Chapter 6 - THE HOUSE WITH NO WINDOWS
Vanessa survived.
The bullet hit her shoulder.
Police found her bleeding in Daniel's apartment twenty minutes after the call.
Daniel was nowhere to be found.
Neither was his laptop.
Detective Aaron Price arrived at Luka's safe apartment shortly after midnight.
He didn't look happy.
“You've turned my investigation into a war.”
Luka shrugged.
“Then investigate faster.”
Price looked at me.
“Mrs. Walker—”
“Bennett.”
I interrupted him.
“I don't want Daniel's name anymore.”
Price nodded.
“Claire, we found something at your house.”
He placed a plastic evidence bag on the table.
Inside was a small black device.
“What is that?”
“A biometric transmitter.”
Luka swore.
Price nodded.
“It was under your mattress.”
“How long?”
“At least seven months.”
I felt violated in a way I couldn't explain.
Every night.
Every private conversation.
Every moment Daniel held me.
Someone might have been listening.
Price pulled out photographs.
Daniel entering a building outside Chicago.
No windows.
No signs.
Heavy security.
“That's Research Unit 4,” Luka said.
Price looked at him.
“You've seen it?”
“My family built it.”
My anger returned.
“Your family seems to have built half my nightmares.”
Luka accepted that without argument.
Price continued.
“We believe Victor Moretti is operating from there.”
“Then arrest him.”
“We need evidence.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You have a kidnapped medical program, erased records, an attack on Vanessa, and surveillance equipment in my bedroom.”
“We have suspicion.”
Price leaned forward.
“Victor has senators, judges, hospital executives, and half a dozen federal contractors protecting him.”
“So what do we do?”
“We make him move.”
Luka looked at me.
I didn't like that look.
“No.”
“You don't even know the plan.”
“If your plan requires me or Emma to be bait, no.”
Price said nothing.
That told me everything.
Then my phone buzzed.
A video message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
Daniel appeared.
He was tied to a chair.
Blood ran from his mouth.
Behind him stood Victor Moretti.
He was in his sixties.
Silver hair.
Expensive suit.
Warm smile.
The kind of smile that frightened me more than Luka's tattoos ever had.
“Hello, Claire.”
Victor stepped beside Daniel.
“I apologize for the unpleasant introduction.”
Daniel lifted his head.
“Don't come.”
Victor smiled.
“Ignore him.”
He held up a folder.
M-17.
“The truth about your daughter is here.”
He placed a gun against Daniel's temple.
“Come alone.”
Luka reached for my phone.
Victor continued.
“And Claire?”
His smile disappeared.
“Ask Luka what your father made him promise the night Samuel died.”
The video ended.
I turned toward Luka.
“What promise?”
Luka didn't answer.
“Luka.”
His eyes dropped.
May you like
And for the first time since meeting him, Luka Moretti looked ashamed.
“I promised your father I'd stay away from you.”
