Chapter 2 - Nobody Leaves
Roman handed Maisie to his chief of staff, Anika Shah.
“Stay with her. No one takes her anywhere without my permission.”
He dropped through the hatch, landed knee-deep in icy water, and caught Elena when she tried to stand. Her body shook. One wrist carried a dark ring where plastic restraints had been pulled too tight.
“You need a hospital.”
“I need my daughter alive.”
“She's safe.”
Elena shook her head. “Not while he's still here.”
Above them Victor's polished shoes appeared at the opening.
“Roman,” he called, pleasant as ever. “Our guests are getting uncomfortable.”
Roman lifted Elena toward two housekeepers. “Good. Maybe they'll remember tonight.”
As Roman climbed out, Dax quietly moved between the front doors and the crowd.
“Everybody remain calm,” he said. “It's a plumbing issue.”
Elena heard the lie and started fighting to get down. “Don't close that hatch! The air line runs from here to the old flood station. They'll drown!”
Victor's smile thinned. “The woman is confused. I found her stealing and placed her on leave. Clearly she slipped back in.”
“You placed her on leave by locking her beneath a floor?” Roman asked.
“No one locked her anywhere.”
Then Maisie spoke from Anika's arms. “The tall man with the silver watch did.”
Every gaze moved to Victor's left wrist, where a silver watch shone beneath his cuff.
Victor laughed once. “Children imagine things.”
“Children notice things,” Elena whispered.
At precisely 8:34, the chandeliers flickered. An electric hum rose beneath the marble.
Roman took out his phone. “Anika, call Detective Mara Keene. Tell her it's an emergency. And get a medic.”
Dax put his hand over the phone. “Police aren't necessary. We can manage this privately.”
Roman stared at the hand until Dax removed it.
“Step away from me.”
A security guard near the staircase pulled a pistol. Guests screamed and ducked.
Victor didn't move.
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Dax faced Roman, a strange sadness in his eyes. “I'm sorry, boss. We were supposed to have another hour.”
He aimed his own gun at Anika and the little girl.
