Chapter 9 - THE PENTHOUSE
The Halcyon penthouse was dark except for the ocean lights.
I entered alone.
At least that was what Vanessa believed.
Tom was two floors below.
Chief Reed had agents in the neighboring building.
I carried the memory card in my pocket.
A decoy copy sat in my hand.
Vanessa waited beside the windows.
Her silver party dress was gone.
She wore black pants and a white blouse.
Without the chandeliers and cameras, she looked smaller.
More frightened.
Daniel sat tied to a dining chair.
Peter Sloan was on the floor nearby.
Victor Lang stood behind them.
I recognized him from newspaper photographs.
Three years earlier, the world had been told he died from a heart attack in Switzerland.
He looked very healthy for a dead man.
“Elena Cross,” he said.
“So much trouble from one little survivor.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Don’t.”
Victor struck him across the face.
I moved forward.
“Touch him again and you lose the card.”
Victor smiled.
“There she is.”
Vanessa watched her father carefully.
Not lovingly.
Carefully.
That told me everything.
I held up the memory card.
“Untie Daniel.”
Victor shook his head.
“You’re not in charge.”
“Then shoot me.”
Vanessa flinched.
Victor didn’t.
I continued.
“If I don’t leave this room in twenty minutes, every file Richard saved goes to federal investigators.”
That was a lie.
Mostly.
Victor stepped closer.
“You bluff better than your brother.”
“You killed Richard?”
“No.”
Vanessa looked at him.
I noticed.
“You told her you didn’t.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
Vanessa whispered, “Dad?”
He ignored her.
That was the first crack.
I pushed harder.
“Richard recorded everything.”
Victor’s face changed.
“Give me the card.”
“He talked about the boat.”
Vanessa turned toward him.
“You said Richard drowned because he was drunk.”
Victor snapped, “Be quiet.”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“You didn’t know?”
“Shut up.”
But she was unraveling.
I stepped toward her.
“Vanessa, your father used you.”
“No.”
“He gave you forged evidence.”
“No.”
“He made you move money through your foundation.”
“It was legal.”
“Then why is Peter tied up?”
Sloan lifted his head.
“Because I tried to tell you.”
Vanessa stared at him.
Victor pulled a gun.
Everything stopped.
He pointed it at Sloan.
“You talk too much.”
Vanessa stepped between them.
“Dad.”
“Move.”
“No.”
His face hardened.
For the first time, she finally saw him clearly.
“You said nobody would get hurt.”
Victor almost laughed.
“Honey, people have been getting hurt since before you learned how to spell your last name.”
Vanessa looked shattered.
Then the elevator chimed.
Victor spun toward it.
The doors opened.
Chief Reed stepped out.
Alone.
His hands were visible.
Victor smiled.
“Well.”
Chief Reed looked at him.
“Been a long time.”
Victor raised the gun.
“You should’ve died with the others.”
Chief Reed’s expression went still.
“That confirms what Elena needed.”
Victor frowned.
Then every television in the penthouse turned on.
Live audio waveforms filled the screens.
The entire conversation had been broadcast to federal agents.
Victor’s eyes widened.
And Vanessa whispered:
May you like
“Oh my God.”
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