Chapter 13 - The Trade
Dr. Shah had been taken from the hospital parking garage.
Diane had chosen her carefully.
She knew I would not leave the woman who saved me behind.
The FBI took over command of the case.
The forty-million-dollar recovery trust crossed multiple state and federal jurisdictions.
Agent Daniel Frost joined Detective Cole.
He was quiet.
Methodical.
And completely uninterested in Diane’s threats.
“We do not trade access to forty million dollars for hostages.”
I looked at him.
“Then what are we trading?”
“A fake authorization.”
The plan required Diane to believe I could access the trust.
I would carry a cloned security device.
Federal agents would track it.
Diane would attempt to open the account.
That attempt would reveal the location of whichever system she used.
There was one problem.
Diane demanded I come alone.
Frost refused.
I insisted.
Eventually, technology solved what courage could not.
A tracking device went inside my shoe.
A microphone beneath my collar.
A transmitter was taped near the same place where my recorder had saved me.
That detail did not escape me.
Diane sent coordinates.
An abandoned rehabilitation clinic outside the city.
The building had been closed for eight years.
I entered through the front doors carrying a small black case.
The hallways smelled of dust and mold.
“Diane?”
My voice echoed.
A speaker clicked.
“Third floor.”
I climbed.
Every step reminded me of the hospital.
Of waking unable to breathe.
Of Evan telling me the truth was already clear.
On the third floor, a door opened.
Diane stood inside.
She wore dark trousers and a gray sweater.
No jewelry.
No performance.
Dr. Shah sat tied to a chair behind her.
Evan was beside her.
He looked at me with something between shame and fear.
Diane held a gun.
“Put the case down.”
I obeyed.
“Release Dr. Shah.”
“After.”
“You said this was a trade.”
Diane smiled.
“Your father also believed agreements mattered.”
My hands curled.
“Did you kill him?”
Evan closed his eyes.
Diane did not hesitate.
“Yes.”
The word entered my microphone.
Clear.
Perfect.
“You poisoned him.”
“He was interfering.”
“You let him die.”
“He chose the wrong side.”
I wanted to attack her.
Instead, I remembered Agent Frost’s instructions.
Keep her talking.
I asked the question I had carried for days.
“Why me?”
Diane looked almost offended.
“Because you had everything.”
“Money?”
“Potential.”
She glanced at Evan.
“My son needed someone stable.”
Evan laughed bitterly.
“You mean rich.”
Diane turned toward him.
That distraction lasted one second.
Dr. Shah kicked the chair backward.
I lunged toward the gun.
Diane fired.
The shot hit the wall.
Agents exploded through the windows and doors.
Evan threw himself sideways.
Dr. Shah screamed.
I hit the floor.
Diane disappeared through a service door.
Frost chased her.
Then the building alarms began ringing.
Smoke poured from the stairwell.
May you like
Diane had prepared another exit.
And she had set the clinic on fire.
