Chapter 10 - THE WAREHOUSE
Dana wanted a tactical team.
Carter had cameras around the warehouse, so we made him believe I had gone alone.
I drove my father’s old truck through the main gate while officers approached through the river woods.
The warehouse had been abandoned since the company moved operations.
Inside, Carter stood beneath a hanging work light.
My father was tied to a chair beside him.
“You came,” Carter said.
“He’s my father.”
Carter’s jaw tightened.
“He raised me too.”
“No. He paid for your mistakes. That isn’t the same thing.”
Carter hit Dad across the face.
“Access code,” he demanded.
Dad spat blood onto the floor.
“You were given every chance I gave Finnley.”
“You never looked at me the way you looked at him.”
“Because every time I looked at you, I saw Reagan telling you what you deserved instead of teaching you how to earn it.”
Carter pointed the gun at his chest.
“Give me the code.”
I took the silver key from my pocket.
“You need this too.”
Carter looked at it.
“The trust records are in the vault,” I said. “The key opens the final box.”
That was a lie, but he didn’t know it.
“Slide it over.”
“Release Dad.”
“You really think you can bargain with me?”
“I think you need me alive.”
Carter smiled.
“I needed you alive long enough to take the blame. I don’t need you anymore.”
He aimed at me.
My father threw himself sideways, knocking Carter’s arm away. The shot hit a fuel line.
Gasoline sprayed across the floor.
Carter kicked Dad and fired toward the shadows. Dana’s officers returned fire.
A bullet struck the hanging light.
Sparks fell.
Flames erupted between us.
I crawled to my father and cut his restraints with a piece of broken glass.
Carter ran toward a rear office.
The roof began to groan.
“Leave him!” Dad shouted.
But Carter had the bag containing my mother’s original ledger. Without it, Reagan could still fight the murder investigation.
I followed him.
Smoke filled the office hallway.
I found Carter trapped beneath a fallen beam. The ledger lay just beyond his hand.
“Help me,” he gasped.
I picked up the ledger.
His eyes filled with terror.
“You came back for papers?”
“You left me in prison for money.”
“Finnley, please.”
For one terrible second, I wanted to walk away.
Then I heard my mother’s voice in my head.
Do not let cruel people decide who you become.
I lifted the beam enough for Carter to crawl free.
He grabbed my ankle and pulled me down.
“You should’ve let me die,” he said.
May you like
A knife flashed in his hand.
Before he could strike, the ceiling collapsed between us.
