Chapter 2 - The Call Adrian Never Wanted to Make
Vincent was already reaching for the door.
“I’ll send Marco.”
“No.”
Vincent stopped.
Adrian held out his hand.
“Phone.”
“Boss—”
“Give it.”
Vincent handed it over.
Adrian dialed 911.
For a moment, Vincent simply stared.
Adrian looked at him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You were going to say something.”
“I’ve known you eleven years.”
“And?”
“I’ve never watched you call police on purpose.”
Adrian turned away as dispatcher answered.
“My three-year-old daughter may be under surveillance by men connected to an active shooting investigation.”
He gave:
Sarah’s name.
Lily’s daycare.
The threatening photograph.
His hospital.
His identity.
No fake story.
No anonymous call.
No demand that officers become his private security.
The dispatcher transferred information.
Adrian then called Sarah again.
This time she answered.
“What?”
Her voice was breathless.
“Sarah.”
Silence.
Then:
“Why are you calling?”
“Where are you?”
“At work.”
“Lily?”
“Daycare.”
“Leave work. Do not go there until police contact you.”
“What happened?”
“I received a photograph.”
Another silence.
“What kind of photograph?”
“Lily outside daycare.”
Sarah’s breathing changed.
“Who?”
“I believe Volkov.”
“You believe?”
“Yes.”
“You told me you were keeping this away from us.”
“I failed.”
The words came out before Adrian could protect himself from them.
Sarah heard.
“Are you still in hospital?”
“Yes.”
“Vincent told me you were shot.”
“You talked to Vincent?”
“He called ten minutes ago.”
Adrian looked at him.
Vincent shrugged once.
Sarah continued:
“You do not send armed men into Lily’s daycare.”
“I’m not.”
“Promise.”
“I already called police.”
Silence.
This one different.
“You called police?”
“Yes.”
“Adrian Moretti called the police.”
“Try not to enjoy it.”
“I’m not enjoying anything.”
Neither was he.
Then she said:
“I’m driving to the precinct they told parents to use.”
“Who told parents?”
“Daycare sent alert two minutes ago. They saw two unfamiliar men outside the side entrance. The director locked the building and called 911.”
Adrian’s entire body went cold.
“Is Lily inside?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“App shows checked in. Director says all children accounted for.”
Good.
Not safe yet.
But inside.
Sarah’s voice became sharp.
“Do not come.”
“I’m in hospital.”
“You know what I mean. Don’t send Vincent. Don’t send anybody. Police are there.”
Adrian looked at Vincent.
“Understood.”
“Adrian.”
“Yes?”
“If this is your war—”
“It is.”
“I swear to God—”
“I know.”
“You don’t know anything.”
Then she ended call.
Dr. Elena Maren stood near doorway.
“You’re staying.”
Adrian handed phone back.
“Not negotiable?”
“No.”
“I can sign out.”
“You can. Then if your rhythm degenerates in a hallway while you are trying to save someone three miles away, you will become another emergency other people have to manage.”
He hated logic when it opposed him.
Elena looked at Vincent.
“You.”
Vincent straightened slightly.
“What?”
“If you care whether he survives long enough to meet this child, stop treating his impulse to stand up as evidence he should.”
Vincent glanced at Adrian.
“I’ve tried.”
“Try better.”
Elena left.
Adrian muttered:
“She’s terrifying.”
Vincent:
“You’re scared of cardiologist.”
“I’m scared of competent people.”
Then Vincent’s phone rang again.
This time Detective Maya Reynolds, NYPD Organized Crime Investigation Division, calling through the hospital security liaison.
Adrian put speaker on.
“Mr. Moretti, officers are at Little Harbor Day School. Children are secure. Two men were detained nearby after staff reported suspicious behavior.”
“Names?”
“I’m not giving investigative details on unsecured line.”
“Were they armed?”
“Not discussing.”
“Was anyone hurt?”
“No.”
Adrian closed eyes.
“Lily?”
“Safe.”
The first breath he had taken in several minutes finally escaped.
Reynolds continued:
“You need to preserve the threatening image exactly as received. Do not forward it around. Do not send anyone to contact the detained men, their families, or known associates.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
Vincent almost smiled.
Adrian said:
“Yes.”
“We are coordinating with federal investigators because the shooting that put you in hospital may be connected.”
“When can Sarah pick Lily up?”
“Daycare will release children through police-controlled reunification once cleared. Ms. Caldwell has already been contacted.”
Good.
Then Reynolds said:
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“One detained man had a photograph of Lily.”
Adrian’s jaw clenched.
“Same one?”
“Different angle.”
“What else?”
“I’m not discussing evidence before warrant work is complete.”
“Detective—”
“Mr. Moretti, your daughter is safe right now. If you want her to stay that way, do not turn this into a street retaliation.”
Adrian stared at the wall.
Every instinct he had learned since nineteen screamed the opposite.
Find who did it.
Make examples.
End threat.
But every example produced another brother.
Another cousin.
Another son.
Another man waiting ten years.
Adrian looked at Lily’s drawing.
A faceless father.
“I won’t.”
Vincent turned toward him sharply.
Reynolds paused.
“Say that again.”
“I will not retaliate.”
“Good.”
Call ended.
Vincent waited.
“You mean it?”
“Yes.”
“You know what people will think.”
Adrian laughed without humor.
“That I’m weak?”
“Yes.”
“Volkov already found my daughter while I was being strong.”
Vincent looked away.
That hit both of them.
Then the hospital phone rang.
Sarah.
Adrian answered.
“Lily is with me.”
His eyes closed.
“Is she okay?”
“She’s asking why police officers came to school.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That some adults made unsafe choices.”
Good.
Then Sarah’s voice changed.
“You asked Vincent to double surveillance on us.”
“Yes.”
“You had people watching my daughter without telling me.”
“I was trying—”
“No.”
Adrian stopped.
“You do not get to say protection if the person you’re protecting never agreed.”
He had no answer.
Sarah continued:
“If you want to meet Lily, we will discuss it. But this secret security operation ends tonight.”
“Sarah, Volkov—”
“Police and professionals. Not men who answer to you.”
He looked at Vincent.
Vincent knew.
Adrian said:
“Okay.”
Sarah went silent.
“You’re agreeing?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re right.”
She almost laughed.
“That diagnosis must be worse than Vincent said.”
“It is.”
Another silence.
“What diagnosis?”
Adrian realized Vincent had not told her.
He looked at drawing.
Then said:
“My heart.”
Sarah’s voice softened despite herself.
“What about it?”
“I need a device implanted.”
“How serious?”
“Serious enough that I don’t want Lily drawing me without a face anymore.”
Sarah was quiet for a long time.
Then:
“You don’t get to walk into her life because you’re scared to die.”
“I know.”
“You meet her if it is good for her.”
“I know.”
“You follow my pace.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t bring men.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t buy her anything ridiculous.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“How ridiculous?”
“Adrian.”
“Understood.”
Then she said:
“I’ll call tomorrow.”
After line ended, Vincent looked at him.
“You just agreed to four things without negotiating.”
“Five.”
“What was fifth?”
“Stop surveillance.”
Vincent stared.
“And you mean that?”
“Cancel our people around Sarah and Lily. Give any threat information to Detective Reynolds.”
“Boss—”
“Vincent.”
He nodded.
“All right.”
Then his phone buzzed again.
A message from one of their attorneys.
Federal agents wanted to interview Adrian about the Mulberry shooting.
And they had a name for one of the men detained outside Lily’s daycare.
Anton Volkov.
May you like
Dimitri Volkov’s nephew.
Continue to the next chapter: The man outside Lily’s daycare was Volkov’s nephew, and while Sarah prepared Lily for the father she had never met, federal investigators were preparing Adrian for a different introduction—to every crime he would have to admit if he wanted their protection.
