The Billionaire's Fiancée Burned His Silent Daughter's Hair… Then the Child Finally Spoke After Two Years

Detective Hayes did not want me inside the hospital.

I reminded her that Lily trusted me, and Lily was the only person who remembered the tunnel layout. We compromised. Lily stayed in the command van and guided us using old construction plans. I entered with Hayes and two rescue officers.

The tunnel smelled of dust and standing water. Cracks ran along the concrete walls. Every few seconds, dirt drifted from the ceiling.

Lily's voice came through my earpiece in short, careful words.

"Left. Red pipe."

Grant heard her from somewhere above us.

"Lily?"

His voice echoed through a floor vent.

"Daddy," she answered.

It was only her third spoken word since the bathroom, but it gave us his exact location.

We climbed a service ladder into the old imaging department. Grant was tied to a support column. Senator Vale stood nearby with Owen Cole and a private guard.

"You brought the film?" Vale asked.

Hayes held up a sealed envelope. "Release him."

Vale smiled. "My daughter was sentimental. That was her weakness."

Grant stared at him. "You ordered her death."

"I ordered her to stop. Renata handled the details."

Owen stepped backward. "That was not the agreement."

For the first time, fear entered his voice.

Vale turned his gun toward him. "There is no agreement now."

A loud crack split the ceiling.

The damaged column beside Grant shifted.

Hayes fired at the overhead light, plunging the room into darkness. The rescue officers rushed forward. I reached Grant and cut the rope around his wrists.

Owen ran toward the stairwell. Vale followed, carrying the envelope.

The floor dropped beneath them.

Owen caught a steel beam. Vale landed on a broken platform one level below.

The envelope burst open.

Empty pages scattered through the dust.

"The film was never here," Hayes said.

Vale looked up at us, trapped and furious.