Page 62 of King’s Ransom

And a panic room.

Unlike the top level which was very open, this one had a narrow internal corridor that seemed to run in a circle around the entire floor. From it, the various rooms branched off.

Leading with my gun, I headed clockwise to the west, moving cautiously.

The first room I found was Aristo King’s office.

Great view to the south.

Huge dark-brown desk.

The office looked more ornamental than functional—I didn’t think Mr King did much of his work here. It also had an outer office, which I guessed was for his executive assistant, Ms Kimura.

I kept going, working my way clockwise around the floor.

The golf simulator was next to the office.

Coming to the west side of the floor, I found the gym.

It looked like a hotel gym: only this one had panoramic views of the Hudson.

Same for the steam room, only it faced north: I didn’t think there were many steam rooms that looked out over Central Park.

After passing a cold plunge bath (park view, too), I came to the northeastern corner of the building.

The sauna was here.

Looking down the next section of the corridor, at the far southern end, I could see the thick silver vault-like door to the panic room. It was open.

The sauna’s wooden door was also open and as I peered inside it, I could see that the sauna had wonderful views, too—

Movement.

From my right.

I ducked into the sauna and peered round its doorframe to see—

—a man in white coveralls hurrying into the panic room.

My mystery man in white.

The building’s superintendent.

Or at least the guy who said he was the superintendent, and who’d gone missing for the last half-hour or so.

Found you . . .

I regripped my gun and stepped forward—

—when I was shoved hard from behind.

By someone else, someone I hadn’t seen.

I tumbled into the sauna, falling awkwardly to the floor.

I scrambled to my feet and whirled around just as the thick wooden door slammed with a muffled whump.

I yanked on the handle, but whoever had thrust me into the sauna had slid something through its outer handle, locking me in.