Chapter 13 - A MOTHER’S DEAL
Sarah wanted to scream.
Instead, she became calm.
Terrifyingly calm.
Eleanor watched her.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling him.”
“Sarah, don’t.”
She called Richard.
He answered immediately.
“Finally.”
“Let me talk to my son.”
“Bring the drive.”
“Let me talk to Owen.”
“Sarah—”
“NOW.”
Silence.
Then rustling.
Owen’s voice came through.
“Mom?”
Sarah closed her eyes.
“I’m here, baby.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I should’ve stayed home.”
Sarah’s heart broke.
“No.”
Richard took the phone.
“Enough.”
Sarah’s voice dropped.
“If you hurt him, I will spend every day I have left destroying you.”
Richard laughed.
“You’re not in a position to threaten anybody.”
“Where?”
“Old Whitmore warehouse. River Street.”
Eleanor whispered,
“That building is abandoned.”
Richard continued.
“One hour.”
“I need proof he’s still there when I arrive.”
“You’ll get it.”
“If I see a weapon near him, there’s no deal.”
“You don’t make the rules.”
Sarah looked at Eleanor.
“Yes, I do.”
She ended the call.
The security guard turned.
“We need the police.”
“Of course we need the police.”
Eleanor blinked.
“You’re going to tell them?”
“Richard thinks I’m a terrified office manager.”
“You are a terrified office manager.”
Sarah almost smiled.
“Yes.”
She looked out the window.
“But I’m also Owen’s mother.”
At the station, detectives built a plan quickly.
The USB drive was copied.
A fake replacement was prepared.
Sarah would carry it.
Officers would position themselves nearby.
“No hero moves,” the lead detective said.
Sarah stared at him.
“My son is inside.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
He leaned closer.
“Mrs. Mitchell, if you rush them, they may hurt him.”
She swallowed.
“So what do I do?”
“Keep Richard talking.”
“That won’t be hard.”
The warehouse smelled like oil and dust.
Sarah entered alone.
“Richard?”
A light switched on.
Owen sat in a chair across the room.
His wrists were tied.
One crutch lay beside him.
The other was missing.
Sarah’s eyes filled.
“Owen.”
“Mom.”
Richard stepped from behind a column.
Benjamin followed.
“You have the drive?” Richard asked.
Sarah held it up.
“Let him go.”
“Drive first.”
“No.”
Benjamin sighed.
“This is why poor people stay poor. You don’t understand leverage.”
Sarah looked at him.
“No. I understand leverage.”
She held the drive over a drainage grate.
Richard’s eyes widened.
“If I drop this, it’s gone.”
Benjamin stepped forward.
“Don’t.”
“Untie him.”
Richard laughed.
“You think we didn’t make copies?”
Sarah looked at him.
“You didn’t have the drive.”
Silence.
She had them.
Benjamin looked at Richard.
Richard looked at Benjamin.
Sarah saw the distrust immediately.
Good.
She pushed.
“He told me you killed Eleanor’s husband.”
Benjamin snapped his head toward Richard.
“What?”
Richard’s face changed.
Sarah continued.
“He said you arranged the crash.”
“That’s a lie.”
Richard shouted.
“I never said that!”
Benjamin turned on him.
“You told me the brakes failed.”
Richard pointed at Sarah.
“She’s playing you!”
Sarah said,
“Funny. That’s exactly what a man who betrayed you would say.”
Benjamin reached for his jacket.
Richard reached too.
And somewhere outside the warehouse, a police radio crackled.
Richard heard it.
His face went cold.
“You brought cops.”
May you like
He pulled a gun.
And pointed it at Owen.
