Chapter 7 - THE TRAP
Mason refused to release us.
That decision nearly cost him his career.
Within hours, he was suspended.
The police chief accused him of mishandling evidence.
We knew what it really meant.
They were trying to isolate us.
So we did something unexpected.
We went public.
Derek leaked a small portion of the evidence to a journalist.
Within an hour, the story exploded.
“LOCAL BUSINESSMAN FOUND DEAD UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.”
Then another headline.
“LOGISTICS GIANT ACCUSED OF FINANCIAL FRAUD.”
Then:
“STATE OFFICIAL LINKED TO PRIVATE SHIPPING EMPIRE.”
The public pressure became impossible to contain.
Vance disappeared.
So did Martin Harrison.
But Clara's body was still missing.
Then an anonymous message arrived.
Come to the old warehouse. Alone.
I knew it was a trap.
But I also knew someone wanted me there.
Mason refused to let me go alone.
Derek came too.
The warehouse was abandoned.
We entered at midnight.
A single light hung from the ceiling.
A chair sat beneath it.
And in the chair...
Was Clara.
Alive.
I couldn't breathe.
“Clara?”
She opened her eyes.
She looked weak.
Bruises covered her wrists.
But she was alive.
I ran toward her.
Mason stopped me.
“Wait.”
The room was rigged.
Wires.
Cameras.
A speaker activated.
Richard Vance's voice filled the warehouse.
“You should have accepted the story.”
I shouted:
“Where are you?”
He laughed.
“You were always the loyal employee, Alex.”
“You killed my wife.”
“No.”
A pause.
“I saved her.”
I stared at Clara.
She was barely conscious.
Vance continued.
“She knew too much. But she was useful.”
Derek shouted, “What do you want?”
“Arthur's ownership documents.”
My father had them.
The original documents proving Vance stole the company.
Richard wanted them destroyed.
I stepped toward the camera.
“You'll never get them.”
“Then Clara dies.”
The lights went red.
A timer appeared.
Ten minutes.
Nine.
Eight.
Mason searched for the device.
I ran to Clara.
She whispered:
“Alex... don't give him anything.”
I held her hand.
“I won't.”
Then she looked at Derek.
“Did you bring it?”
Derek froze.
“What?”
“The original file.”
He looked at me.
I suddenly understood.
Derek had known more than he admitted.
He reached into his jacket.
Richard's voice laughed.
“Good.”
Derek pulled out a small drive.
But instead of holding it up...
He threw it toward the ceiling.
The camera exploded.
Mason moved instantly.
He found the control panel.
The timer stopped.
The warehouse doors burst open.
Police officers stormed inside.
Richard had underestimated us.
He thought we had come alone.
But Mason had arranged backup.
Clara was rushed to the hospital.
As I watched her ambulance leave, I felt someone touch my shoulder.
My father.
Arthur had come.
He couldn't speak.
But he held up an old photograph.
Richard Vance stood beside him.
Behind them was a young woman.
Clara's mother.
I stared at the photograph.
“Why are you showing me this?”
My father pointed to Clara.
Then to the woman.
Derek whispered:
“Clara wasn't just Vance's enemy.”
I looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
Derek swallowed.
“She was his daughter.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
May you like
Derek looked toward the ambulance.
“Richard Vance was Clara's biological father.”
