Chapter 9 - THE CORRUPT DETECTIVE
Detective Warren took Julian’s phone.
Then Martha’s.
Then Rachel’s.
“You were working for Adrian,” Julian said.
Warren shrugged.
“Working is a strong word.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
Bianca looked at Adrian.
“We had a deal.”
“We still do.”
“No. You said Julian wouldn’t be harmed.”
Adrian smiled.
“You care now?”
“I need him.”
“For the money?”
Bianca hesitated.
Julian noticed.
Adrian did too.
“Oh.”
He laughed.
“You actually fell for him.”
Bianca’s face hardened.
“Shut up.”
Adrian looked delighted.
“That is embarrassing.”
Julian stared at Bianca.
“Is that true?”
“Does it matter?”
“It doesn’t.”
Her eyes flickered.
For one second, she looked hurt.
Then the mask returned.
Adrian ordered Warren to load everyone into the SUV.
They drove two hours to a private airfield.
A small jet waited.
“Where are we going?” Julian asked.
“Zurich,” Adrian said.
“The accounts aren’t physically in Zurich.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because the bank controlling the trust requires in-person verification.”
Julian looked at Bianca.
“You knew.”
She nodded.
“For years.”
Martha whispered:
“You planned this from the beginning.”
Bianca didn’t answer.
At the plane, Julian noticed Warren speaking quietly into his phone.
Nervous.
Sweating.
Not a professional criminal.
A paid cop who had gone too far.
Julian leaned closer.
“You know Adrian will kill you.”
Warren looked at him.
“Shut up.”
“He has the money, what does he need you for?”
“I said shut up.”
“You’re a witness.”
Warren’s jaw tightened.
Julian continued.
“He killed my father.”
“Different situation.”
“He killed Thomas Pierce.”
“Stop.”
“He’ll kill Bianca too.”
Warren looked toward Adrian.
Julian saw doubt.
Good.
On the jet, Martha sat beside Julian.
Her hands trembled.
“You okay?”
“I’m seventy-eight and being kidnapped internationally.”
“Fair point.”
She almost smiled.
Across from them, Bianca stared out the window.
Julian leaned toward his mother.
“I’m getting us out.”
“How?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“That is not comforting.”
He squeezed her hand.
Two hours into the flight, Rachel pretended to faint.
Martha screamed for help.
Warren unbuckled.
Julian watched.
When Warren leaned over Rachel, she opened her eyes and head-butted him.
Warren shouted.
Julian lunged.
They crashed into the aisle.
Adrian reached for his gun.
Bianca suddenly kicked it beneath a seat.
Adrian slapped her.
“You stupid girl!”
Julian punched Warren.
Rachel grabbed Warren’s weapon.
“Don’t move!”
Silence.
Rachel’s hands shook around the gun.
Adrian slowly raised his hands.
Julian stared at Bianca.
“Why?”
She touched blood at the corner of her mouth.
“I told you.”
“Told me what?”
“I need you alive.”
Adrian laughed.
“She needs more than that.”
Bianca glared.
Rachel pointed the gun toward the cockpit.
“Tell them to turn around.”
Adrian smiled.
“No.”
Rachel cocked the weapon.
“Try me.”
Adrian looked toward Warren.
Then smiled strangely.
“You think this plane belongs to me?”
Julian felt uneasy.
“What?”
Adrian looked at Bianca.
“Tell him.”
Bianca went pale.
“Adrian…”
“Tell your boyfriend who owns the aircraft.”
Julian stared at her.
Bianca whispered:
“My mother.”
Julian froze.
“You said your mother was dead.”
“I lied.”
Adrian smiled.
Then the cockpit door opened.
A woman in her late sixties stepped into the cabin.
Elegant.
Silver hair.
Cold blue eyes.
She looked directly at Martha.
“Well.”
Martha stood.
Her face drained of color.
“You.”
Julian looked between them.
“Mom?”
Martha whispered the woman’s name.
“Evelyn Cole.”
Adrian smiled.
“My sister.”
Evelyn looked at Julian.
“Your father always did have terrible taste in enemies.”
May you like
Then she pointed a gun at Martha.
“And your mother has something that belongs to me.”
