Chapter 4 - THE HOUSE ON MONROE STREET
Gavin drove to Monroe Street without telling anyone except Lucy.
He didn't know exactly what he expected to find.
He only knew that every minute mattered.
When he arrived, the apartment building looked ordinary.
Too ordinary.
There were old bicycles near the entrance, a broken mailbox, and two children playing with a plastic ball beside the sidewalk.
But Rosalia's apartment door was open.
Gavin rushed upstairs.
“Rosalia!”
No answer.
He entered.
The apartment was small and almost empty.
A mattress sat against one wall.
A folding table stood beneath a window.
There were children's drawings taped to the refrigerator.
But Elena and Mia were gone.
Gavin felt panic rising.
Then he heard something.
A faint sound from the bedroom.
He opened the door.
Rosalia was sitting on the floor.
Her hands were shaking.
Gavin knelt beside her.
“Where are they?”
Rosalia looked up.
“Mia is with Elena.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened?”
Rosalia pointed toward the window.
“He came.”
“Marcus?”
She nodded.
“He was waiting downstairs.”
Gavin looked outside.
The black SUV was gone.
“Did he take them?”
“No.”
Rosalia's eyes filled with tears.
“Elena took Mia and ran.”
“Where?”
“She didn't tell me.”
Gavin sat beside her.
“Rosalia, we need the truth.”
She looked exhausted.
“There are things I never told you.”
“I know.”
“My daughter met Marcus when she was nineteen.”
Rosalia looked at the floor.
“He was charming.”
She laughed bitterly.
“People like him always are.”
At first, Marcus treated Elena well.
He brought flowers.
He called Rosalia “Mom.”
He promised Elena a better life.
Then Mia was born.
And everything changed.
Marcus became controlling.
He demanded Elena quit her job.
He controlled the bank account.
He accused her of cheating whenever she spoke to another man.
Then one night, Elena disappeared for twelve hours.
When she returned, her face was bruised.
She refused to explain.
Rosalia eventually learned the truth.
Marcus had beaten her.
Rosalia wanted to call the police.
Elena refused.
She was terrified he would take Mia.
For years, the family lived under that fear.
Then Elena found evidence that Marcus had been involved in something worse.
He had been using other people's identities to open accounts and move money.
When Elena threatened to expose him, he told her he would make sure she never saw Mia again.
Rosalia had helped Elena leave.
But Marcus found them.
They moved three times.
Each time, he appeared again.
Gavin listened silently.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Rosalia looked at him.
“Because employers don't want family problems.”
“That's not true.”
“It is.”
“Not at Honey Crust.”
She gave him a sad smile.
“You thought I was stealing.”
Gavin lowered his eyes.
“You're right.”
Before he could say more, footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Rosalia froze.
Gavin stood.
The footsteps stopped outside the apartment.
Someone knocked.
Three slow knocks.
Rosalia grabbed Gavin's arm.
“Don't open it.”
The doorknob moved.
Gavin stepped between Rosalia and the door.
Then someone whispered.
“Rosalia.”
She covered her mouth.
It was Marcus.
“Rosalia, I know you're in there.”
Gavin looked around.
There was no other exit.
Marcus knocked again.
“I only want to talk.”
Gavin reached for his phone.
Marcus suddenly kicked the door.
The lock cracked.
Rosalia screamed.
Gavin pushed the table against the door.
“Call 911,” he whispered.
“I already did.”
Another kick.
The door opened several inches.
Gavin pushed back.
Then a man's face appeared through the gap.
Marcus.
He was younger than Gavin expected.
Calm.
Almost polite.
“You must be Gavin.”
Gavin stared at him.
“How do you know my name?”
Marcus smiled.
“Your bakery is easy to find.”
He looked past Gavin.
“Where's Elena?”
“I don't know.”
Marcus's smile disappeared.
“Don't lie.”
Gavin pushed the door shut.
Marcus stepped back.
“You should stay out of family business.”
Gavin answered through the door.
“Family doesn't beat family.”
Silence.
Then Marcus laughed.
“You don't know what you're talking about.”
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Marcus immediately turned.
By the time the police arrived, he was gone.
But something else had happened.
Gavin noticed a piece of paper beneath the apartment door.
He picked it up.
It was an old photograph.
Elena was standing outside Honey Crust.
The date was five years earlier.
Gavin stared at it.
Rosalia came closer.
“That was before Mia was born.”
Gavin turned the photograph over.
There was writing on the back.
ELENA KNOWS WHERE THE MONEY WENT.
Gavin looked at Rosalia.
“What money?”
Rosalia shook her head.
“I don't know.”
But the fear in her eyes told him she did.
Before he could ask again, her phone rang.
It was Elena.
Rosalia answered.
“Elena?”
Her daughter's voice was barely audible.
“Mom, listen to me.”
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Are you safe?”
“No.”
Rosalia closed her eyes.
Gavin leaned closer.
Elena continued.
“Marcus doesn't want Mia.”
Rosalia froze.
“He wants something else.”
“What?”
A long silence.
Then Elena whispered:
“He wants the ledger.”
Gavin looked at Rosalia.
“What ledger?”
Elena heard him.
“Who is that?”
“It's Gavin.”
“Mom, don't trust him.”
Gavin stepped back.
Elena continued.
“There was a book.”
“What book?”
“The book that proves where the money went.”
“Whose money?”
Elena's voice cracked.
“Your bakery.”
Gavin's heart stopped.
“What?”
The line went silent.
Then Elena whispered one final sentence.
“Dad didn't lose the bakery because of bad business.”
The call ended.
Gavin stared at Rosalia.
“What does she mean?”
Rosalia's face had gone pale.
May you like
“I don't know.”
But this time, Gavin knew she was lying.
