Chapter 13 - THE BRIDGE
Rain began falling shortly before eleven.
The Samuel Parker Memorial Bridge stretched across a dark river north of town.
Police blocked both ends without lights.
Claire wore a wire beneath her jacket.
Detective Bennett waited inside an unmarked vehicle nearby.
Ethan remained at the command post.
He hated being separated from his mother.
But this time, he obeyed.
Claire walked alone toward the center of the bridge.
Richard waited beneath a streetlight.
He looked exhausted.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
A cut marked his forehead.
But he still smiled when he saw Claire.
“You look better than I expected.”
Claire stopped twenty feet away.
“You put me in a coffin.”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“That wasn’t the original plan.”
“What was?”
“You were supposed to stay unconscious until everything was finished.”
“Then what?”
Richard looked toward the water.
“You don’t want the answer.”
Claire’s hands tightened.
“Where’s the envelope?”
“Where’s the key?”
“You first.”
Richard laughed quietly.
“You learned that from your father.”
Claire took another step.
“You knew him before you knew me.”
“Yes.”
“So our marriage was fake.”
Richard didn’t answer.
Claire’s voice shook.
“Was any of it real?”
For the first time, Richard looked uncertain.
“Ethan was.”
Claire stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“I cared about him.”
“You bought a one-way ticket that abandoned him in another country.”
Richard’s expression hardened.
“That wasn’t my plan.”
“Then whose was it?”
Richard looked behind Claire.
“Morgan’s.”
At the command post, Bennett leaned closer to the audio receiver.
Claire continued.
“Judge Morgan told you to get rid of Ethan?”
Richard nodded.
“She wanted every connection to Samuel erased.”
Claire felt sick.
“And Rebecca?”
“Rebecca thinks this is about inheritance.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“She doesn’t understand what Morgan is protecting.”
“What?”
“A development deal worth nearly four hundred million dollars.”
Claire stared at him.
Richard reached inside his coat.
Police officers tensed.
He pulled out the red envelope.
“I’ll give you this.”
“In exchange for what?”
“Protection.”
“From the police?”
Richard shook his head.
“From Morgan.”
Then headlights appeared at the far end of the bridge.
A black sedan moved slowly toward them.
Richard’s face changed.
“No.”
Claire turned.
The car stopped.
The driver’s door opened.
Judge Evelyn Morgan stepped out.
Beside her stood Victor Cole.
May you like
Morgan looked toward Richard.
“You always were the weakest part of the plan.”
