Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT EMMA DISAPPEARED
Emma vanished on a Thursday evening.
She had been leaving the assisted-care facility after visiting her mother.
A woman approached her in the parking lot.
She wore medical scrubs.
Carried a clipboard.
And claimed there was a problem with her mother's insurance paperwork.
Emma followed her toward the administration entrance.
Then a van pulled up.
Two men stepped out.
Emma tried to run.
One grabbed her arm.
The other covered her mouth.
Within seconds, she was inside the vehicle.
When Emma failed to arrive home, her neighbor contacted police.
Marcus received a call shortly afterward.
Adrian was in a board meeting when the message appeared on his tablet.
He read it.
Then stood.
The meeting stopped.
Adrian signed:
Emma is missing.
Marcus nodded.
Adrian's expression turned cold.
Find her.
Emma woke in a small office.
Her wrists were tied.
A fluorescent light buzzed overhead.
Nolan Pierce sat opposite her.
He smiled.
"Hello, Emma."
She stared.
"What do you want?"
Nolan leaned forward.
"You ruined a very simple arrangement."
Emma swallowed.
"You lied to me."
He shrugged.
"Business."
"You threatened my mother."
His smile faded.
"Then perhaps you should cooperate."
He placed a document on the table.
It was a statement.
It claimed Emma had knowingly accepted money to spend the night with Adrian Voss.
It also claimed Adrian had threatened her afterward.
Emma stared.
"That's a lie."
Nolan smiled.
"Sign it."
She shook her head.
"No."
His expression hardened.
"Emma."
She looked at him.
"I said no."
Nolan stood.
He approached slowly.
"You have no idea what kind of people you're dealing with."
Emma's heart hammered.
Then she remembered Adrian's words.
Judge what I do.
She lifted her chin.
"I know exactly what kind of person you are."
Nolan stopped.
Emma continued.
"You're a coward who hides behind a man you think can't understand what's happening."
May you like
His face twisted.
And for the first time, his smile disappeared completely.
