Chapter 4 - HER HUSBAND’S VOICE
The maintenance corridor smelled of dust and disinfectant.
Chloe crawled on one hand and two knees, keeping her newborn secured against her chest with Sarah’s scrub jacket.
Every movement sent agony through her body.
Behind them, voices echoed.
“Search the bathroom.”
Sarah pushed the access panel closed.
“Keep moving.”
They crawled until the narrow passage opened into a utility room.
Sarah helped Chloe stand.
There was a service elevator.
“Basement,” Sarah whispered.
They stepped inside.
The doors began closing.
Then a hand shot between them.
The doors reopened.
Chloe gasped.
Daniel stood outside.
For one suspended second, nobody moved.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
His hair was disordered.
His face looked pale.
“Chloe.”
Sarah moved protectively between them.
Daniel raised both hands.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
Chloe laughed once.
A broken sound.
“I heard you.”
His expression collapsed.
“Then you didn't hear everything.”
“I heard enough.”
“My mother was watching me.”
“So you agreed to steal our daughter?”
“No.”
“Then what did you agree to?”
Daniel looked down the corridor.
“We don't have time.”
“Make time.”
His eyes filled with something Chloe had not seen in months.
Shame.
“I found out who I really was six months ago.”
“I know.”
His eyes widened.
Chloe pulled the envelope partly from her gown.
Daniel went still.
“Sarah gave you the file.”
“She gave me the truth.”
Daniel looked at Sarah.
“You shouldn't have brought her into this.”
Sarah’s jaw tightened.
“She was already in it.
So was her baby.”
Footsteps sounded above.
Daniel entered the elevator.
Sarah immediately raised the oxygen cylinder.
“Touch either of them and I’ll break your skull.”
Daniel pressed B2.
The elevator descended.
“I pretended to cooperate with Eleanor because I needed evidence.”
Chloe stared at him.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.
But I need you alive long enough to hate me later.”
The elevator descended another floor.
Daniel pulled a small device from his pocket.
A digital recorder.
“I recorded everything.”
He pressed play.
Eleanor’s voice filled the elevator.
Once the baby is under our legal control, Chloe becomes irrelevant.
Then another male voice.
A lawyer.
What about Daniel?
Eleanor answered.
He thinks he’s helping me.
When this is finished, he becomes irrelevant too.
Daniel stopped the recording.
Chloe stared at him.
“You knew she planned to betray you?”
“I suspected.”
“And you let me give birth inside a hospital she controls?”
His silence cut deeper than any answer.
Chloe’s eyes filled.
“You gambled with our child.”
“I thought I could control it.”
“That’s exactly what Eleanor thinks.”
Daniel flinched.
The elevator reached B2.
Doors opened.
Empty underground corridor.
Daniel stepped out.
“My car is through the garage.”
Sarah caught Chloe’s arm.
“Don't.”
Daniel turned.
“If you go through the loading dock, Eleanor’s men are waiting.”
“How do you know?” Sarah demanded.
“Because I sent them there.”
Chloe’s face hardened.
Daniel continued.
“And I left the west garage empty.”
Sarah stared at him.
“A diversion.”
“Yes.”
For the first time, Chloe considered the possibility that Daniel might be telling the truth.
Then his phone rang.
ELEANOR.
Daniel looked at Chloe.
Answered.
“Mom.”
Eleanor’s voice came through clearly.
“Did you find them?”
Daniel looked directly into Chloe’s eyes.
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Good,” Eleanor replied.
“Bring me the baby.”
Daniel’s hand tightened around the phone.
May you like
Then he said:
“I’m bringing you something much worse.”
