Chapter 10 - The Sister Who Finally Told the Truth
Vivian disappeared the night before the preliminary hearing.
Grant called me at 2:03 a.m.
“She’s gone.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her security detail found her room empty.”
“Phone?”
“Left behind.”
I sat up.
“Car?”
“Still here.”
That meant she hadn’t left willingly.
Then Grant said, “There’s something else.”
“What?”
“She left you a message.”
The recording was fourteen seconds.
Celeste, I’m sorry.
I told Pierce about Mom’s ledger.
I thought he was helping Dad.
I didn’t know.
Please believe me.
Then a sound.
A door opening.
Vivian gasping.
The recording ended.
I called Reed.
Within an hour, investigators traced a vehicle seen near the house.
It belonged to a consulting company connected to Senator Pierce.
Arthur wanted to send private security.
I refused.
“No more private armies.”
“That’s my daughter.”
“She’s my sister.”
Arthur looked at me.
“Then bring her home.”
We found Vivian at an abandoned Vale Maritime warehouse near Baltimore Harbor.
Pierce was there.
So were four men.
Federal agents surrounded the building.
I remained behind the tactical line until Reed approached.
“Pierce wants to talk to you.”
“Why?”
“He says he’ll release Vivian if you bring him the drives.”
“He knows we copied them.”
“He’s desperate.”
I looked toward the warehouse.
“Then desperate people make mistakes.”
I entered unarmed.
Pierce stood behind Vivian.
She was terrified but unharmed.
He smiled.
“Commander.”
“Senator.”
“You’ve caused an extraordinary amount of trouble.”
“My family says that a lot.”
“Give me the drives.”
“No.”
His smile disappeared.
“Your sister’s life—”
“Is worth more than your freedom.”
Vivian looked at me.
Pierce tightened his grip on her shoulder.
“You think your uniform makes you untouchable?”
“No.”
I took another step.
“I think the microphone in your ceiling makes you stupid.”
Pierce looked up.
That second of distraction was enough.
Vivian drove her heel into his foot and pulled away.
Federal agents entered.
Pierce was on the ground within seconds.
Vivian ran toward me.
I caught her.
She shook in my arms.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I was horrible to you.”
“Yes.”
She pulled back.
“I ripped your dress.”
“You did.”
“I laughed at your scars.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled.
“Why did you come for me?”
I looked at her.
“Because I refuse to become this family.”
That broke her.
May you like
She hugged me again.
And this time, I held on.
