Chapter 5 - THE EMPTY ROOMThe kidnapping lasted less than three minutes.
That was what made it terrifying.
There was no broken lock.
No shattered window.
No screaming heard by neighbors.
No footprints outside.
Poppy had simply disappeared.
Elias searched every room.
Bianca checked the security system.
Nothing.
Then Marlo noticed a mark on the window frame.
Three letters.
VALE.
Her knees weakened.
“Victor took her.”
Elias looked at the mark.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“He wants us to think he did.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“I don't know.”
Marlo slapped him.
The sound cracked through the room.
“You always say you don't know.”
Elias accepted the hit.
“Be angry.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
He looked at her.
“Anger keeps people alive.”
Marlo wiped tears from her face.
“Bring her back.”
“I will.”
“You don't know where she is.”
“I'll find out.”
Bianca walked toward the security console.
“Wait.”
She pressed a button.
The system displayed the camera footage.
At 4:58 a.m., the hallway was empty.
At 4:59, the hallway remained empty.
At 5:00, the lights flickered.
At 5:01, a shadow appeared.
Then the footage turned black.
Marlo stared.
“The cameras were disabled.”
Bianca shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“They were overwritten.”
“By who?”
Bianca looked at Elias.
“Someone with administrator access.”
Elias's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A child's voice whispered,
“Daddy?”
Elias froze.
Marlo's heart stopped.
“Poppy?”
The voice giggled.
Then a man's voice replaced it.
“Come to Ashby Tower.”
Elias's jaw tightened.
“Where is she?”
“You have three hours.”
“What do you want?”
“The blue envelope.”
Marlo stepped closer.
“Put it on speaker.”
Elias did.
The voice continued.
“Bring Marlo.”
“That's all?”
“No.”
“What else?”
“Bring your mother.”
Bianca closed her eyes.
“Why?”
The caller laughed.
“Because she knows what really happened to Elena.”
Marlo looked at Bianca.
“Elena?”
Bianca's expression collapsed.
“My daughter.”
Elias stared.
“You told me Elena died.”
“I told you she was dead.”
“You said her body was never found.”
“I lied.”
Marlo felt sick.
“How many children are in this?”
Bianca looked at her.
“One.”
“Poppy?”
Bianca shook her head.
“Elena.”
Marlo didn't understand.
“You're saying Elias has a sister?”
“Yes.”
“Then where is she?”
Bianca whispered,
“Inside Victor Vale's organization.”
The call ended.
Elias grabbed his coat.
Marlo followed.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“You need me.”
“This isn't safe.”
“She is my daughter.”
“And she is my child.”
He stopped.
For the first time, anger flashed across his face.
Then he nodded.
“Fine.”
Bianca reached for Marlo's arm.
“You cannot trust anyone at Ashby Tower.”
Marlo pulled free.
“I don't trust anyone anymore.”
Elias looked at her.
“That makes two of us.”
Three hours later, they reached Ashby Tower.
The building rose forty-three floors above downtown.
Every window reflected the gray afternoon sky.
At the entrance, a receptionist looked up.
“Mr. Marchetti.”
Elias stopped.
“How do you know me?”
She smiled.
“Because we've been expecting you.”
Marlo felt Elias tense.
“Where is my daughter?”
The receptionist pointed toward the elevator.
“Forty-second floor.”
“And the others?”
“Waiting.”
The elevator doors opened.
Marlo stepped inside.
Elias followed.
Bianca remained in the lobby.
Marlo looked back.
Her mother-in-law had tears in her eyes.
“Don't let them show you the basement,” Bianca whispered.
The elevator doors closed.
The display began counting upward.
The doors opened.
The hallway was empty.
At the far end stood Preston Ashby.
He looked exhausted.
Terrified.
And beside him was Victor Vale.
A man in a gray suit.
Cold eyes.
Perfect posture.
Victor smiled.
“Welcome, Elias.”
Marlo looked around.
“Where is Poppy?”
Victor's smile widened.
“First, we need to discuss what your mother did eleven years ago.”
Elias stepped forward.
“What did she do?”
Victor looked at Marlo.
“Ask her why your daughter was born under a false name.”
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Then every light in the building turned off.
And from somewhere behind them came the sound of a child crying.
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