Norah woke at 2:13 a.m.

Gideon heard her scream from across the penthouse.

“Mama!”

He reached the room within seconds.

Norah was sitting upright, terrified.

“Hey.”

She stared at him.

“Where am I?”

“My home.”

“Where's Mama?”

“We found her.”

Norah froze.

“You did?”

Gideon sat beside the bed.

“She's in a hospital.”

Norah's eyes immediately filled.

“Is she dead?”

“No.”

Gideon made sure his answer came quickly.

“She is alive.”

Norah clutched Mr. Buttons.

“Can I see her?”

“Soon.”

“Promise?”

Gideon hesitated.

Promises were dangerous things.

But Norah was watching him.

“I promise I'll do everything I can.”

She frowned.

“That's not the same.”

Gideon almost smiled.

“You're very observant.”

“Mama says I ask too many questions.”

“Your mother sounds smart.”

“She is.”

Norah looked toward the door.

“Is the bad man here?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“Very.”

“How?”

Gideon glanced at the security camera visible in the hallway.

“Because this building belongs to me.”

That answer apparently satisfied her.

For about three seconds.

“Are you a gangster?”

Gideon stared.

“Where did that come from?”

“You dress like one.”

He looked down at his black shirt, tattoos and tailored trousers.

“That's profiling.”

Norah tilted her head.

“What's profiling?”

“Something I'm apparently teaching you about tomorrow.”

A small giggle escaped her.

Gideon hadn't heard a child laugh inside his home in three years.

It hurt more than he expected.

Then Norah became serious.

“I saw the man before.”

Gideon leaned forward.

“When?”

“With Mama.”

“Tell me.”

Norah hesitated.

“Mama works at a hotel.”

“Which one?”

“The Grand Regent.”

Gideon knew it.

A luxury hotel downtown.

“Last night Mama picked me up because the babysitter got sick.”

Norah twisted the rabbit's repaired ear.

“She told me to stay in an office.”

“What happened?”

“I heard people arguing.”

“Who?”

“A man and Mama.”

“What were they saying?”

Norah closed her eyes.

“He said she shouldn't have copied something.”

Gideon's attention sharpened.

“Copied what?”

“I don't know.”

“What happened next?”

“Mama grabbed me and we left.”

Norah's breathing changed.

“We got in her car. Another car followed us.”

“The black SUV?”

She nodded.

“Mama stopped near the park.”

“Why?”

“She said the car wasn't working.”

Norah's fingers trembled.

“She told me to sit on the bench and not move.”

“And she went for help?”

“Yes.”

Norah looked at Gideon.

“Then I saw the man.”

Gideon remained still.

“What did you see?”

“He was talking to Mama.”

“What happened?”

Norah swallowed.

“She fell.”

Gideon didn't push for graphic details.

“Did you see his face?”

“Yes.”

“Would you recognize him?”

Immediately:

“Yes.”

A knock interrupted them.

Dante stood in the doorway.

“Gideon.”

Something in his expression said enough.

Gideon stood.

“I'll be right back.”

Norah grabbed his sleeve.

“Don't go.”

Gideon looked down.

That simple request hit him harder than any threat ever had.

He sat back.

“Dante can talk here.”

Dante entered.

“We identified the SUV.”

“Owner?”

“Shell company.”

“Of course.”

“But we traced the company.”

Dante placed a photograph on the bedside table.

Norah saw it.

Her face changed instantly.

She pointed.

“Him.”

Gideon looked down.

The photograph showed a silver-haired man in an expensive tuxedo.

Dante spoke quietly.

“Richard Mercer.”

Gideon knew the name.

Chief financial officer of the Grand Regent Hotel Group.

More importantly, Mercer had spent years building relationships with judges, developers, and politicians.

Norah whispered:

“That's the man who made Mama fall.”

Gideon picked up the photograph.

His voice became dangerously calm.

“Now we know who we're looking for.”

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