Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT MAYA WAS TAKEN
I should have known something was wrong when the bakery across from my apartment closed early.
The street was too quiet.
The delivery truck parked outside had no company markings.
And the man standing beside it kept checking his watch.
I called Christian.
No answer.
I called Agent Shaw.
Voicemail.
Then my apartment door opened behind me.
I turned.
A man stood in the hallway.
Dark coat.
Scar along his cheek.
He smiled.
"Maya Cole."
My stomach dropped.
Nathan Knox.
I stepped backward.
He raised his hands.
"Relax."
I looked toward the stairs.
Two more men appeared.
Nathan sighed.
"Don't make this difficult."
I ran.
I made it halfway down the stairwell before someone grabbed my arm.
I screamed.
A hand covered my mouth.
Then everything went dark.
When I woke, I was tied to a chair in a windowless room.
My head throbbed.
A single light burned overhead.
Victoria Sterling stood before me.
She wore a white silk blouse.
Perfect makeup.
And no engagement ring.
"Well," she said.
"The famous waitress."
I stared.
She smiled.
"You ruined a very expensive evening."
I swallowed.
"Your fiancé survived."
Her expression hardened.
"Former fiancé."
I looked around.
Concrete walls.
One metal door.
A faint smell of oil.
I tried to steady my breathing.
Victoria leaned closer.
"Where are the records?"
I stared.
"What records?"
She slapped the table.
"Don't insult me."
I flinched.
She smiled.
"There she is."
I looked at her.
She wanted fear.
She wanted me to beg.
I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
"The investigators have them," I said.
Victoria's face changed.
"What?"
"They have everything."
She stared.
Then laughed.
"You think that matters?"
I said nothing.
She leaned closer.
"Money buys silence."
I looked at her.
"Not forever."
Her smile disappeared.
She turned toward Nathan.
"Call Christian."
Nathan hesitated.
Victoria snapped:
"Now."
He took out his phone.
Dialed.
Waited.
Then handed it to her.
Victoria smiled.
"Christian."
Silence.
She continued.
"I have something you want."
A pause.
Then Christian's voice came through the speaker.
Low.
Controlled.
"Put Maya on."
Victoria laughed.
"Not yet."
Christian's voice hardened.
"If you hurt her—"
Victoria interrupted.
"Then what?"
Silence.
She smiled.
"Come alone. Bring the original records."
Christian said nothing.
Victoria continued.
"Or your little waitress disappears."
She ended the call.
Then looked at me.
"See?"
I stared.
"What?"
She smiled.
"Men like Christian always choose power."
I looked at her.
May you like
And whispered:
"Then you don't know him anymore."
