Chapter 8 - Suite 1908.
By eight in the morning, Victoria was standing outside Suite 1908 at the Beaumont Grand.
She had not called Daniel.
She had not warned hotel management.
Marcus had obtained access through the hotel's security director, an old friend who understood the seriousness of the situation.
Lily waited in a secure office downstairs with Mrs. Whitmore, who had joined them from Ashford House.
Victoria entered the suite with Marcus and two officers from a private security detail.
Daniel was gone.
But he had left in a hurry.
An open suitcase lay on the bed.
A shirt hung half out of a drawer.
Two phones rested on the desk.
One had been smashed.
The other was locked.
Marcus photographed everything before touching it.
Victoria walked into the sitting area.
On a low table sat a file marked E. HART.
Her hands went numb.
Inside were copies of medical evaluations describing Eleanor as delusional, unstable, and unable to manage financial decisions.
Several reports were signed by doctors at St. Agnes.
One page contained a photograph of Eleanor taken only six months earlier.
Victoria stared at her sister's face.
Eleanor was thinner.
Her dark hair was shorter.
But she was alive.
Victoria touched the photograph with two fingers.
"He knew."
Marcus did not answer.
He did not need to.
Daniel had known exactly where Eleanor was.
A second folder contained surveillance photographs of Lily walking to school, sitting in a library, and buying bread with her mother.
Victoria's anger became physically painful.
Then Marcus found a handwritten note in Daniel's desk.
M wants the competency order completed before quarterly vote.
Child complicates inheritance.
Keep V calm until signatures are secured.
V.
Victoria read the last line three times.
Keep Victoria calm.
She thought about Daniel's gentle advice over the last year.
Delay the audit.
Trust Malcolm.
Do not upset the board.
Sign the revised governance agreement.
They had not simply hidden Eleanor from her.
They had been managing Victoria too.
Marcus opened the closet.
A garment bag contained Daniel's tuxedo from the gala.
The silver wolf cufflinks were missing.
"He knows Lily recognized them."
A phone rang behind them.
Everyone turned.
It was the locked phone on Daniel's desk.
The screen displayed only one letter.
M.
Victoria answered.
She said nothing.
Malcolm's voice came through immediately.
"Did you get the girl out before Victoria realizes what she has?"
Victoria's face went cold.
There was silence on the other end.
Then Malcolm spoke again.
"Daniel?"
Victoria finally answered.
"No."
Malcolm hung up.
Marcus had recorded the call.
For the first time, they had Malcolm's own voice connected directly to the plan involving Lily.
But before Victoria could react, Mrs. Whitmore called from downstairs.
Her voice was frantic.
"Miss Victoria, Lily is gone."
Victoria ran.
The secure office door was open.
A hotel employee lay dazed in the hallway after being shoved into a cart.
On the floor was Lily's pink blanket.
The black handbag was gone with her.
Beside the blanket lay a folded piece of hotel stationery.
Victoria opened it.
The handwriting looked exactly like Eleanor's.
May you like
Bring the girl to the winter garden.
Come alone if you want to see your sister alive.
