Chapter 2 - The Man Who Should Have Been Dead
At 4:17 p.m., Dr. Lena Morales walked into the private surgical waiting room at St. Catherine's.
Anthony Castellano stood first.
“Is he alive?”
Lena removed her surgical cap.
“He is.”
Sofia covered her mouth.
Anthony exhaled.
Their uncle, Raymond Castellano, remained seated near the window.
“How bad?”
“Bad enough that another ten minutes could have changed the outcome.”
Anthony looked away.
Lena continued.
“The injury caused significant internal bleeding. The surgical team controlled it. He's receiving blood, and he'll remain in intensive care.”
“Can we see him?”
“Not yet.”
Raymond finally spoke.
“Who found him?”
Marcus stood near the door.
“Adeline Boudreaux.”
Raymond frowned.
“The maid's kid?”
“Camille's daughter,” Marcus corrected.
Anthony stared.
“The toddler?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She entered the office, found Vincent unconscious, dragged a chair to his desk, climbed onto it, pressed the emergency line, told security where she was, and stayed with him until we arrived.”
Sofia slowly lowered herself into a chair.
“She isn't even three.”
“No.”
Raymond gave a short, humorless laugh.
“That's ridiculous.”
Marcus looked at him.
“What part?”
“A toddler doesn't know emergency procedure.”
“This one did.”
“Convenient.”
The room became quiet.
Marcus's voice dropped.
“What exactly are you suggesting?”
Raymond raised his hands.
“Nothing.”
“Then don't.”
Anthony stepped between them.
“Enough. Where is Camille?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Missing.”
That changed everything.
Sofia stood again.
“What do you mean missing?”
“She was last seen at the estate shortly before Vincent was attacked.”
“And Adeline?”
“With Clara.”
“You left that child there?”
“The estate is under lockdown and protected by twenty-three security personnel.”
Raymond muttered, “Worked beautifully for Vincent.”
Marcus turned toward him.
“Which is why nobody leaves.”
Raymond's face hardened.
“Are you accusing this family?”
“I'm accusing whoever did it.”
A nurse entered.
“Mr. Ellery?”
“Yes?”
“The patient is awake.”
Everyone moved.
The nurse raised her hand.
“Only one visitor.”
Anthony said, “I'm his brother.”
But from inside the room came Vincent's weak voice.
“Marcus.”
Anthony froze.
Marcus entered.
Vincent looked terrible.
Machines surrounded him.
His skin was pale, and oxygen ran beneath his nose.
But his eyes were alert.
“Camille?” he asked.
“Still missing.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“What happened?” Marcus asked.
Vincent remained silent.
“Who attacked you?”
“I didn't see.”
“You didn't see the person?”
“No.”
“What do you remember?”
Vincent opened his eyes again.
“A knock.”
“Who?”
“I said come in.”
“And?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“I remember standing.”
“Why?”
Vincent frowned.
“There was something on my desk.”
“What?”
“Envelope.”
Marcus leaned closer.
“What envelope?”
“Cream paper. No name.”
“What was inside?”
“I don't know.”
“You didn't open it?”
“I was going to.”
“And then?”
“Nothing.”
Marcus studied him.
“Your office had no envelope when we entered.”
Vincent's expression sharpened.
“Then somebody took it.”
“Camille was apparently told you requested coffee.”
“I didn't.”
“I know.”
Vincent's jaw tightened.
“Find her.”
“We will.”
“Not we.”
Marcus understood.
“You think she's a target.”
Vincent stared at the ceiling.
“I think whoever came into my office wanted us looking in the wrong direction.”
Marcus said nothing.
Vincent turned his head.
“Where's Addie?”
“Safe.”
“Does she know?”
“She knows you're hurt.”
A faint smile touched Vincent's face.
“She told me to keep my eyes open.”
“I heard.”
“She sounded like Camille.”
Marcus smiled despite himself.
“Apparently Camille runs a strict emergency-response program.”
The smile disappeared from Vincent's face.
“Marcus.”
“Yes?”
“Don't let my family near Adeline alone.”
Marcus went still.
“You think—”
“I don't know what I think.”
“Vincent.”
“I said don't.”
Marcus nodded.
“Done.”
Back at the estate, Adeline refused to sleep.
Clara had changed her into pajamas, but she sat on the kitchen counter hugging Albert.
“Mama coming?”
Clara's eyes filled.
“Yes, baby.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
Adeline looked toward the doorway.
“Uncle Vin doctor?”
“Yes.”
“Doctor fix?”
Clara swallowed.
“They're trying.”
Adeline nodded solemnly.
Then she said something Clara did not understand.
“Lady took Mama.”
Clara froze.
“What?”
“Lady took Mama.”
“Which lady?”
Adeline swung her legs.
“Pretty lady.”
Clara crouched.
“Addie, what lady?”
“Red shoes.”
“When did you see her?”
Adeline pointed toward the hall.
“Mama go with lady.”
Clara immediately called Marcus.
Twenty minutes later he was back at the estate.
Adeline sat in the library with Clara.
Marcus crouched several feet away.
“Addie, Miss Clara says you saw Mama with somebody.”
“Yes.”
“A lady?”
“Yes.”
“What did she look like?”
Adeline shrugged.
“Lady.”
Marcus almost smiled.
Of course.
“What was she wearing?”
Adeline looked down at Albert.
“Shoes.”
“What kind?”
“Red.”
“Anything else?”
“Shiny.”
“Did Mama know her?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“She said her name.”
Marcus's pulse increased.
“What name?”
Adeline frowned.
He waited.
Children could not be interrogated like adults.
Push too hard and you changed the memory.
“It's okay if you don't remember.”
Adeline whispered something.
“What?”
“Fee.”
Marcus frowned.
“Fee?”
“Fee-a.”
His stomach dropped.
“Sofia?”
Adeline looked at him.
“Aunt Fia.”
Marcus didn't move.
Sofia Castellano.
Vincent's sister.
One of the five people with administrator access to the security system.
Marcus stood.
“Clara, stay with her.”
He walked into the corridor and called the hospital.
Anthony answered.
“Where's Sofia?”
“What?”
“Where is she?”
“She left ten minutes ago.”
“Why?”
“Said she needed air.”
“Was she wearing red shoes today?”
Silence.
“Anthony.”
“Yes.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Find her.”
He disconnected and opened the security app on his phone.
Sofia's vehicle had left the hospital garage nine minutes earlier.
Destination unknown.
Marcus called Gate One.
“Did Sofia Castellano leave the estate this afternoon?”
A guard checked.
“Yes, sir.”
“What time?”
“2:14.”
Three minutes after Camille entered the east hallway.
Marcus felt something cold settle in his stomach.
“Was she alone?”
Another pause.
“The passenger side wasn't visible on the camera.”
“Find every exterior camera between the east entrance and Gate One.”
“Yes, sir.”
Marcus returned to Adeline.
She had finally fallen asleep against Clara.
The stuffed alligator was beneath her chin.
Marcus stared at her.
A toddler had just given him the first real lead in the case.
But it was a lead that pointed directly toward Vincent Castellano's sister.
His phone rang.
Security.
“Sir, we found another camera.”
“And?”
“It catches the reflection from Ms. Castellano's vehicle as she passes the fountain.”
Marcus held his breath.
“Passenger?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
The guard hesitated.
“Camille Boudreaux.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Was she conscious?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did she appear restrained?”
“No.”
That complicated everything.
Camille had willingly entered Sofia's car.
Why?
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Mrs. Boudreaux was carrying something.”
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“A cream-colored envelope.”
The same kind Vincent remembered seeing on his desk.
Marcus looked at sleeping Adeline.
Now Camille was not merely missing.
She had apparently walked away with the only piece of evidence from Vincent's office.
May you like
And the woman driving her away was Vincent's own sister.
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