Chapter 7 - The Service Elevator.
Adrian sprinted toward the private elevator with Mara beside him.
Celeste grabbed Mara's arm just before the doors closed.
"I'm coming."
No one argued.
Malcolm radioed every officer on the forty-second floor.
Two guards did not respond.
When the elevator opened, the presidential residence was silent.
A glass had shattered near the kitchen.
One security officer lay unconscious beside the counter.
The other was slumped near the foyer.
Both were breathing.
Mara ran through the suite calling her sons' names.
No answer came.
Adrian saw the room-service tray.
Four small glasses of apple juice sat empty beside a fifth untouched glass.
"Drugged?"
Malcolm smelled one.
"Possibly."
Theo's gray jacket lay on the carpet.
Mara picked it up and pressed it against her chest.
"They took them."
Adrian forced himself not to panic.
"Noah called from here less than three minutes ago."
Malcolm checked the elevator logs.
The private elevator had not moved.
The main guest elevators required key access to that floor and showed no departure.
Then Mara pointed to a narrow door beside the pantry.
"What's that?"
Adrian stared at it.
"Service stairs."
Malcolm swore under his breath.
The stairwell connected to a freight elevator used for catering.
They ran down two flights and heard metal doors closing below them.
Adrian leaned over the railing.
"Graham!"
A child's voice cried out.
"Mom!"
Mara nearly fell racing downward.
At level forty, they reached the freight landing just as the elevator descended.
The floor indicator flashed thirty-nine, then thirty-eight.
Malcolm called security.
"Stop freight elevator four."
The reply came immediately.
"Controls are overridden."
Adrian looked at the stairwell numbers.
"Where does it go?"
"Loading dock."
They ran again.
Celeste could barely keep up in her gown, but she refused to stop.
At level thirty-four, Adrian's phone rang.
Victoria.
He answered on speaker while running.
"Where are my children?"
Victoria did not react to the word children.
"If you want them safe, stop chasing Graham."
Mara stopped dead.
Adrian nearly collided with her.
"You ordered this."
"I ordered a correction."
Mara grabbed the phone from Adrian.
"If anyone hurts my sons, I will destroy everything you have ever touched."
Victoria's voice remained calm.
"You had six years to learn your place, Mara."
"My place is with my children."
"Then understand that Adrian cannot publicly claim them."
Adrian took back the phone.
"Why not?"
"Because the trust is only part of it."
"What else?"
Victoria paused.
"Ask Mara why she never told you there were four babies."
Mara's face changed.
Victoria heard the silence and continued.
"She had opportunities."
"She chose not to use them."
Mara shouted at the phone.
"You changed my number, intercepted my mail, and threatened my mother's medical coverage."
Adrian stopped running.
"What?"
Victoria sighed.
"We are wasting time."
"Tell Malcolm to release the loading dock and Graham will return the boys unharmed."
Adrian looked at Malcolm.
Malcolm shook his head.
Adrian spoke carefully.
"No."
Victoria's voice sharpened.
"Then whatever happens next is your responsibility."
The call ended.
A security officer came through Malcolm's radio.
"Freight elevator four stopped on level twenty-seven."
Another voice cut in.
"Doors just opened."
Then a third officer shouted.
"We have four boys running toward the banquet kitchen."
Mara cried with relief.
The officer continued.
"Graham isn't with them."
May you like
A beat passed.
"But one of the boys is carrying a red folder."
