Chapter 13 - The Choice
The address belonged to an abandoned chapel outside the city.
Maya showed the message to Agent Sloan.
Sloan immediately ordered surveillance around the property.
“No one expects you to go alone.”
“The sender does.”
“The sender also knows you are under federal protection.”
Maya looked at the image of the woman who might be Elena.
“What if they kill her when they see agents?”
“They may kill you if they do not.”
Vance entered the room.
“Mercer wants the Vaughn shares.”
“Then I will give them to him.”
“No.”
“They are pieces of paper.”
“They are the reason your mother risked everything.”
“My mother is a person.”
“So are you.”
Maya’s eyes filled with anger.
“I spent twenty-four years without her.”
“I will not lose her again because everyone around me cares more about a company.”
Vance lowered his voice.
“Elena did not expose Conrad Sterling to protect a company.”
“She did it to stop weapons from reaching people who would use them against innocent families.”
“The shares give you control over the evidence and technology she died trying to protect.”
“We do not know that she died.”
Vance glanced at the photograph.
“No.”
“We do not.”
Maya looked at Noah.
Her son was awake.
He watched her with the complete trust only a baby could give.
She understood then that motherhood was not choosing fearlessness.
It was choosing which fear she could live with.
Maya agreed to meet the sender.
But she would not go unprotected.
A tracking device was concealed beneath the lining of her coat.
A microphone was hidden in the medal, which federal technicians had returned after scanning the microfilm.
Vance objected to using the medal.
Maya insisted.
“If my mother sees it, she may recognize me.”
At nine that night, Maya entered the abandoned chapel.
Broken stained-glass windows cast pale colors across the dusty floor.
A single lamp burned near the altar.
Victoria stood beneath it.
Her designer gown had been replaced by black trousers and a dark coat.
A pistol rested in her hand.
Maya stopped.
“Where is my mother?”
Victoria looked exhausted.
“Mercer has her.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because he intends to kill all of us.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You should not.”
Victoria glanced toward the chapel doors.
“But you should understand that Conrad never worked alone.”
“Mercer worked for him?”
“Mercer was his executioner.”
Maya tightened her hands.
“And yours?”
Victoria did not answer.
“Where did they take Elena?”
“To the Sterling family’s old lake property.”
“Then take me there.”
Victoria looked at the medal around Maya’s neck.
“You have agents listening.”
Maya’s pulse jumped.
Victoria stepped closer.
“I taught this city how to hide money, secrets, and microphones.”
She reached toward the medal.
A gunshot shattered the chapel window.
Victoria jerked backward.
Blood spread across her shoulder.
May you like
Grant Mercer’s voice echoed from the darkness.
“I warned you not to involve anyone.”
