Two Fingers

Hannah’s breath caught. Zoe made a frightened sound against her neck.

“Stay on the bed,” I said. “I’m right here.”

A battery lamp beside the door flickered on. Its weak white light was enough to show me the corridor through the open doorway.

Empty.

My phone had no service. I tried the security extension on Hannah’s wall handset. Dead, too.

I took the small radio from the charger beside the corridor fire panel. My father had considered backup equipment ugly. I had considered his taste in security obsolete.

“Cross. East staff corridor. Report.”

Static cracked, then Julian answered.

“Dante? Where the hell are you?”

“At home.”

“You were supposed to be in New York.”

“Revise your expectations. What happened to the power?”

“Someone disabled the central controls. West service door registered open before we lost the cameras. I have men checking the building.”

“Any confirmed intruders?”

“One possible. I’m in the courtyard. Stay away from the west wing.”

I looked through the window again. The figure had stopped beneath the overhang.

“Lift your left hand.”

He did.

The long black object was a heavy flashlight.

“Come to the east stairs. Identify yourself before you approach.”

I turned back to Hannah.

“We’re going to a room with a separate lock and emergency power. It’s on this floor. You won’t be separated from your daughter.”

Her arms tightened around Zoe.

“Can you walk if I help you?”

“Yes.”

She stood, swayed, and sat down again.

I pulled a chair close, helped her into it, and rolled it toward the doorway. It was awkward and slow, but preferable to ordering a sick woman to be less sick.

Zoe started to follow. When I reached for her, she backed against the bed.

“No. I stay with Mama.”

“You are staying with Mama.”

“You’ll take me.”

I crouched again. Outside, a radio hissed. Every instinct I owned demanded speed.

“I’m going to carry you beside her chair. You’ll see her the whole time.”

She looked at Hannah.

“It’s okay, baby,” her mother said. “Come with us.”

Zoe climbed into my arms and caught two of my fingers in her fist.

I had closed agreements worth millions with less care than I used to push that chair.

The safe room was three doors away. Julian met us there, rain dripping from his coat, both hands visible.

Zoe buried her face in my collar.

“That’s him.”

“I know,” I murmured. “He works for me.”

“He made Mama scared.”

Julian glanced at Hannah. “I’m sorry. I should have explained.”

“You told me to pack and leave,” she said. “I could barely stand.”

“I saw a gap in the patrol and found a service door unsecured. I wanted you outside before anything happened. Then I got called downstairs.”

His eyes met mine.

“I thought someone else would help them.”

“Nobody did.”

“I can see that.”

There was no excuse in his voice. Good.

He brought us into the room. I locked the inner door while he remained outside to coordinate the search. Hannah settled onto the couch. I put Zoe beside her, but the child kept my fingers.

A red mark circled her wrist where the pajama elastic had twisted. I loosened the sleeve with my thumb.

“Does Teddy need a seat?” I asked.

She nodded and placed him against my thigh.

For the next forty minutes, I gave orders into a radio with a stuffed bear leaning against me.

Julian’s team found the west service entrance forced from inside. A rear camera, still running on its own power supply, had recorded someone leaving through the garden. The person was gone before the outer patrol intercepted him.

The building search continued. Nobody else was found.

Then Julian reported a signal-blocking device near the central equipment room. My phone came back to life after his men disconnected it.

“I’ve called Patel,” he said. “She’s coming through the north entrance. I’ll meet her myself after the final sweep.”

Hannah closed her eyes.

“How much will that cost?”

“The visit is covered,” I said.

“Mr. Romano—”

“We can discuss everything else when you’re well enough to argue.”

Her eyes opened. There was a spark in them that hadn’t been there before.

“I’m well enough to ask.”

Fair.

“There will be no charge to you,” I said. “And no deduction from your pay.”

She studied me, then nodded once.

Dr. Mira Patel arrived carrying an old leather bag and very little patience for men standing in her way. She examined Hannah, asked questions, and gave clear instructions about fluids, rest, and symptoms that would require further treatment.

Hannah answered while Zoe inspected the doctor’s stethoscope from the safety of my lap.

“Can you make Mama better?”

“I can help her,” Patel said. “She’ll need to sleep.”

Zoe immediately put a finger to her lips.

Patel smiled. “That will help, too.”

By the time the main lights returned, Zoe was asleep against my chest. My arm had gone numb beneath her. I did not move it.

Julian came inside after the doctor stepped out to speak to Hannah privately.

“The house is clear. I’ve replaced the west detail and disconnected remote access. Nobody comes through without my approval.”

“What were they after?”

“Your father’s old office. Two drawers forced. We’re checking what’s missing.”

That room had become storage after his death. Old contracts. Household accounts. Records nobody wanted to sort.

“The access shutdown?”

Julian’s jaw tightened. “Your personal authorization.”

“I didn’t issue it.”

“I know.”

Behind him, Hannah sat straighter.

“Mr. Hale was in that office this evening.”

I looked at her.

“Victor?”

She nodded. “He asked whether you were still away. Then he told me to forget a question I’d asked him.”

Before I could respond, my phone lit up.

Victor’s message was brief.

Julian tells me there has been trouble. I’ve been at home all evening. Call me when you can.

I read it again, then lifted my eyes to Hannah.

“What question?”