Chapter 13 - THE BRIDGE
Thomas drove like a man with nothing left to lose.
Daniel stayed two cars behind.
“Don’t spook him.”
Claire gripped the seat.
“He kidnapped a pregnant woman. I think we’re past spooking him.”
Sophie was on the phone with federal agents she trusted.
“No local police,” she warned. “Ashford has contacts.”
Margaret watched the truck ahead.
Rachel’s face appeared in the rear window.
Then disappeared.
“He’s hurting her.”
Emily leaned forward.
“Get closer.”
Daniel accelerated.
Thomas turned onto an industrial road.
Then toward the old Westbridge suspension bridge.
Sophie swore.
“That bridge is closed.”
“Why go there?” Claire asked.
Margaret knew.
“Because Ashford Construction built it.”
Daniel looked at her.
“So?”
“There’s an old maintenance station under the east tower.”
They followed the truck through a chained gate.
Thomas smashed straight through.
At 11:31, both vehicles stopped near the center of the bridge.
Thomas dragged Rachel from the truck.
Gun against her neck.
Wind whipped across the river.
Rachel was crying.
“Stay back!”
Margaret stepped out.
Daniel stayed behind the SUV with his gun aimed.
Emily and Claire moved to opposite sides.
Thomas saw them.
“Don’t try it.”
Margaret walked forward alone.
“Let Rachel go.”
“At midnight, those shares belong to them.”
“Yes.”
“Do you understand what that means?”
“That you lose.”
Thomas laughed.
“You think this is about losing a company?”
“It’s always been about money with you.”
“It was about survival!”
“Seven people died in that hospital.”
“I was twenty-nine years old!”
Margaret stared at him.
“And?”
His face twisted.
“My father owned me. Your father hated me. Everyone in that family treated me like I was dirt.”
“So you burned a hospital?”
“I needed leverage!”
“You stole my children.”
“I gave them lives!”
Emily shouted, “You gave me foster care!”
Claire shouted, “You gave me a father who had to lie every day!”
Rachel looked at Thomas.
“What are they talking about?”
He tightened his grip.
“Don’t listen.”
Rachel’s voice cracked.
“Am I her daughter?”
Thomas said nothing.
“Thomas.”
Nothing.
Rachel began sobbing.
“Oh my God.”
Margaret moved closer.
“Come to me.”
Thomas raised the gun.
“Stop.”
Margaret stopped.
11:46.
Fourteen minutes.
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
Federal agents were eight minutes away.
Thomas heard it.
He grabbed Rachel and moved toward the railing.
Claire shouted, “Don’t!”
Thomas looked at Margaret.
“You want your daughter?”
His eyes were dead.
“Come take her.”
Then he shoved Rachel over the railing.
Margaret screamed.
Emily ran.
Rachel’s hand caught the metal edge.
She hung over the river.
Claire dropped to her stomach and grabbed one wrist.
Emily grabbed the other.
May you like
Thomas raised his gun at all three.
And pulled the trigger.
