Chapter 7: The Man in the Dining Room
The gunshot left a ringing silence behind it.
Maya lay against the marble floor, her cheek pressed to the cold stone.
Evelyn was beside her, trembling.
Victor had stopped inches from the hidden door.
Then the man outside spoke again.
“Twenty-two years, Victor.””
His voice was calm.
Almost bored.
“You should have stayed quiet.””
Victor slowly backed away from the door.
Maya pushed herself upright.
“Who is that?””
Victor looked at her.
His lips barely moved.
“Raymond.””
The name sent a chill through the room.
Maya looked toward the door.
“My mother is out there.””
“I know.””
“You said he was watching her.””
“I said I didn't know who was watching.””
“You lied.””
Victor swallowed.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
Another gunshot struck the metal door.
Everyone ducked.
A dent appeared near the latch.
Evelyn cried out.
Victor grabbed Maya and pulled her behind the table.
“Stay down.””
“Where’s my mother?””
“On the other side.””
“I need to get to her.””
“You'll get yourself killed.””
Maya stared at him.
“Then open the door.””
Victor shook his head.
“Not yet.””
Footsteps moved outside.
Slow.
Measured.
Then came a knock.
Three gentle taps.
Maya recognized the pattern.
It was the same knock from earlier.
But this time, Alana’s voice didn't follow.
Victor looked toward the ceiling.
“There’s another exit.””
“Where?””
“Behind those shelves.””
Maya turned.
A row of old wooden shelves covered the far wall.
Victor hurried over and pushed aside several boxes.
A narrow doorway appeared.
Evelyn stared.
“You never told me about that.””
“I didn't tell anyone.””
Maya looked toward the hidden door.
“What about Mom?””
Victor's face tightened.
“She knows about the passage.””
A man's voice suddenly came from the restaurant.
“Victor?””
Victor froze.
The voice wasn't coming from behind the hidden door.
It was coming from outside the room.
Inside the restaurant.
Maya's blood ran cold.
Raymond was already inside.
Victor looked at Evelyn.
“Take Maya through the passage.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.””
“Go.””
“I've spent twenty-two years running from that man.””
Victor whispered, “Then don't waste the twenty-third.””
Maya grabbed Evelyn's hand.
“Come on.””
They moved toward the narrow opening.
Then Maya stopped.
“What about you?””
Victor looked at her.
“I have something to finish.””
“You're coming with us.””
“No.””
“Victor—”
A chair scraped across the dining room floor.
Then Raymond spoke again.
“I can hear you.””
Victor reached into his jacket.
Maya expected another weapon.
Instead, he pulled out a small recording device.
He pressed a button.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Alana.
“Victor, if you're hearing this, then Raymond found us.””
Maya's eyes widened.
Victor stared at the device.
The recording continued.
“I need you to understand something. I never trusted you completely.””
Victor closed his eyes.
“But I trusted you more than anyone else.””
Maya whispered, “Mom…”
Alana’s recorded voice continued.
“If Maya ever finds this, tell her the truth.””
Victor looked at Maya.
The restaurant suddenly went silent.
Then the recording played Alana's next sentence.
“Victor did not take me.””
Maya stared.
“What?””
The recording stopped.
Victor looked toward the door.
Raymond's footsteps approached.
Maya grabbed his arm.
“What did she mean?””
Victor shook his head.
“You need to leave.””
“You know where she went.””
“Yes.””
“Then tell me.””
Victor's eyes filled with tears.
“She went somewhere I couldn't follow.””
“Where?””
Before he could answer, the hidden door exploded inward.
Victor shoved Maya aside.
A bullet tore through the wooden table.
Evelyn screamed.
Victor fired back.
The room filled with smoke and splintered wood.
Maya crawled toward the passage.
She heard Raymond laugh.
Then a man's voice shouted from the dining room.
“Get the girl!””
Maya froze.
Not *Maya*.
The girl.
As if Raymond had never learned her name.
Victor grabbed Maya's hand.
“Run!””
They rushed through the narrow passage.
Behind them, Evelyn slammed the wooden panel shut.
Maya heard Victor's footsteps.
Then Evelyn's.
Then nothing.
“Victor?””
No answer.
Maya turned.
The passage was empty.
Evelyn grabbed her shoulders.
“He stayed behind.””
Maya shook her head.
“No.””
“He wanted us to get out.””
“No.””
“Maya, listen.””
“I’m not leaving him.””
A violent crash came from behind the wall.
Then Victor screamed.
Maya turned back.
“Victor!””
Evelyn held her tighter.
“You can't save him.””
Another crash.
Then Raymond's voice drifted through the wall.
“Bring me the photograph.””
Maya's hand went instinctively to her coat pocket.
The photograph was still there.
Raymond knew.
He knew she had it.
Maya looked at Evelyn.
“How does he know?””
Evelyn's expression changed.
Because she suddenly understood.
“He isn't looking for the photograph.””
Maya frowned.
“What?””
May you like
Evelyn stared at Maya's wrist.
“He's looking for you.””
