Chapter 6 - Landing in the Desert
The elevator ride to the forty-second floor felt like ascending an executioner's scaffold. The digital floor numbers ticked upward in glowing red increments—38, 39, 40, 41, 42.
Ping.
The doors slid open silently, revealing a private, ultra-luxurious foyer floored in white Italian marble and accented with expensive modern art. Two local security officers stood on either side of the heavy mahogany double doors, their weapons holstered but their postures rigid and alert.
Agent Miller flashed his credentials, and the local captain nodded, stepping aside to motion toward the entrance.
"We have visual confirmation from the internal security cameras," the captain spoke in crisp, accented English. "The adult male is currently located in the rear study attempting to shred physical documents. The child is alone in the east nursery suite."
I didn't wait for permission. I bolted past them, pushing against the heavy mahogany doors with all my might.
"Lauren, wait—" Miller called out behind me, but nothing on earth could have stopped me at that moment.
The interior of the penthouse was a staggering display of obscene wealth—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sprawling metropolis, designer furniture, and expensive sculptures. But I didn't care about any of it. I ran down the expansive hallway, following the frantic, terrified sound of a little girl crying out in fear.
"Mommy?!"
The voice came from behind a set of white double doors at the end of the hallway.
I threw the door open, nearly tearing the handle off its hinges.
There she was.
Sitting on the edge of a massive, king-sized bed that swallowed her small frame, her pink backpack clutched tightly against her chest like a shield. Her face was stained with tears, and her eyes were wide with terror.
"Lily!" I screamed, dropping to my knees as I flew across the room.
"Mommy!"
May you like
She launched herself off the bed into my arms, throwing her small arms around my neck so tightly I could barely breathe. We collapsed onto the plush carpet together, weeping openly as I buried my face in her hair, breathing in the sweet scent of strawberry shampoo that cut through the sterile nightmare of the past four days.
"I'm here, baby. I've got you. Nobody is ever taking you away again," I repeated over and over, rocking her back and forth as local officers and medical personnel poured quietly into the room around us.
