Chapter 5 - THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT BROKE HER
Julian was in a meeting when Elena burst into his office.
Three executives turned.
His security chief moved toward her.
“Elena—”
She held up her phone.
“My daughter is alive.”
Silence.
Julian stood.
“What?”
Elena's hands shook.
“Someone sent me this.”
She placed the phone on his desk.
Julian studied the photograph.
A sleeping child.
A pink blanket.
A yellow sleeve.
He looked up.
“How recent is it?”
“I don't know.”
“Can you identify the location?”
“No.”
Her voice broke.
“But that's Maisie.”
Julian looked toward Gabriel.
“Get our technical team.”
Gabriel nodded.
Then stopped.
“Sir, we should verify—”
“Now.”
The photograph's metadata had been stripped.
The number was unregistered.
The message had been routed through an anonymous service.
But the image contained one detail.
A reflection in a polished metal surface.
A logo.
A blue star inside a circle.
Julian stared.
Northstar.
He ordered a review of Northstar Child Development Services.
The company claimed to operate therapeutic residential programs for children with complex needs.
Its public website showed smiling families.
Bright classrooms.
Playgrounds.
But the listed office address was a rented mailbox.
The corporate ownership was hidden behind several holding companies.
And one of those companies had received payments from a Vance family security account.
Julian felt cold.
Nathaniel.
Elena sat across from him.
“Do you think she's there?”
Julian looked at her.
“I don't know.”
Her eyes filled.
“Please.”
He leaned forward.
“I won't lie to you.”
She nodded.
“But I'll help you find out.”
That evening, Julian confronted Nathaniel.
They met in the private dining room.
Nathaniel poured whiskey.
“You look terrible.”
Julian didn't sit.
“What is Northstar?”
Nathaniel's hand stopped.
Then he smiled.
“A service provider.”
“For what?”
“Child welfare contracts.”
Julian stared.
“Why are we paying them?”
Nathaniel shrugged.
“Security consulting.”
Julian stepped closer.
“Where is the facility?”
Nathaniel's smile faded.
“Why?”
“Answer me.”
Silence.
Then Nathaniel said:
“You're getting distracted by that gardener.”
Julian went still.
“How do you know about her?”
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
“People talk.”
Julian looked at the silver ring on his brother's hand.
Then said:
“Take it off.”
Nathaniel frowned.
“What?”
“The ring.”
Nathaniel laughed.
“Have you lost your mind?”
Julian stepped closer.
“Take. It. Off.”
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Nathaniel slowly removed the ring.
Julian examined it.
A black stone.
A carved V.
Exactly as Elena had described.
That night, Julian locked his office door.
He looked at the ring.
Then at the photograph of Maisie.
May you like
And realized the danger might not be outside his family.
It might be sitting at his dinner table.
