Then, I saw it. About fifty feet further down, near the property line, was a second, smaller residential bin used by the upstairs apartments.
I sprinted toward it. I didn’t even look inside this time; I used my shoulder to ram the plastic bin, knocking it over.
The contents spilled onto the concrete—old pizza boxes, plastic bags, and a bright, yellow, fleece blanket.
« Maisie! » I scrambled forward.
Buried beneath the layers of trash was Maisie. She was wrapped tightly in the yellow blanket, her small body curled up, completely unresponsive. Her face was pale, and she was breathing shallowly.
The drug, whatever they had used, had been powerful.
I scooped her into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. « Maisie, Maisie, baby, wake up. Mommy’s here. »
I needed a phone. Mine was in the apartment. I needed an ambulance. I needed police. I needed to get my child to a hospital.
I carried Maisie back into the building, bypassing the party room, and into the secure office area where my CFO files were kept.
It took fifteen minutes to get Maisie stabilized and an ambulance called from a blocked line. While the paramedics treated her (she had been given a heavy dose of pediatric Benadryl, which was dangerously sedating for a two-year-old, but thankfully not lethal), I made a final series of calls.
The first was to the police, reporting my daughter as a missing, endangered child who had been located with evidence of drugging and kidnapping. I named Warren, Elaine, and Tessa Holloway, and Lucas Wright, as the primary suspects.
The second call was to my personal attorney. « I need the immediate, un-sealing and filing of the pre-drafted financial freeze protocols for Holloway Home & Tool. Everything. Asset forfeiture, tax audits, environmental non-compliance reports. All of it. Now. »
The third call was to the bank holding the lines of credit I had secretly personally guaranteed. « I am officially withdrawing my personal guarantee, effective ten minutes ago. Due to suspected corporate malfeasance, I recommend immediate foreclosure on all unsecured debt. »
While Maisie lay sleeping (normally, now, under professional medical supervision), I returned to the party room.
The laughter died down as I walked in. I was covered in garbage. My face was streaked with dirt and tears, and I was holding a folder of papers.
Dad grinned. « Ah, the trash returns. Did you find your mistake? »
I didn’t answer him. I walked straight up to the head table, right to where Mom was still adjusting Sadie’s crown.
I took the crown off Sadie’s head and threw it across the room.
« Sadie won’t be winning any titles today, Tessa, » I said to my stunned sister.
I turned to my parents. « You wanted to find your trash, Mom? You’re looking at her. »
I dropped the folder of papers onto the table.
« Holloway Home & Tool is finished. I have withdrawn the lines of credit I personally guaranteed. The bank is foreclosing as we speak. I have un-sealed the accounting records detailing Warren’s embezzlement over the last five years and forwarded them to the IRS. I have also submitted the environmental reports regarding the toxic waste dumping Tessa ordered last spring. »
The blood drained from my father’s face. He scrambled for the folder. « You… you didn’t. »
I turned to Lucas, who was now standing, looking terrified.
« You’re not marrying Elara Holloway, Lucas. You’re marrying an accessory to kidnapping and child endangerment. The police are already on their way. They’re arresting all four of you. »
I smiled, a cold, hard, empty smile. « Maisie’s birthday party starts now. The one I’m having for her at the hospital, where people actually care if she lives or dies. »
I turned on my heel and walked out, ignoring my father’s roaring, my mother’s screaming, and Lucas’s pathetic begging.
Ten minutes later, from the back of the ambulance, I watched through the small rear window as the flashing lights of three police cruisers surrounded Holloway Home & Tool. Officers wrestled my parents, my sister, and my ex-fiancé into handcuffs, their screams echoing down the alleyway.
I looked down at Maisie, who was finally stirring, her eyes fluttering open, her tiny hand grabbing my finger.
« Happy Birthday, Maisie, » I whispered. « Mommy made sure they regretted everything.
