Chapter 10 - Beneath Blackwater Quarry
Mark ran before anyone could stop him.
The tunnel descended beneath the warehouse in a steep concrete slope.
Emergency lights flickered along the walls.
Detective Cole followed with his weapon raised.
“Mark, stay behind me.”
Rosie cried somewhere ahead.
Richard shouted at her to be quiet.
The tunnel opened into an old equipment chamber.
Richard stood near a steel ladder.
One hand held Rosie against his chest.
The other held a pistol.
Rosie’s legs kicked desperately.
“Put her down.”
Richard aimed the gun at Mark.
“You always were too emotional.”
“You threatened a four-year-old.”
“I am protecting everything I built.”
“You built it with stolen money.”
“I built it for this family.”
“Rosie is your family.”
“She is an asset controlled by people who do not understand business.”
Rosie saw Mark.
“Daddy!”
Mark forced his voice to remain steady.
“I am right here, sweetheart.”
Richard pressed the pistol closer to Rosie’s side.
“Freeze the accounts, and this ends.”
“The accounts are already frozen.”
“Then unfreeze them.”
“I cannot.”
Richard’s face twisted.
“You have always been weak.”
“You let Emily challenge me.”
“You let a child control you.”
Mark took one careful step forward.
“That child is the only person in this family worth protecting.”
Richard pulled Rosie backward toward the ladder.
The ladder led to an upper loading platform.
A black vehicle waited outside.
Detective Cole entered behind Mark.
“Richard, lower the weapon.”
Richard fired toward the ceiling.
Concrete dust fell over Rosie’s hair.
She screamed.
Mark moved instinctively.
Detective Cole grabbed him.
Richard climbed the first rung while holding Rosie.
A second figure appeared on the platform above him.
Diane stood at the top of the ladder.
For one hopeful second, Mark thought she might help.
Then she reached down and pulled Rosie upward.
“Mom!”
Diane dragged Rosie onto the platform.
Richard climbed behind them.
Detective Cole fired at the ladder support.
A bullet struck metal.
Richard stumbled but kept climbing.
Mark followed.
He reached the platform as Diane shoved Rosie into the vehicle.
“Stop!”
Diane turned.
Her face showed no guilt.
Only irritation.
“You could have prevented all of this.”
“You tortured your granddaughter.”
“I disciplined her.”
“You told her Emily died because of her.”
“She needed to stop crying.”
Mark stared at the woman who had raised him.
“You are worse than he is.”
Diane slapped him.
Mark did not react.
She raised her hand again.
Bethany appeared behind her.
She caught Diane’s wrist.
“No more.”
Diane stared at her daughter.
“You ungrateful little fool.”
“You said nobody would get hurt.”
“You hurt Rosie.”
“You let Dad hurt Emily.”
Diane’s face changed.
Bethany had said too much.
Richard climbed onto the platform.
He grabbed Bethany by the hair.
“You should have kept your mouth shut.”
Rosie opened the rear door of the vehicle.
She tried to climb out.
Diane seized her sweatshirt.
Mark lunged forward.
Richard fired.
The bullet struck the metal railing beside Mark.
Bethany drove her elbow into Richard’s ribs.
The pistol fell.
Detective Cole reached the platform and kicked the weapon away.
Richard pushed Bethany toward the edge.
Mark caught her arm before she fell.
Diane pulled Rosie toward the vehicle.
Rosie bit her hand.
Diane screamed and released her.
Rosie ran toward Mark.
He lifted her into his arms.
She wrapped herself around his neck.
“I knew you would come.”
Richard reached for the fallen pistol.
Detective Cole aimed at him.
“Do not move.”
Richard stopped.
Diane raised both hands.
“This is a misunderstanding.”
Bethany laughed through her tears.
“A misunderstanding?”
“You locked a child in a room.”
“You helped Dad steal millions.”
“You sent him to Emily’s house.”
Diane looked toward the tunnel.
Then she ran.
She leaped into the black vehicle and drove through the loading gate.
Richard watched her escape.
His expression hardened.
“She has the folder.”
Bethany looked at Mark.
“No.”
“She has something worse.”
May you like
“What?”
“The original recording from the night Emily died.”
