Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN IN THE SECURITY FOOTAGE
Lorenzo did not take Sofia back to the penthouse.
That surprised Elena more than anything.
Instead, they went to a private pediatric clinic on the Upper East Side owned by one of Lorenzo’s oldest friends.
Elena insisted on coming.
Lorenzo did not argue.
Sofia’s fever was still dangerously high, but the doctor said Elena’s decision to warm her gradually and give her fluids may have prevented the situation from becoming much worse.
Lorenzo stood beside the examination table throughout every test.
He never checked his phone.
Never took a business call.
Never left Sofia’s side.
Elena watched him quietly.
This was not the man from the newspapers.
Or perhaps it was.
Maybe newspapers only photographed one version of people.
After nearly two hours, the pediatrician stepped into the hall.
“She’ll be all right.”
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
Elena felt tension leave the room.
“But she needs monitoring tonight.”
“She’ll have it,” Lorenzo said.
The doctor looked at Elena.
“You found her?”
“Yes.”
“You did everything right.”
Elena almost laughed.
She had done almost nothing right.
She had taken a missing child home instead of calling emergency services.
She had hidden her.
She had transported her across Queens.
Somehow, it had worked.
That did not make it responsible.
Lorenzo seemed to read her expression.
“You kept her alive.”
“Stop saying that.”
“Why?”
“Because I was scared and guessing.”
“You were scared and you stayed.”
Elena looked at him.
Lorenzo’s eyes were tired.
“Most people don’t.”
The words sounded personal.
Before she could ask, Matteo Bellini entered the hallway.
Elena recognized the voice from the phone.
He was in his forties, broad-shouldered, with careful eyes and a gray streak in his dark hair.
He stopped when he saw Elena.
“Ms. Reyes.”
She did not smile.
Matteo looked at Lorenzo.
“We found the sedan.”
“Driver?”
“Gone.”
“Owner?”
“One of our shell companies.”
Lorenzo’s jaw tightened.
“Who authorized access?”
“We’re checking.”
Matteo hesitated.
“There’s more.”
He handed Lorenzo a tablet.
Security footage played.
Timestamp.
12:06 a.m.
A hallway inside the Moretti penthouse.
A woman walked past the camera carrying Sofia.
Elena leaned closer.
The woman wore a pale uniform.
Household staff.
Lorenzo stared.
“Claudia.”
“Who is she?” Elena asked.
“Sofia’s night nanny.”
The footage continued.
Claudia reached an elevator.
The doors opened.
Someone was already inside.
The face was hidden by the camera angle.
But Elena saw a hand.
Male.
Gold watch.
Distinctive black stone ring.
Claudia handed Sofia into the elevator.
Then she stepped back.
The doors closed.
“She gave the baby away,” Elena whispered.
Lorenzo’s face became hard.
Matteo nodded.
“We found Claudia’s phone in the staff locker room.”
“Where is she?”
“We don’t know.”
“Family?”
“No husband.”
“Parents?”
“Florida.”
“Find her.”
Matteo nodded.
Elena watched the footage again.
Something bothered her.
“Pause.”
Matteo did.
“Go back.”
He rewound.
Claudia approached the elevator.
“Stop there.”
The image froze.
Elena pointed.
“She’s crying.”
Lorenzo looked.
The quality was poor.
But Elena was right.
Claudia’s face was wet.
“She doesn’t look like someone stealing a baby,” Elena said.
Matteo’s expression remained guarded.
“She handed Sofia to someone.”
“She also keeps looking behind her.”
Lorenzo stared at the image.
“Like someone is forcing her.”
Elena nodded.
Matteo zoomed in.
Claudia’s left hand was partially visible.
There was writing across her palm.
Three numbers.
417.
Lorenzo frowned.
“Apartment?”
“No apartment 417 in the building,” Matteo said.
Elena looked at him.
“Hotel room?”
Matteo turned toward her.
“What hotel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why would you think hotel?”
“Because people who work in hotels remember room numbers.”
Lorenzo studied the image.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes.”
His face changed.
“When?”
Silence.
“Send it.”
He ended the call.
Matteo looked at him.
“What?”
“They found Claudia.”
Elena’s stomach sank.
“Is she okay?”
Lorenzo did not answer immediately.
“She’s alive.”
Elena exhaled.
“Where?”
“Bellevue.”
“What happened?”
“Someone left her unconscious in a parking garage.”
Matteo looked furious.
“She spoke?”
“For thirty seconds.”
“What did she say?”
Lorenzo looked at the frozen image.
“Room 417.”
Elena stared at him.
“You were right.”
Lorenzo reached for his coat.
Matteo blocked him.
“You’re not going.”
“I’m absolutely going.”
“It could be a trap.”
“Then make sure it isn’t.”
Elena stepped closer.
“What hotel?”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“The Chatzsworth.”
Her stomach dropped.
“My hotel?”
“Yes.”
“Room 417?”
Matteo checked his phone.
“Registered yesterday under the name Charles Avery.”
Elena knew that name.
Not personally.
But she had seen it.
“Wait.”
Both men turned toward her.
Elena tried to remember.
Then it came back.
“Avery.”
“What?”
“Last night.”
Her pulse quickened.
“I cleaned the private dining lounge on the fourth floor.”
Lorenzo became very still.
“There was a man.”
“What man?”
“I never saw his face clearly.”
“What did you see?”
Elena closed her eyes.
Black stone ring.
Gold watch.
Exactly like the hand in the elevator footage.
May you like
She opened her eyes.
“The man who took Sofia was at my hotel before she ever disappeared.”
