?


    Gabriel''s expression changed when he saw the police. He hadn''t expected N to actually follow through and call them.


    One of the officers turned to him, his tone stern. "Is what Ms. Kinsey said true? Where is the child? If you don''t hand him over, we''ll have to treat this as a kidnapping case and take you into custody."


    Gabriel forced a smile and nced at N. "N, didn''t you just say you already know where Buddy is? Why involve the police if you''ve already found him?"


    N scowled. "Yes, I know where he is, but the location requires your fingerprint for ess. Now that the police are here, don''t try any more tricks."


    A flicker of surprise crossed Gabriel''s face. He hadn''t expected her to figure out where Mason was being kept. That location indeed required his fingerprint to enter.


    When he''d taken Mason earlier, he had anticipated that N woulde looking for him, so he had locked the boy in hispany office.


    Since N already knew, and with the police present, continuing to stall would only worsen his situation.


    He took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine, I''ll—"


    Before he could finish, his phone rang.


    He answered, and his secretary''s anxious voice came through the line. "Mr. Hackett, there''s been an issue with thepany''s security system. Everything''s down, and the programs have crashed. You need to get here immediately!"


    "What?!" Gabriel''s expression darkened as he turned sharply to N. "Did you do this?!"


    If Nyce Tech''s security system failed, all its data could be stolen at any moment.


    N frowned at him. "What are you talking about?"


    The question sobered Gabriel slightly. He realized it couldn''t have been her. She didn''t have the capability to pull something like this off. If she did, Prospectus Technology wouldn''t have gone bankrupt.


    Regaining hisposure, he spoke


    coldly into "I


    the phone


    Have the tech team


    immediately. I''ll head over now.


    He hung up and exhaled deeply. "N, I''ll take you to Buddy now."


    Without responding, N followed him out of the vi. The two officers trailed closely behind.


    When they arrived at Nyce Tech, N got out of the car and rushed to the elevator.


    As they stood beside her, Gabriel said, "N, you don''t need to worry. Buddy is perfectly safe."


    N frowned in disgust but said nothing.


    The elevator arrived, and they rode silently to the top floor.


    As the doors opened, a small figure out


    darted


    few


    and flung itself into N''s


    The force knocked her back a steps, nearly making ho


    fall.


    At thest moment, Gabriel caught her by the waist, steadying her.


    "Are you okay?" he asked.


    "Don''t touch me!" she snapped.


    She pped his hand away and looked down, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw it was Mason.


    She crouched down and eximed, "Buddy!"


    Mason''s lip''s quivered as he threw


    ?


    his arms around her neck and began Mommy, why did it take you


    to cry so long toe? I was locked up for


    so long, and I was so scared..."