Chapter 8 – The Woman Who Refused to Run
The explosion echoed through Michael's phone.
Then...
Silence.
Not static.
Not voices.
Nothing.
His hands began to shake.
"Rebecca?"
No answer.
"Rebecca!"
The line disconnected.
For one terrifying second, Michael couldn't breathe.
Then instinct took over.
He grabbed his car keys and raced toward the garage.
Thirty-five minutes earlier...
The convoy carrying Catherine, Emma, Rachel, and Special Agent Rebecca Lawson had left Philadelphia using a route known only to the FBI.
Or so they believed.
Rebecca sat in the front passenger seat, reviewing intelligence reports on a secure tablet.
The lead SUV was driven by Agent Marcus Hill, a former Marine with fifteen years in the Bureau.
Another SUV followed behind.
Everything appeared routine.
Until Marcus frowned.
Rebecca noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
"We're being followed."
She looked in the side mirror.
A gray pickup truck.
Nothing unusual.
Except...
"It made every turn we made."
Rebecca's expression hardened.
"How long?"
"About twelve miles."
She quietly reached for the radio.
"Unit Two."
A voice answered instantly.
"Go ahead."
"We may have company."
The rear SUV slowed slightly.
The pickup slowed too.
That confirmed it.
Rebecca looked back at Catherine.
"We're changing routes."
"Is something wrong?"
Rebecca forced a calm smile.
"Probably not."
But her hand had already moved to the pistol beneath her jacket.
Five miles later...
The convoy approached a narrow bridge crossing the Schuylkill River.
Marcus suddenly slammed on the brakes.
"What happened?"
He pointed ahead.
A tractor-trailer had jackknifed across both lanes.
Blocking the bridge.
Rebecca's eyes narrowed.
"Reverse."
Before Marcus could shift gears...
The gray pickup accelerated behind them.
Another black SUV appeared from a side road.
Then another.
Within seconds...
The convoy was boxed in.
Rachel whispered,
"Oh my God..."
Rebecca calmly opened her door.
"Stay inside."
Three armed men stepped out of the black SUVs.
Their leader smiled.
Victor Kane.
He looked nothing like Catherine expected.
Not a scarred criminal.
Not a ruthless gangster.
He wore an expensive charcoal suit.
Silver hair.
Polished shoes.
He looked more like a respected senator than the head of a criminal empire.
Victor adjusted his tie before speaking.
"Mrs. Carter."
His voice was almost friendly.
"I apologize for the inconvenience."
Rebecca stood between him and the vehicle.
"Federal agents are surrounding this area."
Victor smiled.
"No."
"They aren't."
He looked at his watch.
"They're currently responding to the explosion at your safe house."
Rebecca's face changed.
Michael's warning had come too late.
Victor continued.
"It was empty."
He smiled again.
"I knew you wouldn't be foolish enough to stop there first."
Rebecca slowly drew her weapon.
Victor sighed.
"I'd rather not do this."
Several rifles immediately aimed at her.
Catherine's heartbeat thundered.
Emma began crying.
Victor looked toward the sound.
"So that's the little girl."
His smile softened strangely.
"She has her mother's eyes."
Catherine stepped out of the SUV before anyone could stop her.
Rebecca grabbed her arm.
"No."
"I won't let him come closer."
Victor nodded approvingly.
"A brave mother."
"What do you want?"
"The flash drive."
"I don't have it."
"I know."
Victor smiled.
"Michael does."
Catherine frowned.
"No."
"He gave it to the FBI."
Victor chuckled.
"Exactly."
Silence.
Then realization hit her.
"This was never about the drive."
Victor's smile widened.
"Very good."
He slowly clapped.
"The drive is already copied."
"So why are we here?"
"Leverage."
He looked directly at Catherine.
"Michael has twenty-four hours."
"To do what?"
Victor's answer was simple.
"Choose."
Back in Philadelphia...
Michael burst into FBI headquarters.
He didn't bother checking in.
He ran straight toward the command center.
Agents looked up in surprise.
"Where's Director Lawson?"
One agent frowned.
"She's with your family."
Michael slammed both hands onto the operations desk.
"They've been compromised."
The room instantly fell silent.
"What?"
"They know about the convoy."
Within seconds, alarms echoed across the operations center.
Large monitors lit up.
Maps.
GPS signals.
Satellite images.
One technician looked horrified.
"We've lost contact with all three vehicles."
Michael's heart stopped.
"What?"
"The trackers disappeared eight minutes ago."
Another agent shouted,
"I've got something!"
A traffic camera.
Frozen image.
Three black SUVs surrounding the convoy.
Michael recognized one face immediately.
"Victor..."
He whispered.
The image zoomed in.
Victor Kane was looking directly into the traffic camera.
Smiling.
Almost as if...
He wanted the FBI to see him.
Meanwhile...
Victor opened the rear door of one of the black SUVs.
"Mrs. Carter."
"I'd like to offer you tea."
Catherine didn't move.
"I'd rather stay here."
"As you wish."
Victor remained surprisingly polite.
"You know..."
He glanced toward Emma.
"I've never harmed children."
Rachel snapped,
"Congratulations."
Victor ignored her.
"My quarrel is with Michael."
Catherine looked at him carefully.
"If that's true..."
"Let us go."
Victor sighed.
"I would."
"But then Michael would have no reason to finish what he started."
"What did he start?"
Victor's smile disappeared.
"He stole from me."
Catherine frowned.
"The evidence."
Victor nodded.
"No."
He stepped closer.
"He stole something far more valuable."
"What?"
Victor looked straight into her eyes.
"My daughter."
The world seemed to stop.
Catherine stared at him in disbelief.
"What...?"
Victor pointed at Emma.
Then quietly said the words that made Rebecca Lawson's face turn white.
"Amber Collins..."
He paused.
"...is my daughter."
Silence crashed over everyone.
Rachel couldn't even speak.
Rebecca whispered,
"Dear God..."
Victor looked toward the sky.
"I built an empire."
"My daughter betrayed me."
"Because she fell in love with the wrong man."
Catherine felt every piece of the story rearrange itself.
Amber hadn't simply been Michael's mistress.
She had been Victor Kane's daughter...
And somewhere between lies, manipulation, and betrayal...
She had truly fallen in love with Michael.
Victor smiled sadly.
"So now..."
He looked directly at Catherine.
"Tell me."
May you like
"Which woman do you think Michael would choose..."
"...if only one of you could survive?"
