Chapter 8 - Victor Took My Mother Instead of Me—and Left a Message That Made My Father Beg for HelpThe attack lasted six minutes.
By the time we secured the house, my mother was gone.
Victor had taken her.
On the wall was a message.
ONE PARENT FOR ONE LEDGER.
My father collapsed into a chair.
“I should have known.”
Vincent grabbed his shoulder.
“Don't.”
“He'll kill her.”
“Not yet.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he needs leverage.”
Vincent looked at me.
“And you.”
My father stared at him.
“What are you suggesting?”
“Victor thinks Leora knows where the second ledger is.”
“She doesn't.”
“I know.”
“Then why would he take her mother?”
“Because he wants us to believe the same thing.”
I understood.
“He wants us to panic.”
Vincent nodded.
“Exactly.”
Then I remembered something.
“The school.”
“What?”
“The counselor.”
Everyone looked at me.
“She asked me about my father.”
“What did she ask?”
“She asked if I remembered a blue door.”
Vincent's expression changed.
“What blue door?”
“At school.”
I described it.
My father went pale.
“The old records room.”
“What?”
He stood.
“That's where I hid the second ledger.”
Vincent stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I forgot.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor drugged me before I escaped.”
My father looked at me.
“He must have found out.”
We went to the school.
The building was empty.
The old records room had a blue door.
Behind it was a hidden compartment.
Inside was the second ledger.
But it was missing.
Instead, there was a photograph of my mother.
And a phone.
It rang.
Victor spoke.
“You found it.”
Vincent answered.
“Where is she?”
“Bring the girl.”
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“Then you'll receive pieces.”
My father grabbed the phone.
“You want me.”
Victor laughed harder.
“No.”
“I want your daughter.”
The line went dead.
I looked at Vincent.
“I'm going.”
“No.”
“But he'll hurt Mom.”
“He wants you alive.”
“So I'll go.”
My father shook his head.
“I won't let you.”
I looked at him.
“You spent seven years protecting me from far away.”
I took his hand.
“Now let me help you.”
He cried.
Vincent looked at me.
Then he nodded.
“But you stay beside me.”
I agreed.
May you like
We went to the old school.
And Victor was waiting.
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