Page 50 of A Mistake of Identity
The spray hit his face. Ellis coughed, tasting chemicals. The last thing he saw was Jean’s SUV turning west toward Second Cat while his vehicle headed north toward the industrial sprawl of The Docks.
Then darkness took him.
Gabriel
Gabriel was in a video conference with the Berlin compliance team. Attention focused on the risk-mapping inconsistencies they’d found in the mobile platform. The issue wasn’t critical yet, but could create vulnerabilities if left unchecked. On his screen, Kristoff Weber, their head of European compliance, was walking through the technical specifications.
His phone vibrated again—Annabelle calling. For the third time in two minutes. Dread coiled in Gabriel’s chest; Annabelle never called. In the decade she’d run his household, every communication had been through texts. Even emergencies warranted nothing more than a succinct “Urgent: Please call when available.”
“Pardon me,” he said to the Berlin team. “I need to address something urgent. Brenda will reschedule for tomorrow morning, and I’ll review your preliminary corrections then.”
He ended the call and immediately dialed Annabelle back. Her voice, usually so composed, trembled. “I just got back from the weekly shopping and—” A shuddering breath. “There are bodies, Gabriel. Five of the security team, dead in the foyer. Peter and Jacob were barely alive when the ambulance took them. The police are here now, but Ellis and Jean are gone. They’re just... gone. What should I do?”
The world tilted sideways. Gabriel’s mind raced through possibilities, each worse than the last. “Wait there. I have someideas where they might have been taken.” His voice sounded distant to his ears. “Have Dr. Nguyen meet Peter and Jacob at the hospital. Once stable, have them transferred to St. Lucius in Second Cat. I’ll cover any costs. When the police leave, call in a provisional cleaning crew. Annabelle, do not try to clean it yourself.”
Annabelle agreed and hung up.
As he left his office, he found Lucas by Brenda’s desk, where he’d been chatting. His friend’s easy smile vanished at the look on Gabriel’s face.
The elevator doors opened, and Alain emerged at a near-run, his usually impeccable composure fractured. One look at his head of security’s face told Gabriel he was about to report the same nightmare.
“What the hell is happening?” Lucas demanded as they moved back toward the elevator.
“The security feeds just came back online,” Alain reported tersely. “Someone looped them—professional job. When they cleared, I saw the police and the bodies being removed.”
“Ellis and Jean are missing,” Gabriel said as they entered the private elevator, jabbing the button for his private entrance. “Five of our security team are dead. Peter’s the only survivor, along with Jacob. Both were shot, and both were rushed to the hospital. I’m having Dr. Nguyen move them when possible. We have to let the police handle the scene for now. I’m sure they’ll have questions, though.”
“Already texting Nika to head over to the manor to handle it,” Alain said.
“Where are we going?” Lucas asked, an urgency in his voice.
“The estate.” Gabriel’s jaw tightened. “My father and brother have some explaining to do.”
They emerged into the private garage, Alain already moving toward the Mercedes. As they settled into the car, Gabriel tried Henri’s number.
Voicemail.
He tried again. Straight to voicemail.
A third time—voicemail.
“Tabarnak!” Gabriel dialed his father.
The phone rang.
And rang.
And rang.
No answer. No voicemail box. Gabriel wanted to throw his phone out the window.
“Try Henri’s PA,” Alain suggested, taking a corner at twice the recommended speed. Everyone braced.
The PA, Eric Thompson, answered on the first ring. “Mr. Rohan’s office.”
“Where is my brother?”
“Sir, uh, Mr. Rohan, Mr. Henri has been working remotely all week. I... I actually don’t know his current location.” Eric stuttered out.
