Chapter 4 - THE BURNER PHONE
Salvatore was upstairs before Dr. Hale finished explaining.
The nurse opened Ruby’s medicine cabinet.
Three bottles.
Pain reliever.
Anti-inflammatory medication.
A mild nighttime prescription used only when pain prevented sleep.
Salvatore checked each label.
“Are these right?”
The nurse frowned.
“The labels are.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
She opened the nighttime bottle.
Counted.
Then counted again.
“These pills aren’t the correct shape.”
Salvatore felt the floor shift beneath him.
“What are they?”
“I don’t know.”
Marco took the bottle.
“We’ll send it to the lab.”
Lucinda appeared in the hallway, flanked by security.
“This is absurd.”
Salvatore walked toward her.
“Did you switch Ruby’s medication?”
“No.”
“Did you ask how to make her sleepy?”
“I asked a general question.”
“About a six-year-old.”
“She wasn’t sleeping!”
“You weren’t her doctor.”
“She needed rest.”
“She needed protection.”
Lucinda looked away.
Marco’s phone buzzed.
He read the message.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“East gate caught movement.”
“Who?”
“Lucinda’s driver.”
Lucinda’s head snapped toward him.
Salvatore saw it.
“Bring him in.”
Five minutes later, the driver was stopped before he reached the highway.
He wasn’t driving Lucinda’s usual car.
He was driving a black sedan registered to a shell company.
Inside the trunk, security found two suitcases.
Lucinda’s clothes.
Cash.
A passport.
And a phone.
A cheap burner.
Lucinda finally lost her composure.
“That isn’t mine!”
Marco unlocked it.
“No passcode.”
Salvatore took the device.
Dozens of deleted-message previews remained cached.
M: HE SUSPECTS NOTHING.
L: RUBY TALKED.
M: THEN CONTROL THE CHILD.
L: HE’S CANCELED TWO TRIPS BECAUSE OF HER.
M: MAKE HIM WANT TO LEAVE.
Salvatore looked up.
“Who’s M?”
Lucinda said nothing.
He scrolled.
Another message.
M: ONCE THE PAPERS ARE SIGNED, YOU WON’T HAVE TO DEAL WITH HER.
Salvatore’s stomach turned.
“What papers?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who is M?”
“Someone is setting me up.”
“From your phone?”
“Not my phone.”
“Found with your clothes?”
“My driver could have—”
The phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Unknown number.
Marco whispered, “Answer it.”
Salvatore did.
He said nothing.
A man’s voice came through.
“You idiot, why are you still there?”
Salvatore looked at Lucinda.
The color left her face.
The voice continued.
“Get out before DeLuca figures out the trust documents.”
Salvatore’s eyes narrowed.
“What trust documents?”
Silence.
The caller realized.
“You’re not Lucinda.”
“No.”
Salvatore’s voice was ice.
“I’m DeLuca.”
The call disconnected.
Marco immediately started tracing the number.
Lucinda took one step backward.
Then another.
Salvatore noticed something in her hand.
A tiny metal object.
“Open your hand.”
“No.”
“Lucinda.”
She ran.
Marco moved.
But Lucinda slammed her palm against the wall.
A hidden fire alarm shattered under the pressure.
Sirens exploded through the house.
Sprinklers activated.
Guests screamed downstairs.
Security rushed to evacuate the ballroom.
In the confusion, Lucinda disappeared through the service corridor.
Marco swore.
Salvatore grabbed the radio.
“Find her!”
Then his phone rang.
Ruby’s nurse.
He answered instantly.
“Yes?”
Her panicked voice came through.
“Mr. DeLuca…”
Salvatore’s blood went cold.
“What?”
May you like
“Ruby isn’t in her bed.”
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