Chapter 12 - THE HOTEL

Arthur and Maria drove to the abandoned hotel.

Police followed at a distance.

Arthur refused to wait for backup.

“My son is in there.”

The half-built building rose against the night sky like a skeleton.

Arthur entered through a side door.

“Stay behind me.”

Maria almost laughed.

“You know I’m not going to do that.”

They climbed two flights.

“Elena!”

Her voice echoed from above.

“Arthur!”

They ran.

On the fourth floor, Elena was crouched behind a concrete wall with Noah pressed against her.

The boy saw Arthur.

“Dad!”

Arthur reached him and pulled him into his arms.

For several seconds, nothing else mattered.

“You okay?”

Noah nodded.

“Mom said we were hiding.”

Arthur looked at Elena.

Her makeup was smeared.

There was blood on her sleeve.

“You hurt?”

“Not mine.”

Footsteps sounded below.

Elena grabbed Arthur.

“He’s here.”

“Daniel?”

“Yes.”

Maria pulled Noah behind the wall.

Arthur whispered, “How many people?”

“Daniel and two men.”

Arthur’s phone had no signal.

Concrete walls.

Of course.

A voice echoed from the stairwell.

“Arthur!”

Daniel sounded almost cheerful.

“This has gotten ridiculous.”

Arthur shouted back.

“You killed Isabel Torres.”

Maria’s face tightened.

Daniel appeared at the far end of the hallway.

Gun in hand.

“So many accusations.”

Elena whispered, “He killed Catherine too.”

Arthur’s body went numb.

“My mother?”

Daniel smiled.

“She always hated family business.”

Arthur took a step.

Daniel raised the gun.

“Don’t.”

Arthur stopped.

“You killed my mother.”

“Your mother discovered your father and I had been hiding losses.”

“My father was involved?”

“Thomas wanted out.”

Daniel shrugged.

“Catherine wanted police.”

Arthur could barely breathe.

“You murdered her.”

“It was supposed to look like exactly what it looked like.”

“A car accident.”

“Yes.”

Maria held Noah tighter.

Daniel looked at her.

“And your sister was equally irritating.”

Maria’s eyes filled with rage.

“You pushed her car off that bridge.”

“No.”

Daniel smiled.

“I paid someone.”

Maria started toward him.

Arthur grabbed her.

“No.”

Daniel laughed.

“Good. Somebody here has sense.”

Elena suddenly spoke.

“You promised me nobody else would die.”

Daniel looked at her.

“Elena, you’re hardly in a position to discuss morals.”

“I helped you move money.”

“You stole money.”

“You taught me how!”

“And you were a wonderful student.”

Noah started crying.

Daniel looked annoyed.

“Quiet him.”

Arthur stepped between Daniel and his son.

“Point that gun at me.”

“I already am.”

“Then leave them out of this.”

Daniel studied him.

“You still don’t understand, Arthur.”

“Understand what?”

Daniel smiled.

“There is no trust fund if Noah isn’t alive to inherit it.”

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