Charles moved closer.

“Could be a warehouse.”

Daniel looked at the red number.

Something about it felt familiar.

Then Charles saw it too.

His expression changed.

“No.”

Daniel turned.

“What?”

Charles stared at the screen.

“Warehouse Seventeen.”

Silence.

Daniel knew the name.

Every Cross did.

Warehouse Seventeen had belonged to Cross Industries.

Nine years ago, it had burned to the ground.

Richard Cross had supposedly died inside it.

Daniel looked slowly toward his brother.

“That’s where Dad died.”

Charles shook his head.

“That’s where we were told he died.”

Marcus began searching company records.

“Warehouse Seventeen was demolished eight years ago.”

“Who owns the property?”

Marcus stopped typing.

His eyes narrowed.

“A holding company.”

“What company?”

“Blackridge Development.”

Charles went pale.

Daniel noticed.

“You know it.”

Charles hesitated.

“Dad used Blackridge.”

“For what?”

“Off-book acquisitions.”

Daniel stared.

“You knew?”

“I knew the name. I didn’t know he kept using it.”

“Apparently somebody did.”

Marcus pulled up the property address.

An abandoned industrial district on the South Side.

Twenty-six minutes away.

Daniel reached for the key.

This time Evelyn removed the necklace.

But instead of handing it to him, she studied it.

The brass looked old.

Ordinary.

Then she noticed something.

“Wait.”

She moved beneath the desk lamp.

“What?”

“There’s writing.”

Daniel leaned closer.

Tiny numbers were engraved along the key’s shaft.

Not numbers.

Coordinates.

Marcus entered them.

A location appeared.

Charles stared at the screen.

“That isn’t Warehouse Seventeen.”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed.

The coordinates pointed toward downtown Chicago.

A private bank.

Marcus looked at Daniel.

“The deposit box.”

Daniel understood.

Rebecca had not simply given Evelyn a key.

She had given her directions.

“Whatever is inside that box,” Evelyn whispered, “is what this is really about.”

Daniel looked at the clock.

11:26 p.m.

Thirty-four minutes.

Not enough time for both locations.

That was intentional.

The kidnappers were forcing him to choose.

Lily.

Or the truth.

Daniel looked at Marcus.

“Can you get into that bank?”

“Legally?”

“No.”

Marcus almost smiled.

“Then yes.”

Evelyn grabbed Daniel’s arm.

“You go to Lily.”

Daniel looked at her.

“I’ll go to the bank.”

“No.”

“Daniel, listen to me.”

“You have already been pushed down a staircase tonight.”

“And our daughter has been kidnapped.”

“Our?”

The word escaped before Daniel could stop it.

Evelyn’s face broke.

Daniel immediately regretted it.

She had raised Sophie.

She loved Lily.

Whatever secrets existed between them, Evelyn had become their mother in every way that mattered.

Daniel lowered his voice.

“I’m sorry.”

Evelyn swallowed.

“Save Lily.”

Charles stepped forward.

“I’ll take Evelyn.”

Daniel laughed bitterly.

“After somebody framed you for attempted murder?”

“Exactly. They want you to distrust me.”