involved Camilla because the Ashfords would gain access through marriage.”
Harrison looked away.
“And the champagne?”
Beatrice’s jaw tightened.
Enzo stepped closer.
“What was in the champagne?”
No answer.
Adeline thought of Lucy.
“Please.”
Everyone looked at her.
Adeline’s voice shook.
“I don’t care about your companies.”
She looked directly at Beatrice.
“I don’t care who owns what building or what hotel or what bank account.”
Beatrice stared at her.
“I want my sister.”
For one strange second, something moved in Beatrice’s face.
Not compassion.
Recognition.
“You’re Ruth Croft’s daughter,” she said.
Adeline stopped breathing.
Enzo looked sharply at her.
Adeline’s lips parted.
“How do you know my mother?”
Beatrice leaned on her cane.
“That explains everything.”
“What does?”
Beatrice smiled faintly.
“You look like her.”
Adeline stepped forward.
“How did you know my mother?”
Enzo looked between them.
“Beatrice.”
She ignored him.
“Your mother should have left Chicago when she had the chance.”
Adeline’s entire body went cold.
“My mother died when I was seventeen.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Silence.
Adeline’s voice rose.
“How did you know?”
Beatrice looked almost tired.
“Because she made the same mistake you did.”
“What mistake?”
“She noticed things that didn’t concern her.”
Enzo’s expression transformed.
Whatever remained of the nephew disappeared.
Now only the boss remained.
“What happened to Ruth Croft?”
Beatrice looked at him.
“Ask your father.”
Enzo’s eyes narrowed.
“My father has been dead for nine years.”
“Then I suppose some answers die with people.”
Adeline lunged forward.
Marco caught her before she reached Beatrice.
“You knew my mother!”
Beatrice did not flinch.
“You should be worrying about your sister.”
Adeline stopped struggling.
“What did you do to Lucy?”
“Nothing.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Liar!”
Enzo stepped between them.
“Beatrice.”
She looked at him.
“If Lucy dies…”
He didn’t finish.
He didn’t need to.
Beatrice’s mouth tightened.
Dante suddenly checked his phone.
“Marco.”
Marco looked over.
“What?”
“Police found traffic footage near Adeline’s apartment.”
Adeline turned.
“Lucy?”
“Two men carried someone into a gray van.”
“Plate?”
“Partial.”
Marco took the phone.
He read.
Then looked at Enzo.
“Van passed a toll camera heading south.”
“How far south?”
“Last hit was near the industrial district.”
Harrison’s expression changed.
Adeline saw it.
So did Enzo.
He turned slowly.
“You know something.”
Harrison shook his head.
“No.”
Enzo walked toward him.
“Your face just answered.”
Harrison backed up.
“I have warehouses all over the city. That doesn’t mean—”
“Which warehouse?”
“None.”
Camilla stared at her father.
“Dad.”
“Stay out of this.”
“What warehouse?”
“Camilla.”
Her voice cracked.
“You said nobody would get hurt.”
Harrison turned.
“Be quiet.”
“You said this was business.”
“Enough!”
Camilla flinched.
Enzo understood.
Harrison had been promised power too.
Maybe Beatrice had promised everyone exactly what they wanted.
Camilla a crown.
Harrison contracts.
Someone else money.
And Enzo?
A grave.
Marco’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Bellini.”
His gaze sharpened.
“Send it.”
A video arrived.
He watched three seconds.
Then handed the phone to Enzo.
Security footage showed the gray van entering a warehouse complex at 8:43 p.m.
The sign beside the gate read:
ASHFORD COMMERCIAL STORAGE.
Adeline made a sound somewhere between a sob and a gasp.
Enzo looked at Harrison.
Harrison raised both hands.
“I didn’t know.”
“You own it.”
“There are dozens of tenants.”
“Which unit?”
“I don’t know.”
Camilla stared at her father.
“Tell him.”
“I don’t know!”
Enzo handed the phone to Marco.
“Go.”
Marco nodded.
“I’ll take eight men.”
“Take police.”
Marco paused.
Enzo’s jaw tightened.
“I want Lucy alive, Marco. I don’t want a war.”
Marco understood.
He left.
Adeline started after him.
Enzo caught her arm carefully.
“No.”
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“She’s my sister.”
“And whoever took her wants you there.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
The words stopped her.
Enzo looked at her bandaged wrist.
“You saved my life without knowing whether anyone would save yours.”
Adeline’s eyes filled.
“I’m not letting you walk into a trap because you’re scared.”
“I am scared.”
“I know.”
Her voice broke.
“Then stop telling me to stand here.”
Enzo stared at her.
He understood that kind of helplessness.
Waiting while other people decided whether someone you loved lived or died.
He hated it too.
“Fine.”
Dante looked at him.
“Enzo.”
“She comes with me.”
Dante sighed.
“Of course she does.”
Beatrice’s voice floated across the room.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Enzo turned.
“No.”
He looked at the woman who had raised him.
“My mistake was trusting you.”
Then he walked out with Adeline.
Twenty minutes later, Enzo’s convoy raced through Chicago rain toward the industrial district.
Adeline sat beside him in the back seat.
His coat still covered her shoulders.
Neither spoke.
Then her phone rang.
Her phone had been in her locker during the party.
Marco’s men had retrieved it before leaving.
Unknown number.
Adeline stared.
Enzo nodded.
“Answer.”
She did.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then breathing.
“Lucy?”
A whisper.
“Addie?”
Adeline nearly collapsed.
“Lucy!”
“Don’t talk loud.”
“Where are you?”
“I got one hand loose.”
Enzo leaned closer.
Lucy whispered quickly.
“I’m in some kind of warehouse.”
“We’re coming.”
“No.”
“What?”
“There are men here.”
“We know.”
“No, Addie.”
Lucy’s voice trembled.
“One of them is waiting for Mr. Marchetti.”
Enzo’s eyes darkened.
Adeline gripped the phone.
“What do you mean?”
Lucy began crying silently.
“I heard him say the maid was bait.”
Enzo looked toward the rain-covered windows.
Lucy continued.
“He said when Enzo comes through the front door…”
A metallic sound echoed through the phone.
May you like
Then Lucy whispered the words that made Enzo reach for Marco’s radio.
“…they’re going to blow up the building.”
