Chapter 10 - THE PRICE OF NOAH
Cynthia stood beneath the estate lights.
The baby carrier rested beside her.
Elena ran toward the door.
Alexander stopped her.
“She wants you outside.”
“That’s my son.”
“And she knows you’ll do anything for him.”
Cynthia’s phone call came seconds later.
Alexander answered.
“You want Noah?”
“Yes.”
“Bring me the key.”
Elena grabbed the phone.
“You touch him—”
“He’s perfectly safe.”
Cynthia sounded almost calm.
“I’m not a monster.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“You kidnapped my child.”
“I protected him.”
“You stole him.”
“Charles stole him.”
Cynthia paused.
“I’m trying to finish what he started.”
Alexander took the phone.
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“It won’t save you.”
“It doesn’t need to.”
Cynthia wanted enough evidence destroyed to make prosecution difficult.
The key Elena carried opened a private safe-deposit vault.
Inside was the original ledger and copies of communications proving Charles had orchestrated the offshore transfers.
Cynthia believed it was the only copy.
She was wrong.
Elena looked at me.
I understood.
Months earlier, Elena had photographed every page.
The images were stored in an encrypted cloud account.
The key was worthless.
Cynthia didn’t know.
Alexander walked outside holding it.
Cynthia smiled.
“Throw it.”
“Give me my son.”
“The key first.”
Alexander threw it halfway.
Cynthia stepped forward.
That was enough.
Police vehicles emerged from the trees.
Cynthia spun.
She grabbed the baby carrier.
Then froze.
Because Vanessa was standing behind her.
Her own sister.
“You’re done, Cynthia.”
Cynthia stared at her.
“You betrayed me?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
“You betrayed everyone.”
Vanessa took the carrier.
Cynthia lunged toward her.
Police intercepted her.
Within seconds, Cynthia was on the ground and handcuffed.
Elena ran forward.
Vanessa handed her the carrier.
Elena pulled back the blanket.
A tiny baby stared up at her.
Alive.
Safe.
Noah.
Alexander stood several feet away.
He didn’t move.
Elena looked at him.
May you like
Then she whispered.
“Come meet your son.”
