https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fkitchensecrets.delicedcook.com%2F%3Fp%3D1577%26fbclid%3DIwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3am9sSWI5S29mQkxjeFQ4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlnBrQWxuGPKz6kEm1cCUs0Lb5QxeMra-rOh7eFIEUGsWD9W0u1dyRun37Fd_aem_8tkiKKVC1bVFKmPWbywobQ&h=AUC1R_ehz09Z6FSiL9saC_TJWxW_UBitay7qXxG4fNe14vLrKMBGD7BrFGVIwInjcYT3PQFQI5MW_msGYDhKrnFffhdcmCn0htPMwoGXCrsdDfAfRZKGa2Hftula8JNWynmshrf0JoVkUm8o&__tn__=R*F&c[0]=AUAojhzX_i4X41nQLbwH9Sx52JKXmYbqjwOKvrl6WBjJ7PqUNAIJNVnVlqnVI1OsRU0nmoqUXXQdMmCHb_Y2dExLYYuCdLQLYXybAXNpAs_X9ArEIHPomSxikS9zrETQI7XYeX8PRDcXKMGcmf-tec1jXZLSsXFjezPpGEfz5MBqcRqVeMo

The private exit turned out to be far less glamorous than I expected.

There was no red carpet.

No line of black SUVs surrounded by men wearing sunglasses.

Just a quiet service corridor, a concrete stairwell, and a security employee who looked as if he had skipped lunch.

Two men waited at the bottom.

One was tall and broad-shouldered, probably in his forties, wearing a gray suit without a tie.

The other was younger and carried a tablet.

“Mr. Prescott,” the older man said.

“Daniel.”

His gaze moved toward me and Lily.

Not suspiciously.

Professionally.

“This is Elena Walker,” Adrian said. “And her daughter, Lily.”

Daniel gave me a small nod.

“Ma’am.”

The younger man stepped forward and handed Adrian a phone.

“We confirmed the number.”

“Anything else?”

“It’s registered to Ethan Walker. Dallas address.”