Chapter 053

Corporate Espionage

To Isabelle, the Fernandez mansion that once symbolized success and family unity had become a prison. It had been three days since her rushed return from Italy, three days of frantic searching, pleading telephone calls, and sleepless nights. Alex was still missing.

Isabelle sat at the kitchen island, her sea of electronics around her, her coffee untouched in front of her. The words of that text haunted her: "Your son is safe. For now. But his debt is now yours. We'll be in touch." What kind of debt? Who is this? And why haven't they contacted her again?

Carlos wandered into the kitchen, looking crumpled when he was almost always immaculately dressed, dark circles under his eyes that rivaled Isabelle's own. "Any news?" Isabelle asked, knowing from the defeated slump of her husband's shoulders that there was none. Carlos shook his head and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Nothing. The police are still treating it as a runaway case, but I've hired private investigator