Chapter 12 - THE RUNWAY
They reached DuPage Airport twenty-eight minutes later.
Police were on the way.
Elena hated the plan.
Daniel hated waiting more.
Marcus knew the hangar code.
Of course he did.
Inside, Alan stood beside the jet.
Two bags near his feet.
Victor Hale stood with him.
Claire whispered, “Victor.”
Victor looked terrified.
Alan didn’t.
He saw Daniel and smiled.
“Your father always said you were stubborn.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You tried to burn me alive.”
Alan sighed.
“That was never the plan.”
Marcus laughed.
“You literally set the building on fire.”
Alan looked at him.
“And yet somehow you still managed to disappoint me.”
Marcus’s face tightened.
“You used me.”
“I gave you exactly what you wanted.”
“You gave me a felony.”
“You signed willingly.”
Daniel looked at Alan.
“Why?”
Alan’s smile disappeared.
“Because your father was going to destroy everything.”
“Everything?”
“Decades of work.”
“You mean crime.”
“I mean wealth.”
“You were already wealthy.”
Alan laughed softly.
“You have no idea what real money looks like.”
Claire stepped forward.
“You kidnapped Evan.”
“I corrected a problem.”
“You shot at our house.”
Alan looked at her.
“No one was supposed to hit you.”
Daniel felt rage rise again.
Alan continued calmly.
“Fear is efficient.”
Marcus stared at him.
“Dad found out.”
“Yes.”
“What happened the night of his stroke?”
Daniel froze.
Alan didn’t answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Alan smiled.
“That’s the question you should have asked years ago.”
Daniel’s entire body went rigid.
“My father had a stroke.”
“He did.”
“Did you cause it?”
Alan said nothing.
That silence was worse than any confession.
Daniel walked toward him.
Claire grabbed his arm.
“Daniel.”
Alan picked up one of the bags.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Your father confronted me in his office.”
Daniel’s eyes burned.
“He said he was going to the FBI.”
Marcus whispered, “No.”
Alan looked at him.
“He was going to expose you too.”
Marcus went pale.
“What did you do?”
“I argued.”
“Then what?”
“He became angry.”
“Then what?”
Alan’s face stayed calm.
“He reached for the phone.”
Daniel’s voice was barely audible.
“What did you do?”
“I took it away.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Alan continued.
“He grabbed me. I pushed him.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
“He fell.”
Marcus stared at Alan.
“No.”
“He hit the desk.”
“You killed him.”
“No. He was alive.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“You called an ambulance?”
Alan looked directly into his eyes.
“No.”
Something broke inside Daniel.
He rushed forward.
Marcus caught him.
“Daniel!”
“LET ME GO!”
Alan backed toward the jet.
Sirens sounded outside.
Victor panicked.
“They’re here!”
Alan turned toward the plane.
Then Victor grabbed his arm.
“You said nobody would get hurt.”
Alan shoved him.
Victor fell.
Marcus released Daniel and ran toward Alan.
Alan reached into his coat.
Elena shouted.
May you like
“Gun!”
A shot exploded through the hangar.
