Chapter 9 - DYLAN CHOSE A SIDE
Dylan kicked the knife away.
Brooke lunged at him.
Margaret slammed the vault emergency button.
A steel barrier dropped between them.
Brooke was trapped on the other side.
Dylan grabbed the bank manager and pulled him to safety.
For the first time since I had known him, Amanda’s spoiled nephew looked terrified rather than arrogant.
Security officers rushed toward the vault.
Margaret held out the second key.
“This is the original,” she said.
I showed her Claire’s key.
“Then what is this?”
“A copy.”
She looked at Captain Nolan.
“The same copy he gave Amanda nine years ago.”
Reyes turned toward Nolan.
“You were working with her before Claire died.”
Nolan said nothing.
Margaret continued.
“Claire trusted him.”
“She gave him the copy because she believed he was investigating the foundation.”
“But Nolan warned Raymond Pike.”
“And Raymond sent Amanda to stop her.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
I placed a hand on his shoulder.
Margaret walked toward him.
“You have Claire’s kindness.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Did she kill my mother?”
Margaret glanced toward the screen where Amanda was watching.
“No.”
“Amanda was cruel to you.”
“She helped steal from widows.”
“But she did not kill Claire.”
“Who did?”
Margaret pointed toward Captain Nolan.
Reyes immediately aimed her weapon at him.
Nolan’s calm expression finally cracked.
“That old woman is confused.”
Margaret shook her head.
“I watched you change Claire’s medication.”
“You told Amanda it would only make her sleep.”
“You were the one who gave her the final dose.”
Nolan stepped backward.
“You have no proof.”
Margaret held up a small flash drive.
“Claire recorded you.”
Nolan moved faster than anyone expected.
He grabbed Ethan and pressed a concealed blade against his throat.
I froze.
“Let him go.”
Nolan dragged Ethan toward the rear exit.
“Put the keys on the floor.”
I placed mine down.
Margaret did the same.
Nolan smiled.
“Now the drive.”
Margaret lifted it.
Then Dylan shouted from the vault corridor.
“Don’t give it to him!”
Nolan tightened his grip around Ethan.
“Be quiet.”
Dylan held up his phone.
“I already uploaded the recording.”
Nolan stared at him.
Dylan’s hands were shaking.
“You treated me like I was stupid.”
“You all did.”
“But I listened.”
“I recorded everything in Miami.”
Amanda’s voice suddenly erupted through the intercom.
“Dylan, stop!”
He looked directly at the camera.
“No.”
“You left Ethan alone because you thought he was weak.”
“You made me hurt him so I would feel powerful.”
His eyes filled with shame.
“But I’m done being your weapon.”
Nolan turned toward Dylan.
That tiny distraction was enough.
Ethan drove his elbow backward.
Reyes fired.
The blade dropped.
Nolan collapsed.
I pulled Ethan into my arms.
For one second, I thought it was over.
Then the intercom clicked again.
Amanda’s voice was calm.
“You made the wrong choice, Dylan.”
A red countdown appeared on every security screen.
Five minutes.
Four minutes and fifty-nine seconds.
Marcus stared at the numbers.
“She planted something in the building.”
Amanda laughed.
May you like
“When the timer reaches zero…”
“The evidence disappears with all of you.”
