Chapter 16 - The Burning Store
Flames spread quickly through the abandoned store.
Old carpeting caught first.
Then the ceiling panels.
Smoke filled the corridors.
Jason had blocked several exits with chains.
He had planned the fire in advance.
Firefighters entered from the west side.
Police moved through the loading dock.
Laura refused to let me leave the command vehicle.
Then a message appeared on my phone.
Unknown number.
Front entrance.
Alone.
Or Sophie burns.
I showed Laura.
“No.”
“He will kill her.”
“He may kill both of you.”
“He wants the letter destroyed.”
“He already has it.”
“He wants me.”
Laura studied me.
Then she made a decision.
“You will wear a wire.”
“No weapon.”
“You follow every instruction.”
I walked toward the front entrance.
Smoke rolled through the broken doors.
Heat pressed against my face.
“Jason!”
My voice echoed.
A figure appeared beyond the smoke.
He looked thinner.
His clothes were dirty.
His face was unshaven.
But his eyes were the same.
Calm when they should have been human.
“You came.”
“Where is Sophie?”
“Safe for now.”
“Let her go.”
“Did you bring the ledger?”
“No.”
His face hardened.
“Then why are you here?”
“To hear you explain.”
“I already explained.”
“No.”
“You blamed Margaret.”
“You blamed my father.”
“You blamed Daniel.”
“You blamed me.”
“But you never said the truth.”
“What truth?”
“You enjoyed it.”
His expression changed.
“You enjoyed watching me get weaker.”
“No.”
“You filmed me falling.”
“For evidence.”
“You labeled the videos.”
“You called me pathetic.”
“You smiled while I begged you to stay.”
“I was angry.”
“You came back to remove the pills.”
“I panicked.”
“You screwed the windows shut.”
“That was Margaret’s idea.”
“You disconnected the water.”
“She arranged it.”
“You carried the medication.”
His eyes flickered.
I stepped closer.
“You did it.”
“You left me there.”
“You expected to return from Europe as a grieving husband.”
“Stop.”
“You expected people to comfort you.”
“Stop.”
“You practiced your interviews.”
“Stop talking.”
“You rehearsed mourning me.”
He pulled a weapon.
Laura’s voice whispered through my earpiece.
Stay calm.
I looked at Jason.
“Did you kill Aaron?”
His hand tightened.
“Aaron wanted more money.”
“So you killed him.”
“He threatened my mother.”
“So you put him in the trunk.”
“He was going to destroy us.”
“You destroyed yourself.”
Jason moved closer.
“You still think you won.”
“I survived.”
“That is not winning.”
Behind him, a metal door opened silently.
Sophie appeared through the smoke.
Her hands were free.
She held a broken piece of metal.
Jason did not see her.
I kept his attention.
“Margaret is in jail.”
“She will get out.”
“Robert confessed.”
“He is weak.”
“Daniel told the truth.”
Jason’s face twisted.
“He is not my father.”
“Yes, he is.”
“No.”
“He is alive.”
“No.”
“He wants to speak to you.”
“Stop lying.”
Sophie moved closer.
Then a burning ceiling panel crashed between us.
Jason turned.
He saw her.
Sophie swung the metal piece and knocked the weapon from his hand.
Jason grabbed her.
They fell.
I rushed forward.
Smoke blinded me.
Someone struck my shoulder.
I hit the floor.
Jason dragged Sophie toward the rear corridor.
Police shouted.
Firefighters broke through a side door.
Then a gunshot echoed.
Everything stopped.
The smoke shifted.
Sophie lay on the floor.
May you like
Jason stood above her.
Blood spread across his shirt.
