Chapter 7 - The Empty Hospital Bed
Julian ran through the hospital doors so fast security barely caught up with him.
Lily's room was empty.
Her stuffed rabbit lay on the floor.
One bed rail was down.
Dana Brooks stood in the hallway with two nurses, her face tight.
"She was here ten minutes ago. A woman in navy scrubs told the nurse she was taking Lily for imaging."
"There was no imaging ordered," Julian said.
"We know."
Maya looked toward the elevator. "Cameras."
Hospital security pulled the footage.
At 7:18 a.m., a woman wearing a surgical mask pushed Lily in a wheelchair toward the east elevators.
At 7:20, the woman removed the mask inside the parking garage.
Maya recognized her.
"Celeste Grant. Vivian's sister."
Julian swore under his breath.
Celeste had visited the mansion only twice. She lived in Chicago and worked in luxury real estate. Or that was what Vivian had said.
Police issued an alert for Celeste's rented black sedan.
Maya could not stand still.
"Lily would not go quietly with her."
Dana nodded. "Unless she was threatened."
Julian's phone lit up with a video call from an unknown number.
He answered.
Vivian appeared on the screen.
She was sitting in the back of a moving car.
"You overreacted," she said. "Now everyone is making this ugly."
Julian's voice shook. "Where is my daughter?"
"Safe, if you do what I ask."
Maya moved closer so she could hear.
Vivian smiled.
"Tell the police Maya lied about the balcony. Tell them Lily is confused. Tell Rachel Kim the trust page is valid."
"You think I'm going to help you steal from my child?"
"No," Vivian said softly. "I think you're going to help me keep her alive."
A small voice cried in the background.
"Daddy?"
Julian's face changed.
"Lily!"
The screen went black.
A text arrived immediately.
NO POLICE. BRING THE ORIGINAL TRUST TO THE OLD MERCER LAKE HOUSE.
May you like
Maya knew that house.
It had a second-floor deck over deep water.
