Chapter 7 - THE HOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE LAKE
The police traced one of the messages to a disposable phone used near an abandoned lakeside property.
The property belonged to a company connected to Victor Sloane.
Investigators obtained the necessary authorization and moved quickly.
Adrian provided records showing Victor's connection to the site.
Dante assisted by identifying vehicles associated with the company.
Evelyn waited at the hospital.
Every minute felt like an hour.
At 1:12 a.m., Detective Reyes called.
“We found her.”
Evelyn stood so quickly her chair fell backward.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
She began sobbing.
“Is she hurt?”
“She's conscious. Paramedics are examining her.”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Adrian stood beside her.
He didn't speak.
He simply placed a hand on her shoulder.
When Margaret arrived at the hospital, Evelyn ran toward her.
“Mom!”
Margaret hugged her tightly.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Evelyn cried against her shoulder.
“I thought I'd lost you.”
Margaret stroked her hair.
“I'm here.”
Later, Detective Reyes explained that Margaret had been held against her will by two men connected to Victor's operations.
Both were arrested.
Investigators recovered communications linking the abduction to efforts to intimidate Evelyn.
Victor was now the focus of a much larger investigation.
But he had disappeared.
That night, Adrian sat alone in his office.
Dante entered.
“Boss.”
Adrian looked up.
“What?”
“Victor's gone.”
Adrian nodded.
“I expected that.”
Dante hesitated.
“He emptied two accounts and boarded a private aircraft.”
“Destination?”
“Unknown.”
Adrian looked toward the window.
Then said:
“He'll come back.”
Dante frowned.
“Why?”
May you like
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Because he thinks he can still win.”
