Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO TOOK SOPHIE
Alejandro reached the hospital in eleven minutes.
He ran through the pediatric corridor.
Rosa stood beside an empty bed.
A bruise darkened her temple.
“He struck me from behind.”
“Did you see him?”
“Only his jacket.”
“It said maintenance.”
Dr. Park confirmed Sophie’s intravenous line had been disconnected safely.
Whoever took her understood enough medicine to avoid immediate injury.
Security footage from the parking garage returned after the power failure.
A man carried Sophie through the service elevator.
His face remained beneath a cap.
A camera captured the license plate.
The vehicle belonged to Raymond Lane.
Detective Brooks issued an emergency alert.
Raymond called Alejandro before police could trace the car.
Sophie’s frightened breathing came through the phone.
“Daddy.”
“I’m here.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Raymond took the phone.
“You want the girl back, you stop Martin from making a deal.”
“You took my daughter from a hospital.”
“She is my insurance.”
“What do you want?”
“The tablet.”
“The trust files.”
“And five million dollars.”
Alejandro looked at Detective Brooks.
She signaled for him to keep talking.
“Where do I bring them?”
“The old Lane garage outside Austin.”
“No police.”
“You already know what happens to brakes when people ignore instructions.”
The call ended.
Alejandro’s hands shook with rage.
Rosa grabbed his arm.
“You will not go alone.”
“I have to.”
“That is what Marissa thought.”
The words stopped him.
Marissa had tried to solve everything quietly.
She protected Alejandro.
She protected his company.
She protected Sophie.
Her silence isolated her.
Alejandro would not repeat it.
Detective Brooks prepared a controlled exchange.
The tablet files were copied.
Police placed a tracker inside the blanket.
Alejandro carried a bag containing paper instead of money.
The old garage stood near a deserted road outside Austin.
Rain began falling as they approached.
The weather resembled the night Marissa died.
Alejandro entered through the main door.
Sophie sat on a chair near the repair pit.
Her hands were tied loosely.
She looked weak but conscious.
Raymond stood behind her holding a wrench.
“You brought the tablet?”
“Yes.”
“The money?”
“Yes.”
Raymond pushed Sophie toward the edge of the repair pit.
“One wrong move and she falls.”
Alejandro stopped.
“You killed Marissa.”
Raymond’s face tightened.
“I damaged a brake hose.”
“She was supposed to stop before reaching the highway.”
“You knew she would take the Austin route.”
“Martin created the call.”
“Valerie gave me the schedule.”
Raymond looked toward the bag.
“Everyone had a part.”
“That way no one carried the whole crime.”
A second voice came from the shadows.
May you like
Martin Wells stepped into the garage holding a gun.
“You always talk too much, Raymond.”
