Chapter 11: The Cliff Road
Chapter 11: The Cliff Road
Vale’s vehicle stopped near the edge of the cliff.
The guard pulled Ethan from the back seat.
Below them, waves crashed against jagged rocks.
Vale held a document.
“Sign the transfer authorization.”
Ethan laughed despite the blood in his mouth.
“You expect me to sign before you kill me?”
“I expect you to sign because your mother is still alive.”
Vale showed him a photograph on his phone.
Margaret lying inside the ambulance.
A tracking camera had captured her location.
“If I don’t hear from Chief Briggs within five minutes, another team will finish what Victoria started.”
Ethan looked at the document.
Then at the cliff.
“You made one mistake.”
Vale raised an eyebrow.
“You trusted Victoria.”
Headlights appeared behind them.
An ambulance raced toward the turnout.
It struck the side of Vale’s vehicle, forcing the guard away from Ethan.
Margaret opened the passenger door.
“Get in!”
The guard raised his weapon.
Victoria drove directly at him.
He jumped aside.
Ethan tackled Vale.
The two men crashed onto the gravel.
Vale was older but stronger than he appeared. He drove his elbow into Ethan’s ribs and reached for the fallen gun.
Victoria stepped between them.
“Uncle Adrian.”
Vale froze.
She held her phone up.
The recording of her father’s final call played through the speaker.
Vale’s face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“You killed him.”
“He was going to destroy everything.”
“You made me hate innocent people.”
Vale stared at her with disgust.
“You were always useful because you were angry.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“And you were always weak enough to hide behind me.”
Vale lunged for the gun.
Margaret kicked it over the cliff.
Vale grabbed Victoria by the throat.
Ethan pulled him away.
They struggled near the edge.
Loose gravel shifted beneath Vale’s shoes.
He slipped.
Ethan caught his wrist.
Vale dangled above the rocks.
For a moment, Ethan could have let go.
Vale looked up at him.
“Do it.”
Ethan tightened his grip.
“No. You don’t get to escape the courtroom.”
Sirens approached in the distance.
Federal agents arrived moments later, responding to the files Dr. Park had transmitted.
Vale was pulled to safety.
Then placed in handcuffs.
As agents led him away, he looked at Victoria.
“You’ll go to prison too.”
May you like
Victoria lowered her eyes.
“I know.”
