Chapter 9 - EMILY’S CHOICE
The police told Emily not to go.
Nathan told her the same thing.
Richard practically ordered it.
Emily ignored all three.
“Thomas risked his life to get us that evidence.”
Detective Collins shook her head.
“We’re not sacrificing you to save him.”
“So what do we do?”
“We use you.”
Nathan immediately objected.
“No.”
Emily looked at him.
“She means a controlled exchange.”
“I know what she means.”
Nathan faced Collins.
“She’s not trained.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“She is standing right here.”
Nathan turned toward her.
“You could get killed.”
“So could Thomas.”
“This isn’t your responsibility.”
Emily stared at him.
“My father died because he tried to expose Marcus.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to finish what he started.”
“Maybe it does.”
Nathan had no answer.
The exchange was arranged for midnight.
An abandoned Caldwell warehouse near the river.
Emily would carry a duplicate card.
Police tactical units would surround the building.
Nathan was ordered to remain away.
He agreed.
Then followed them anyway.
At 11:58 p.m., Emily entered the warehouse alone.
Her footsteps echoed across concrete.
“Thomas?”
A light switched on.
Marcus stood on a metal platform.
Vanessa was beside him.
Thomas sat tied to a chair.
His face was bruised.
Emily’s stomach twisted.
Vanessa smiled.
“You really do have a hero complex.”
Emily looked at her.
“You slapped me because you were afraid of a housekeeper.”
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
Marcus laughed.
“I like her.”
Emily held up the card.
“Let Thomas go.”
Marcus descended the stairs.
“Give it to me.”
“Thomas first.”
Marcus pulled out a gun.
Emily’s courage nearly disappeared.
“Now.”
She held out the card.
Marcus took it.
He handed it to Vanessa.
“Check it.”
Vanessa inserted it into a laptop.
Her face changed.
“It’s fake.”
Marcus looked at Emily.
“You disappoint me.”
A red laser suddenly appeared on his chest.
Police.
Marcus grabbed Emily.
The gun pressed against her neck.
“Back off!”
Officers surrounded the warehouse.
Vanessa ran.
Thomas kicked his chair sideways, knocking into Marcus.
Emily dropped.
A gunshot exploded.
Nathan came through the side entrance.
“Emily!”
Another gunshot.
Marcus disappeared behind stacked crates.
Police chased him.
Emily crawled toward Thomas.
Vanessa reached the rear door.
Then stopped.
Nathan stood there.
She stared at him.
“Nathan.”
He looked at the woman he had almost married.
“Move away from the door.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Please.”
“Get on the ground.”
“You loved me.”
“I loved someone who never existed.”
Vanessa’s face twisted.
“You think she’s better than me?”
Nathan frowned.
“What?”
Vanessa pointed toward Emily.
“That’s what this is about now, isn’t it?”
Emily stared at her.
Nathan shook his head.
“This is about you trying to destroy my family.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Your family destroyed itself long before I arrived.”
Then she pulled a small pistol from her purse.
Emily screamed.
“Nathan!”
May you like
Vanessa raised the weapon.
A shot cracked through the warehouse.
