Chapter 8 - The Roof
Claire grabbed Marcus’s phone.
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“She’s my daughter!”
“And that’s exactly why Julian wants you emotional.”
Claire shoved the phone against his chest.
“I don’t care what he wants.”
Davis stepped between them.
“We’re handling this.”
Claire looked at him.
“He got my daughter out of a guarded hospital.”
Davis’s face tightened.
He couldn’t argue.
“How?” Marcus demanded.
Davis radioed his team.
No one knew yet.
Claire headed toward the stairs.
Marcus caught her wrist.
“Claire.”
“If that were your child, would you wait?”
He let go.
Davis cursed.
“Fine. But you wear a wire.”
“No.”
“Then you don’t go.”
She stared at him.
Seconds mattered.
“Fine.”
They fitted her with a small transmitter.
Marcus squeezed her shoulders.
“You do not play hero.”
Claire gave him a tired smile.
“Too late.”
She climbed the stairs alone.
The roof door groaned open.
Wind hit her face.
“Julian!”
No answer.
She stepped forward.
“Julian!”
A figure emerged from behind an air-conditioning unit.
Evelyn Mercer.
Claire stopped.
Evelyn wore a long black coat.
Perfect hair.
No panic.
No guilt.
“Where’s Lily?”
Evelyn smiled.
“You always were impatient.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“Safe.”
Claire stepped closer.
“If you touched her—”
“You sound like your father.”
Claire froze.
Evelyn’s smile faded.
“He was reckless too.”
“You killed him.”
Evelyn tilted her head.
“Did I?”
“You threatened him.”
“He threatened me first.”
“With the truth.”
“With destruction.”
Claire’s hands curled.
“Where is Julian?”
Evelyn looked toward the far side of the roof.
“Watching.”
Claire followed her gaze.
Nothing.
Then Julian’s voice came through a speaker.
“Hello, Claire.”
She spun.
A portable speaker sat near a vent.
“You coward.”
Julian laughed.
“Still angry.”
“Where’s Lily?”
“Bring the key to my mother.”
Claire pulled the brass key from her pocket.
Evelyn held out her hand.
Claire didn’t move.
“Show me Lily.”
Julian’s voice sharpened.
“Don’t negotiate.”
“Show me my daughter.”
A phone buzzed in Evelyn’s pocket.
She lifted it.
Live video.
Lily sat in the back seat of a car.
Tears ran down her cheeks.
But she was alive.
“Mommy!”
Claire’s knees nearly gave out.
“Lily!”
“Give her the key,” Julian said.
Claire stared at Evelyn.
“No.”
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.
Claire raised the key.
“You want this?”
“Yes.”
“Then bring Lily here.”
Julian laughed softly.
“You think you have power now?”
“No.”
Claire took one step backward.
“But I know you.”
She threw the key.
Not toward Evelyn.
Off the roof.
Evelyn gasped.
Julian shouted through the speaker.
“You stupid—”
Claire ran.
Evelyn grabbed her coat.
Claire spun and shoved her away.
Evelyn stumbled.
Police burst through the roof door.
“Hands up!”
Evelyn froze.
Marcus ran past them.
“Claire!”
Julian’s voice exploded through the speaker.
“You just killed your daughter!”
Claire screamed.
May you like
Then a gunshot cracked over the live video.
The phone screen went black.
