Chapter 15 - THE SIX-HOUR DEADLINE
Detective Chen hated Mark's plan.
Daniel hated it more.
The prosecutors called it reckless.
Mark called it simple.
A man's life mattered more than a deed.
The original remained secure.
Mark would carry a copy convincing enough to survive a quick inspection.
Police would trace Samuel's instructions.
At 3:40 in the afternoon, Samuel sent a location.
Central Station.
Mark arrived carrying a sealed document case.
Hundreds of commuters moved around him.
His phone rang.
"You're wearing a wire."
Samuel's voice sounded calm.
Mark looked around.
"Then come remove it."
Samuel laughed.
"Put the case inside locker 214."
Mark walked toward the lockers.
Detectives watched through station cameras.
He placed the case inside.
Samuel spoke again.
"Walk away."
"What about Dr. Lewis?"
"When I have the deed, you get your geologist."
Mark closed the locker.
Then he noticed a woman approaching.
Baseball cap.
Gray jacket.
Dark glasses.
She opened locker 214.
Police moved.
The woman dropped the case and raised her hands.
She was a courier.
Samuel had hired her through an anonymous delivery service.
She knew nothing.
The real instructions were hidden inside the case.
A tracking device recorded movement.
The courier had been told to take the package to a bus terminal.
Another courier took it from there.
Then another.
Samuel was creating layers.
Detective Chen followed electronically.
At the fourth transfer, the package entered a delivery van.
The van drove toward the industrial district.
Police followed from several blocks away.
Then the tracker stopped.
Samuel had found it.
Mark's phone rang.
"You insult me."
"Let Lewis go."
"Bring the real deed."
"Where?"
Samuel gave an address.
Mark recognized it.
The old Bennett rail warehouse.
The same location Samuel had demanded Victoria use.
Chen stared at him.
"He's consolidating."
"Meaning?"
"He wants everything ended tonight."
The warehouse was surrounded quietly.
Thermal cameras detected at least three people inside.
Samuel.
Dr. Lewis.
And one unidentified person.
Victoria was still in protective custody.
Gerald remained hospitalized.
Nathan Cole was jailed.
Nobody knew the third person.
Mark entered wearing no wire.
That was the condition.
But a tiny transmitter had been stitched beneath the sole of his shoe.
Samuel stood in the center of the warehouse.
Dr. Lewis sat bound to a chair.
Beside him stood Uncle Robert.
Mark stopped.
His father's younger brother.
The man who had stood in the great hall.
The man who helped search the heirloom box.
The man who knew every family secret.
Robert lowered his eyes.
Mark felt more betrayed than surprised.
"You?"
Robert sighed.
"It wasn't supposed to become this."
Samuel smiled.
"Everyone says that once they get caught."
Mark stared at his uncle.
"Why?"
Robert's face hardened.
"Because Harold inherited everything."
"He got the company."
"He got the house."
"He got Father's respect."
"And I spent sixty years being his younger brother."
Mark almost laughed at the familiar bitterness.
Victoria had been repeating Robert's resentment all her life.
"Did you help Samuel?"
Robert nodded slowly.
"I told him about the old records."
"The mansion."
"The family meetings."
"Did you leak the mineral rights?"
"Yes."
Mark shook his head.
"You risked Sophie for money."
Robert looked away.
Samuel extended his hand.
"The deed."
Mark held up the case.
"Release Lewis."
Samuel pointed a handgun toward the floor.
"You're in no position to negotiate."
Mark's eyes moved toward the weapon.
Samuel smiled.
"Don't worry."
"I prefer poison."
Mark's jaw tightened.
"You killed my father."
Samuel's expression changed.
Not fear.
Pride.
"Your father should have retired."
Outside, Detective Chen heard every word through Mark's shoe transmitter.
Inside, Samuel continued.
"He thought being a Bennett made him untouchable."
Mark looked at Robert.
"Did you know?"
Robert's face collapsed.
"No."
Samuel laughed.
"Your uncle has always preferred not knowing."
Mark placed the case on a table.
"Here's your deed."
Samuel stepped toward it.
Mark noticed Dr. Lewis staring at the ceiling.
A red fire-suppression pipe ran above them.
Then Lewis looked toward Mark's left.
An emergency alarm handle.
Mark understood.
Samuel opened the case.
He saw the copy.
His face changed.
"You lied."
Mark pulled the fire alarm.
Sirens exploded through the warehouse.
Sprinklers burst.
Police breached three entrances at once.
Samuel grabbed the handgun.
Robert tackled his arm.
A shot struck the ceiling.
Mark lunged toward Lewis.
Officers flooded the room.
Samuel broke free and ran toward a loading platform.
Detective Chen chased him.
Samuel reached the edge overlooking the rail yard.
For one second, Mark saw him consider jumping.
Chen raised her weapon.
"Don't."
Samuel turned.
His face was empty.
He slowly dropped the gun.
Officers forced him to the concrete.
Mark stood beneath the sprinklers watching handcuffs close around the man who had poisoned his father.
Samuel looked up.
"You think this ends with me?"
Mark walked closer.
"No."
May you like
"It ends with the truth."
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