“You’ve got a population of almost one and a half billion people with probably half of them kids.” Donatti locked the door to his suite. “I have no idea who you’re showing me.”

“There has to be trust.”

“There’s trust …” Donatti was running up the stairs to Gabe’s suite. “A hundred and fifty thousand worth of trust on my part. I haven’t seen anything from you yet. Just hold for a few seconds.”

He opened up the door and caught Juleen just as she was taking out her violin in anticipation of her lesson in a half hour. The little girl’s eyes went as wide as pancakes. To her, he said, “I’m going to show you someone. I think it’s your brother. Ask him a question that only he would know the answer to. Got it?”

The girl nodded.

Donatti said, “Okay. Show me the kid again! Go!”

His phone screen showed a little boy sitting on a big couch, clutching a pillow. As before, he looked absolutely terrified. He showed the image to Juleen. “This him?”

The boy’s face lit up. “Sister!”

Juleen felt tears. “How are you, Sanjay?”

“I miss you.”

“I miss you, too, priy. Are you all right?”

Donatti tapped her shoulder. “Ask him a question now.”

“Sanjay, what is that video game that you always play with Gabriel?”

“You mean Firefox?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

The screen went dark. Donatti darkened his screen as well. “That’s him?”

Through tears, she nodded. “Yes.”

“Go into your bedroom and close the door!” When she didn’t move, Donatti said, “Now!”

The sound of his voice spurred her into action.

Alone, he said, “Okay. I’m here.”

“Satisfied?”

“For now, yes.”

“All that stands between the boy and safety is money.”

“Give me a figure.”

“The man owes two and a half million. Add another one hundred thousand for interest.”

“I can get it, but it’ll take me time.”

“How long?”

“Long. Maybe two months.”

“We can’t be responsible for a child for two months.”

“How about this?” Donatti’s brain was whirling. “I’ll pay you another quarter mil now if you release him to his father. You don’t want the kid’s death on your conscience.”

A small laugh. “If we release the kid, we have nothing.”

And, of course, that was the truth. “How about if I bring his father to the boy?” Silence. “It’ll calm the boy down and you’ll have two hostages instead of one.”

The laugh got louder. “I see you know nothing about Devek.”

“He’s the boy’s father. He’ll do it.”

“Good luck with that. Send the two hundred and fifty thousand and we’ll be in touch.”