Chapter 5 - The Man Evan Remembered
"Who?"
Roman's voice was barely audible.
Evan looked at him.
"Mr. Ortega."
I felt relief for one second.
Then confusion.
"Daniel Ortega disappeared three years ago."
Evan shook his head.
"No."
Roman crouched.
"What do you mean?"
"I saw him yesterday."
Every adult in the room froze.
I knelt beside Evan.
"Where?"
He pointed toward the hallway.
"Near the laundry room."
My heart raced.
"You didn't tell me."
"You were working."
Roman stood.
"When?"
Evan thought.
"After dinner."
"Did he speak to you?"
Evan nodded.
"What did he say?"
"He said not to press the button."
Roman's expression changed.
I stared at my son.
"But tonight you pressed it."
"He said not to press it unless the elevator was lying."
Roman's eyes narrowed.
"What did he mean by lying?"
Evan shook his head.
"I don't know."
Roman's security chief received a message.
He looked at the screen.
"Sir."
Roman turned.
"We found Trent."
"Where?"
"Parking garage."
"Alive?"
"Yes."
Roman exhaled.
"Bring him."
Ten minutes later, Trent sat in a security room.
His suit was dirty.
His face was pale.
Roman stood across from him.
"Who is Daniel Ortega?"
Trent said nothing.
Roman placed the old photograph on the table.
"You said he disappeared."
Trent looked at it.
"That's what I was told."
"By whom?"
Trent's eyes shifted.
Roman leaned closer.
"You're not protecting yourself."
"I'm protecting my family."
"From whom?"
Trent didn't answer.
Roman walked toward the door.
"Then I'll find out another way."
"Wait."
Trent's voice cracked.
Roman stopped.
Trent looked at Meera.
"I never wanted your son involved."
I stepped forward.
"My son was already involved."
Trent closed his eyes.
"Three years ago, Daniel discovered someone had been manipulating the hotel's elevator system."
Roman said nothing.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You do."
Trent shook his head.
"Daniel believed someone inside the hotel wanted Roman dead."
Roman's expression didn't change.
Trent continued.
"He built a hidden emergency system."
"The button."
"Yes."
"Why did he teach my son?"
Trent looked at Evan.
"Because Daniel trusted children more than adults."
I felt anger rising.
"You used my child."
"No."
"Then why was he watched?"
Trent swallowed.
"Because someone wanted to know whether Daniel had told him anything."
Roman looked toward the security chief.
"Find Ortega."
"We've been trying."
"Find him."
Trent suddenly laughed bitterly.
"You won't."
Roman turned.
"Why?"
"Because Daniel doesn't want to be found."
"He's alive?"
Trent looked down.
"Yes."
The room went silent.
Roman's security chief immediately left.
I stared at Trent.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"Then why did you say that?"
"Because I know who can find him."
Roman stepped forward.
"Who?"
Trent looked at Evan.
"The boy."
I felt my blood turn cold.
"No."
Trent spoke quickly.
"Daniel left clues only Evan could understand."
Roman frowned.
"Why?"
"Because Daniel believed adults would eventually betray him."
I looked at my son.
He was staring at the floor.
"Evan."
He looked up.
"Do you remember anything else?"
He nodded slowly.
"Mr. Ortega gave me a picture."
"What picture?"
He pointed toward his backpack.
I opened it.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
I had never seen it before.
Roman unfolded it.
It showed the hotel floor plan.
One room was circled.
Basement level.
Room B-17.
Roman stared at it.
"That room doesn't exist."
Trent whispered:
"Exactly."
Roman looked at him.
"What is B-17?"
Trent didn't answer.
The security chief suddenly returned.
"Mr. Black."
Roman turned.
"We found an old maintenance map."
He placed it on the table.
Room B-17 appeared beneath the casino.
But beside it was a handwritten note.
Roman read it.
His face changed.
"What does it say?" I asked.
He turned the paper toward me.
The note contained only one sentence.
IF EVAN PRESSES THE BUTTON, TAKE HIM TO B-17.
Evan suddenly backed away.
"I don't want to go there."
I knelt.
"Why?"
He looked toward the locked door.
"Because Mr. Ortega told me never to go there."
Roman slowly turned toward the door.
Someone was standing outside.
May you like
A shadow passed beneath it.
Then the handle began to move...
