Chapter 26 - The Gala Trap
Roman wanted to cancel the gala.
Tessa refused.
“Two hundred people become targets.”
“Two hundred people also make Elias careful.”
“You’re assuming he comes.”
“He will.”
“Why?”
“Because men like Elias don’t disappear after losing.”
She looked at the dining room.
“They need to explain why everyone else was wrong.”
Roman hated that she understood Elias so well.
He hated more that she was probably right.
The scholarship gala proceeded under extraordinary security disguised as catering staff, drivers, photographers, and hotel personnel.
Federal agents occupied neighboring buildings.
Every entrance was monitored.
Clara sat beside Owen.
Celeste attended reluctantly.
Patrick wore a tuxedo for the first time in twenty years.
“You look uncomfortable,” Tessa told him.
“I feel like a penguin being audited.”
At eight, Tessa stepped onto the small stage.
She thanked employees.
She announced the Sean Callahan Hospitality Scholarship, providing tuition assistance to children of hourly workers across the restaurant group.
Her voice trembled when she said her father’s name.
Roman stood at the back.
Watching.
Proud.
At 8:37, nothing had happened.
At 9:12, still nothing.
At 9:40, Dante approached.
“Maybe he isn’t coming.”
Tessa looked toward Roman.
“He’s here.”
“How do you know?”
She pointed to table eleven.
A folded receipt rested beneath Roman’s water glass.
No server admitted placing it.
Roman opened it.
THE WOMAN IN RED HAS A MESSAGE. FOLLOW HER WITHOUT SECURITY.
Twelve words.
Roman scanned the room.
Three women wore red.
Tessa noticed one near the kitchen.
She recognized her.
Dr. Evelyn Shaw.
Clara’s physician.
Tessa’s stomach dropped.
Dr. Shaw looked terrified.
Roman approached casually.
“What happened?”
She whispered, “My daughter.”
Tessa joined them.
Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.
“Elias called me an hour ago. He has her.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“What does he want?”
“You.”
She looked at Tessa.
“He said you have to go into the basement.”
Roman’s expression hardened.
“No.”
Tessa touched his arm.
“Wait.”
She asked Evelyn, “Exactly what did he say?”
“‘Tell Tessa to bring Victor’s trust amendment to the wine cellar.’”
The amendment was safely with federal investigators.
“He thinks I brought it.”
Roman nodded.
“Because we wanted him to.”
Tessa had insisted a visible document case be carried into the restaurant earlier.
The case contained copies.
Elias had seen it.
Somehow.
“Basement cameras?” Roman asked.
Dante checked.
“Offline.”
“Of course.”
Tessa took the case.
Roman grabbed her wrist.
“No.”
“He has Evelyn’s daughter.”
“We don’t know that.”
Evelyn showed them a live photograph.
Her daughter sat inside a car.
Alive.
Terrified.
Tessa looked at Roman.
“We have to move him.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
“We move together.”
They descended through the kitchen.
Dante followed several yards behind.
The wine cellar appeared empty.
Rows of bottles.
Low amber lights.
Cold stone walls.
Tessa placed the case on a central table.
“Elias.”
A speaker crackled.
His voice filled the cellar.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Roman searched the room.
“Come out.”
“Still commanding people.”
Tessa looked toward the ceiling.
“Where’s Evelyn’s daughter?”
“Safe.”
“For now?”
“For good. I’m not interested in children.”
Tessa didn’t believe him.
Elias continued.
“Open the case.”
She did.
He saw the documents through hidden cameras.
“Sign the amendment withdrawal.”
“You know that won’t hold.”
“It only needs to hold long enough.”
“For what?”
“For Lantern to complete its final transfer.”
Roman shook his head.
“Arthur already gave federal agents access.”
“Arthur is weak.”
“So are you.”
Elias’s voice sharpened.
“Careful.”
Tessa scanned the wine shelves.
A tiny green light blinked behind one rack.
Camera.
“Where are you?”
“Closer than you think.”
Roman moved toward the rack.
Suddenly the cellar door locked.
Gas hissed from the ventilation grate.
Roman grabbed Tessa.
Dante struck the door from outside.
“Elias!” Roman shouted.
Tessa covered her mouth.
The air smelled sweet.
Sedative.
Roman pulled a chair through the glass wine cabinet and smashed the ventilation cover.
Dante forced the door open from outside.
They stumbled into the corridor.
No one lost consciousness.
Within seconds, agents flooded the basement.
The hidden camera transmitter led upward.
Not outward.
Dante followed the signal.
To the restaurant’s private office.
Patrick’s office.
Roman and Tessa rushed upstairs.
The door stood open.
Elias sat behind Patrick’s desk.
Calm.
Unarmed.
A glass of Roman’s whiskey in his hand.
“You finally made it,” he said.
Roman stepped forward.
Federal agents appeared behind them.
Elias smiled.
“You can arrest me.”
Tessa frowned.
Too easy.
Then she saw the computer screen.
The final Lantern transfer showed COMPLETE.
Four hundred eighty million dollars.
Gone.
Elias raised his glass.
“To inheritance.”
Tessa looked at the destination.
Not offshore.
Not anonymous.
A public trust.
The Sean Callahan Foundation.
Her name appeared as trustee.
May you like
Elias smiled.
“Now explain that to the government.”
