Chapter 15 - Eleven O’Clock
At 10:56 p.m., Sarah drove toward the abandoned warehouse.
Nathan’s files sat inside a black case on the passenger seat.
They were copies.
The originals were already in federal custody.
Raymond didn’t know that.
Neither did he know Detective Brooks had hidden a transmitter inside the case.
Sarah parked outside.
The warehouse door opened.
Victoria stepped out.
Sarah stared at her.
“You.”
Victoria looked exhausted.
Her elegant clothes were gone.
She wore jeans and a black coat.
“Get inside.”
“Where’s Claire?”
“Alive.”
Sarah carried the case inside.
Claire sat tied to a chair near the center of the warehouse.
Her face was bruised but she was conscious.
“Mom.”
Sarah moved toward her.
Victoria blocked the way.
Raymond appeared from behind a stack of crates.
He held a pistol.
“Put the case down.”
Sarah obeyed.
Raymond opened it.
He checked the first files.
Then smiled.
“Thomas always did love paperwork.”
Sarah looked at Claire.
“You okay?”
Claire nodded.
Raymond closed the case.
“Now the trust records.”
“They’re in there.”
“No.”
He raised the gun.
“I want the documents naming the successor trustees.”
Sarah understood.
Raymond wanted control after her death.
He had probably planned to force Claire into signing next.
Sarah looked at Victoria.
“Is this what you wanted?”
Victoria’s face tightened.
“Shut up.”
“You betrayed Thomas.”
“I survived.”
“You helped Julian rob the company.”
“I survived.”
“You helped kidnap Claire.”
Victoria looked away.
For the first time, Sarah saw fear.
Not of Sarah.
Of Raymond.
Sarah took a risk.
“He’ll kill you when this is finished.”
Raymond smiled.
“Don’t listen to her.”
Victoria didn’t respond.
Sarah continued.
“You know too much.”
“Sarah.”
“You met Thomas.”
Victoria’s eyes flickered.
“You gave him evidence.”
“Stop talking.”
“Raymond can never trust you.”
Victoria suddenly shouted.
“SHUT UP.”
Her voice cracked.
Raymond turned toward her.
That tiny movement was enough.
Claire kicked the chair sideways.
It slammed into Raymond’s leg.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Sarah dropped.
Victoria lunged for Raymond.
He struck her away.
Police lights exploded through the warehouse windows.
Raymond grabbed Claire.
He pressed the gun against her side.
“Everybody stays back.”
Police shouted outside.
Sarah rose slowly.
“Raymond.”
“Don’t.”
“You’re finished.”
“I said don’t.”
Claire was trembling.
Sarah looked directly at her daughter.
Then she noticed Claire’s hands.
The rope around her right wrist was loose.
Claire had been working it free.
Sarah kept Raymond’s attention.
“You wanted Thomas’s company.”
Raymond sneered.
“I built half that company.”
“And he never trusted you enough to give it to you.”
Raymond’s face twisted.
That hit him.
Claire slipped one hand free.
Sarah saw it.
Raymond didn’t.
Sarah smiled.
“And that is why you’ll always be the man standing behind someone else’s chair.”
May you like
Raymond raised the gun toward Sarah.
Claire moved.
