Chapter 5 - The Man in the Nursery
Dominic moved before the scream ended.
He drew a pistol from beneath his jacket and sprinted for the stairs.
Hannah followed until Vincent caught her around the waist.
"Stay down."
"The girls are up there!"
"So are armed men."
Another crash came from the second floor.
Then two muffled shots.
Hannah ripped free.
Vincent swore and ran after her.
The emergency lights kicked on halfway up the staircase, washing the hall in dim red.
Dominic stood outside the nursery door.
A man in black lay facedown near the window, blood spreading from his shoulder. Another security guard had him pinned.
Inside, Rosa clutched Lily and Grace.
Emma's crib was empty.
Hannah stopped breathing.
"Where is she?"
Rosa pointed toward the bathroom with shaking hands.
A small cry came from inside.
Hannah rushed in.
Emma sat behind the half-open door, unharmed, hugging a stuffed rabbit.
Hannah fell to her knees and pulled the child close.
Emma buried her face against Hannah's chest.
"Mama."
Hannah closed her eyes.
"I'm not your mama, sweetheart."
But she held her anyway.
Dominic dragged the wounded intruder upright by his jacket.
"Who sent you?"
The man laughed through clenched teeth.
"You're late, Vale."
Dominic pressed the gun beneath his jaw.
"Try again."
Vincent stepped in. "Boss, alive is useful."
The intruder looked past Dominic and saw Hannah holding Emma.
Something like surprise flashed across his face.
Then fear.
"She's real."
Hannah stared at him. "What does that mean?"
The man smiled weakly.
"Sofia said there were two."
Dominic's grip tightened.
"Where is Sofia?"
The intruder coughed.
"Ask your uncle."
Then he bit down hard.
Vincent grabbed his face, but it was too late.
A bitter almond smell cut through the hall.
The man convulsed and collapsed.
Hannah recoiled.
Dominic looked at Vincent.
"Cyanide capsule."
Vincent nodded grimly.
Dominic turned toward Hannah.
"We go to the storage unit now."
"With the girls?"
"No. They go to the safe house."
Rosa shook her head. "Dominic..."
"No arguments."
Hannah looked down at Emma.
The child had stopped crying.
Her little fingers were curled around Hannah's locket.
Then Hannah noticed something caught in the hinge.
A folded sliver of paper.
She opened the locket with trembling hands.
The tiny photograph of her father lifted away.
May you like
Behind it, hidden for twenty-six years, were four words written in faded blue ink.
There were two girls.
