Chapter 3 - THE WRONG KID TO KIDNAP
Marcus didn’t scream.
That scared Clara more than if he had.
He stood in the rain with the broken chain in his fist.
Then he turned toward security.
“Lock every gate.”
“Sir—”
“Call the police. Track every vehicle that left this property. Pull every camera feed from the last hour.”
Vanessa appeared beneath the doorway.
“What happened?”
Marcus stormed toward her.
“You tell me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Leo is gone.”
For the first time that night, Vanessa looked genuinely shocked.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Silence.
Marcus grabbed her arm.
“What did you say?”
Vanessa stared at him.
“I said I didn’t know that happened.”
“No. You said it wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“I misspoke.”
Marcus’s face twisted.
“You know who took my son.”
“No.”
“Tell me.”
“I don’t.”
He moved closer.
“If he gets hurt—”
“Marcus!”
Clara caught his sleeve.
He looked ready to tear the house apart with his bare hands.
“The cameras,” she said. “We need the cameras.”
That snapped him back.
They rushed into the security room.
One monitor showed the driveway.
Another showed the kitchen.
Another showed the west hall.
The footage from the foyer was black.
“Why is that camera down?” Marcus demanded.
A security officer typed quickly.
“It lost power thirty seconds before the abduction.”
“Only that camera?”
“Yes.”
Clara stared.
“That wasn’t random.”
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She said nothing.
Then an officer pointed at another screen.
“There.”
A black SUV crossed the rear gate.
Marcus leaned closer.
The plate was hidden.
But the driver turned just enough for the camera to catch his profile.
Vanessa whispered, “Oh my God.”
Marcus heard her.
“You know him.”
“No.”
“You know him.”
Clara looked at the screen.
The driver was broad-shouldered, bald, wearing a dark jacket.
Vanessa backed toward the door.
Marcus blocked her.
“Name.”
“I don’t know him.”
“Name!”
Vanessa flinched.
“Derek Shaw.”
“Who is Derek Shaw?”
She looked sick.
“He used to work for Julian.”
Marcus went still.
“Julian Cross?”
His business partner.
His best friend for twenty-three years.
Vanessa nodded.
Marcus pulled out his phone.
Clara watched his face as he called.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Then Clara’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone stared at it.
She answered carefully.
“Hello?”
A boy’s whisper came through.
“Clara?”
Her heart stopped.
“Leo?”
Marcus snatched the phone.
“Leo! Where are you?”
“Dad?”
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay.”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know.”
In the background, an engine roared.
Leo whispered, “They think I still have the ring.”
Marcus looked at the broken chain.
“What?”
“I switched it.”
Clara leaned closer.
“With what?”
“I gave them Grandpa’s old ring from my desk.”
Marcus shut his eyes.
His son had outsmarted professional kidnappers.
“Where’s your mother’s ring?”
Leo whispered, “Clara has it.”
Everyone turned toward her.
Clara froze.
“What?”
“When Vanessa grabbed me, I put it in your apron pocket.”
Clara’s hand went to her uniform.
She reached inside.
Her fingers touched cold metal.
Vanessa stared at her.
Marcus stared at her.
Clara pulled out the gold ring.
And the phone went dead.
Marcus’s face changed.
“Trace that call.”
An officer shook his head.
“Too short.”
Marcus grabbed his keys.
“I’m going to Harbor Road.”
The officer blocked him.
“Police are on the way.”
“My son doesn’t have time.”
Clara closed her hand around the ring.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“You need this.”
She held it up.
Marcus hesitated.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You cannot go to that house.”
Marcus turned.
“Why?”
She was crying now.
“Because if Julian knows you found Elena’s message…”
Her voice broke.
“…he’ll kill Leo before you ever reach the front door.”
Marcus stared at her.
“How do you know that?”
Vanessa looked at the floor.
Then whispered the sentence that changed everything.
May you like
“Because Julian killed Elena.”
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