Chapter 13: The Man at the Northern Field
Daniel escaped while being transported to a medical facility after claiming chest pain.
A Brooks security employee blocked the transport vehicle at an intersection. Daniel fled in the second car.
Investigators believed he was heading toward a private airfield.
Emily disagreed.
Daniel did not have the offshore account numbers.
Richard did not have the original mineral deed.
The only asset still within reach was beneath Blackwood’s northern field.
Emily drove there with Agent Hayes and two security vehicles.
Rain had turned the field into mud. Construction lights glowed near an abandoned survey station.
Daniel stood beside a small helicopter.
Arthur was on his knees in front of him.
A gun was pressed against Arthur’s neck.
Daniel had taken him from the estate parking lot.
“Bring me the deed,” Daniel shouted.
Emily stepped out of the vehicle.
“You cannot transfer the rights with a stolen document.”
“I don’t need to transfer them. I need evidence that they exist.”
“Every investigator in the country knows they exist.”
“But investors don’t know how much they’re worth.”
Daniel planned to sell confidential survey information to an international extraction company in exchange for immediate access to foreign funds.
He believed he could disappear before charges were filed.
“You won’t get beyond the border,” Emily said.
Daniel pressed the gun harder against Arthur.
“Then give me the deed.”
Arthur shook his head.
“Don’t.”
Daniel struck him.
Emily held up the metal document case.
“You wanted to control everything,” she said. “The company. The trust. Me.”
“I was trying to save what my family built.”
“You were trying to escape what your family destroyed.”
She placed the case on the ground.
Daniel pushed Arthur aside and moved toward it.
Vanessa stepped from behind one of the security vehicles.
Daniel froze.
“You,” he said.
Vanessa held up her phone.
“The original recording has already been delivered.”
Daniel raised the gun toward her.
Emily kicked the document case into the mud.
The lid opened.
Daniel saw only blank paper inside.
There was no deed.
The real document had already been secured at a federal evidence facility.
His face twisted with rage.
Before he could fire, Arthur lunged at him.
The gun discharged.
Daniel fell.
Arthur remained standing for half a second before blood spread across his white shirt.
As agents restrained Daniel, Emily caught Arthur before he hit the ground.
May you like
He looked up at her and whispered, “Your father was right not to trust me.”
Then his eyes closed.
