My heart stopped for a second.

Lila was still here.

They were going to take her by water.

The Hudson River was only a quarter of a mile from the estate’s edge.

The path to the dock was steep and rocky.

If they got her onto the river, I would never find her.

I needed to act before the boat arrived.

“Where is the woman?” the second mercenary asked.

“The housekeeper?”

“She’s in the pantry,” the first one said.

“The boss is questioning her.”

They meant Nora.

Or Elena.

Elena had disappeared weeks ago.

If she was still alive, she was in that pantry.

I needed to get to them.

I checked my rifle again.

The safety was off.

I continued up the stairs of the passage.

The wood was colder here, closer to the exterior wall.

I reached the second landing.

This panel opened into the nursery closet.

I placed my ear against the wood.

Silence.

No crying.

No footsteps.

I pushed the secret latch.

The panel slid back two inches.

I peered through the crack.

The nursery was empty.

The small white crib was undisturbed.