Chapter 10 - THE QUARRY
Police prepared the quarry like a trap.
Unmarked vehicles waited beyond the trees.
Officers took positions behind abandoned machinery.
Detective Bennett carried a copy of Richard’s ledger.
The original remained locked in evidence storage.
Claire wanted to go.
Bennett refused.
Ethan wanted to go too.
That answer came even faster.
“Absolutely not.”
Ethan remained at the hospital with Claire.
At noon, Rebecca arrived.
She drove a black SUV and parked near the center of the quarry.
Victor Cole followed ten minutes later.
Richard did not appear.
Rebecca became nervous.
Cole became angry.
“You said he’d come.”
“He will.”
“Richard’s running.”
“He wants his money.”
Cole laughed.
“He wants to stay alive.”
The officers recording the conversation listened carefully.
Then Rebecca said something unexpected.
“Morgan wants everything cleaned up tonight.”
Cole turned toward her.
“Morgan is finished.”
Rebecca stared.
“What are you talking about?”
“She approved Claire’s transfer.”
“So?”
“So if Claire talks, Morgan becomes a liability.”
Rebecca stepped closer.
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
Cole smiled.
“You still think you’re part of the plan.”
Rebecca’s expression changed.
Then a gunshot echoed somewhere far across the quarry.
Officers moved.
Cole ran.
Rebecca dropped behind the SUV.
Bennett shouted commands.
Within seconds, police had Rebecca surrounded.
Cole disappeared behind an old processing building.
Officers followed.
Bennett approached Rebecca.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Rebecca slowly raised them.
“Where’s Richard?”
Bennett asked.
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
“You really don’t know?”
“Tell me.”
“He’s not running from you.”
“Who is he running from?”
Rebecca looked toward the road.
“Cole.”
Then she lowered her voice.
“And Morgan.”
Bennett handcuffed her.
Rebecca leaned closer.
“If Richard reaches Claire first, he’ll bargain.”
“With what?”
Rebecca smiled.
“Something Samuel hid.”
At the hospital, Ethan’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He opened the message.
A photograph appeared.
His wooden box.
The one stolen from beneath his bedroom floor.
Below it were five words.
YOU FORGOT WHAT WAS INSIDE.
Ethan stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
ASK YOUR MOTHER ABOUT THE RED ENVELOPE.
Ethan looked toward Claire.
“Mom.”
Claire turned.
“What?”
Ethan showed her the message.
Claire stared at the words.
Then all the color disappeared from her face.
“The red envelope.”
“You know what it is?”
Claire nodded.
“It contains something my father told me never to open unless I was in danger.”
“Where is it?”
May you like
Claire looked toward the hospital window.
“It was inside your box.”
