Chapter 10 - The Kidnapper Asked For One Letter
Victoria nearly collapsed.
Andrew caught her.
She shoved him away, not from anger but because she needed to move.
“Find her.”
Police spread through the property.
Marcus pulled security feeds onto three monitors in the library.
The nanny was found locked inside a downstairs pantry.
She was terrified but unharmed.
“I turned around for two seconds,” she cried. “Someone called my name from the kitchen. When I stepped inside, the door slammed.”
“Did you see anyone?”
“No.”
Victoria gripped the edge of the table.
Andrew stood beside her, white-faced.
The distorted caller had given them fifteen minutes.
Bring Evelyn’s letter to the old boathouse at the edge of the estate.
No police.
No security.
Andrew immediately told police everything.
Victoria looked at him.
“You’re risking Lily.”
“I’m not walking into a boathouse alone while somebody controls the situation.”
“She’s four.”
“I know exactly how old my daughter is.”
His voice broke on the last word.
Victoria saw tears in his eyes.
It was the first time she had seen Andrew cry since Evelyn’s funeral.
Detective Rachel Kim, the lead officer, spoke calmly.
“We can comply without complying. We’ll create distance and keep surveillance.”
Victoria shook her head.
“They’ll see you.”
“Not if they’re focused on you.”
Andrew looked at her.
“No.”
“The caller said bring the letter.”
“They called my phone.”
“They didn’t say you had to carry it.”
Andrew understood what she intended.
“No.”
Victoria stared at him.
“Our daughter asked me not to let you take her because somebody taught her to fear you.”
Her voice trembled.
“I am not letting that person keep controlling us.”
Andrew’s face crumpled.
Then he nodded.
Detective Kim made the plan.
Victoria would approach the boathouse with a copy of Evelyn’s letter.
Andrew would remain out of sight with police.
Caroline was kept inside under supervision.
Natalie was transported to the hospital.
Before Victoria left, Caroline caught her wrist.
“Vic.”
Victoria turned.
“If something happens—”
“Don’t.”
“I need you to know I never wanted Lily hurt.”
Victoria studied her sister.
“Then why did you manipulate her?”
Caroline cried silently.
“Because I thought Andrew was going to take both of you away from me.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It will.”
Victoria wanted to demand an explanation.
There was no time.
She walked across the dark lawn toward the boathouse.
The estate sat on a wooded reservoir outside Baltimore, and the September air smelled of damp leaves and cold water.
The boathouse door stood open.
A single lantern glowed inside.
Victoria entered.
“Lily?”
Nothing.
“Mommy!”
The voice came from above.
Victoria looked up.
Lily stood behind the railing of the loft.
A woman held her hand.
Victoria couldn’t see the woman’s face.
“Let her go.”
“Put the letter on the table.”
The voice sounded electronically distorted through a small device.
Victoria obeyed.
“Now send Lily down.”
The woman stepped into the light.
Victoria froze.
It wasn’t Natalie.
It wasn’t Caroline.
It was Dr. Elena Morris.
For a moment, Victoria couldn’t process what she was seeing.
Elena had left the mansion with paramedics.
Or everyone thought she had.
The bandage remained on her forehead.
Lily looked confused rather than terrified.
“Mommy, Doctor Elena said Daddy is sick.”
Victoria’s blood turned cold.
“Elena, step away from my daughter.”
Elena removed the voice distorter.
“You have no idea what you married into.”
Victoria stared.
“You attacked yourself?”
“No.”
“Then what is this?”
“I’m trying to keep Lily alive.”
Victoria heard movement outside.
Elena heard it too.
Her eyes widened.
“You brought police.”
“You kidnapped my daughter.”
“I rescued her.”
“From whom?”
Elena looked toward the dark window.
“From the person who killed your mother.”
Victoria stopped breathing.
Then a floorboard creaked behind her.
She turned.
Someone had entered the boathouse.
Andrew.
He had ignored police instructions and followed her inside.
Elena saw him.
Her face filled with terror.
She pulled Lily behind her.
May you like
“There,” she whispered.
“That’s who Evelyn was afraid of.”
