Chapter 17 - Sterling’s Last Move
The arrests should have ended everything.
They did not.
Sterling Kensington had prepared for failure.
At 11:32 p.m., thirty minutes after he entered federal custody, three accounts activated automatically.
Payments went out.
Vehicles moved.
Phones rang.
Mateo discovered the first signal while the gala guests were still leaving.
“Leo.”
One word.
That was enough.
Leo turned.
Mateo held up his phone.
“Emergency protocol.”
“What?”
“Kensington transferred twenty million dollars.”
“To whom?”
“Private security contractors.”
Leo looked toward the balcony.
“Lily.”
Beatrice was already moving.
She ran upstairs.
Lily stood inside her bedroom removing uncomfortable shoes.
“We’re leaving.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
Lily knew that tone.
She grabbed her rabbit.
The lights went out.
Beatrice froze.
Emergency lights flashed red.
Somewhere below, glass shattered.
A guard shouted.
Leo’s voice came through the radio.
“Secure Lily.”
Beatrice locked the bedroom door.
The balcony was too high.
The hallway was unsafe.
The safe room downstairs could not be reached.
Lily started breathing too quickly.
“Bee.”
Beatrice crouched.
“Look at me.”
Another crash.
“Look at me, Lily.”
The child focused on her.
“In through your nose.”
Lily obeyed.
“Slow.”
Footsteps thundered outside.
The bedroom handle moved.
Beatrice grabbed the heaviest object within reach.
A brass lamp.
The lock broke.
The door opened.
Mateo appeared.
“Move.”
Beatrice nearly collapsed from relief.
They ran through the service corridor.
Gunfire sounded somewhere near the main staircase.
Lily covered her ears.
Mateo led them toward the old wing.
“Where are we going?”
“The cellar.”
Beatrice stopped.
“No.”
“It’s the safest reinforced room.”
Lily began shaking.
Mateo looked at her and understood.
“I know.”
Beatrice knelt.
Lily stared at the cellar door from the end of the hallway.
“No.”
Beatrice took both her hands.
“This time you have the key.”
Lily looked at her.
“What?”
Beatrice placed the brass key ring in Lily’s palm.
“No one is locking you inside.”
She pointed toward the door.
“You are choosing to go somewhere safe.”
Lily swallowed.
“And you come?”
“I come.”
“Daddy?”
“He’ll find us.”
Lily looked toward Mateo.
Then she walked toward the cellar.
She unlocked the door herself.
That mattered.
They went downstairs.
Mateo remained outside.
Beatrice closed the door from inside.
Lily held the key.
For several minutes, they heard nothing.
Then the emergency lights flickered.
Lily whispered, “Bee?”
“Yes?”
“Was Mommy brave?”
Beatrice sat beside her on the stone floor.
“Very.”
“Are you brave?”
Beatrice smiled sadly.
“Only when I’m scared.”
Lily thought about that.
Then she leaned against her.
“I’m brave too.”
“Yes.”
Beatrice kissed her hair.
“You are.”
Suddenly someone struck the cellar door from outside.
Once.
Twice.
Then came a familiar voice.
May you like
“Beatrice!”
Gianni.
