Chapter 9 - The Person Behind Him
Roman didn't turn.
Neither did I.
The room became silent.
Daniel slowly raised one finger to his lips.
Evan clung to my waist.
Footsteps sounded behind us.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then stopped.
Roman spoke without turning.
"Who is it?"
A voice answered.
"Someone you should have recognized years ago."
Roman's security chief moved first.
He turned.
The man behind us was not Marcus.
It was one of Roman's own security officers.
The man held his hands away from his body.
"Sir, listen."
Roman turned slowly.
"How long?"
The officer looked down.
"Three years."
Roman's face hardened.
"Three years working for Marcus?"
The officer nodded.
"I didn't have a choice."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Everyone has a choice."
The officer looked at him.
"You disappeared."
"Because you told them where I was."
"I was trying to survive."
Roman's voice was cold.
"And my people died."
The officer lowered his eyes.
Roman didn't attack him.
He simply said:
"Tell me everything."
The officer took a breath.
"Marcus created the entire system."
"Why?"
"Because he wanted control of the company."
Roman shook his head.
"You could have taken control without all this."
"No."
The officer looked at Evan.
"Because Roman's father left him something."
Roman froze.
"What?"
"The original ownership documents."
Daniel nodded.
"The documents were hidden."
"Where?"
The officer looked at Evan.
"Only one person knew."
I suddenly understood.
"Mr. Ortega."
Daniel nodded.
"I hid them."
Roman stared at him.
"Where?"
Daniel walked toward the wall.
He removed a small panel.
Behind it was a metal box.
He opened it.
Inside were legal documents, photographs, and a sealed envelope.
Roman picked up the envelope.
His name was written on it.
He opened it.
The letter was from his father.
Roman read silently.
His expression changed several times.
Finally he looked up.
"Marcus wasn't trying to take the company."
Daniel shook his head.
"He was trying to force you to sell."
"To whom?"
Daniel hesitated.
"An investment group."
Roman stared at the documents.
"The company was never theirs."
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because your father refused them."
Roman understood.
Marcus had been promised a fortune.
He had built a hidden network.
He had manipulated security.
He had sabotaged elevators.
He had watched Roman's movements.
But the final piece was still missing.
"The button," Roman said.
Daniel nodded.
"The emergency system was designed to record every unauthorized access attempt."
Roman looked at Evan.
"He activated it."
"Yes."
"The system recorded everything."
"Everything."
Daniel pointed to the computer.
"Every conversation near the elevator. Every access card. Every command."
Roman turned toward the security officer.
"You knew."
The officer shook his head.
"I didn't know the child would activate it."
"Marcus did."
"Yes."
Roman opened the computer.
A file appeared.
MARCUS VALE — LIVE ACCESS.
Roman clicked it.
The screen displayed a live location.
Inside the hotel.
Floor 43.
Roman stood.
"He's there."
Daniel nodded.
"Waiting."
I looked at Evan.
"Why does he want him?"
Daniel's voice became quiet.
"Because Evan is the only witness who can identify him."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"He was three."
"Children remember things adults think they forgot."
Roman looked toward the door.
"We're ending this."
Daniel grabbed his arm.
"Not like that."
Roman stopped.
"We need proof."
Daniel pointed at the computer.
"The system has been recording everything since Evan pressed the button."
Roman looked at the security chief.
"Can we preserve it?"
"Yes."
"Do it."
The security chief started copying the files.
Then the computer screen flashed red.
ACCESS INTERRUPTED.
Daniel's face changed.
"He's inside the system."
The lights flickered.
A message appeared.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.
Roman looked at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
BRING EVAN TO FLOOR 43.
I stepped in front of my son.
"No."
Roman looked at me.
"We're not giving him Evan."
The screen changed again.
A video began playing.
It showed the hotel's nursery room.
Evan's favorite place.
Empty.
Then the camera moved.
Marcus stood in the doorway.
He looked directly into the camera.
"Roman."
Roman stared.
Marcus smiled.
"You have ten minutes."
The screen went black.
Then a final message appeared.
IF YOU WANT YOUR BOY SAFE, COME ALONE.
Roman looked at Evan.
Then at me.
Daniel whispered:
"He's already inside the building."
The elevator indicator outside the room suddenly changed.
May you like
The doors opened.
And someone stepped out carrying a small blue backpack that belonged to Evan...
