Chapter 11 - THE WAREHOUSE
The old Harbor Street warehouse smelled like rust, seawater, and gasoline.
Audrey entered alone.
At least that was what Daniel believed.
Julian and Marcus were two buildings away with police.
Lenora waited in an unmarked car holding the real key.
Audrey carried an empty envelope.
Daniel stood beneath a broken industrial light.
Richard sat tied to a chair.
Alive.
Audrey nearly collapsed from relief.
“You shot him.”
Daniel smiled.
“I shot the wall.”
Richard muttered, “He’s always been dramatic.”
Daniel hit him across the face.
Audrey stepped forward.
“Touch him again and I walk.”
Daniel looked amused.
“You finally care about him?”
“I care whether you kill him.”
“Different thing.”
“Yes.”
Daniel held out his hand.
“Key.”
Audrey lifted the envelope.
“Shares first.”
Daniel laughed.
“You think this is a negotiation?”
“I think you need me.”
“Not really.”
“You need my signature for redevelopment.”
Daniel’s smile faded slightly.
Audrey had him.
“The city contract requires majority beneficiary approval. Dad can’t sign while medically incapacitated. I’m the next trustee.”
Daniel walked closer.
“Unless you’re declared unfit.”
Audrey smiled.
“Because I shoved someone into a pool?”
“Because you assaulted an employee, attacked a guest, and may be psychologically unstable.”
“Cute.”
“And now there’s a pregnancy rumor.”
Audrey’s stomach tightened.
Daniel smiled again.
“An unstable heiress carrying a possible Bellamy-Mercer child? Courts love chaos.”
Audrey stared.
He continued.
“Give me the key.”
“No.”
Daniel pulled a gun.
Richard cursed.
“Audrey, do it.”
She looked at her father.
For once, he sounded afraid for her.
Daniel pointed the gun at Richard.
“Last chance.”
Audrey handed him the envelope.
He opened it.
Empty.
Daniel’s face changed.
Audrey stepped backward.
“No key.”
“You stupid—”
Police sirens erupted outside.
Daniel grabbed Audrey and pulled her against him.
The gun pressed into her neck.
Richard shouted.
Daniel dragged Audrey toward the rear door.
“Tell them to back off.”
Audrey’s heart hammered.
“No.”
He tightened his arm.
“Do it.”
“No.”
“You think I won’t shoot you?”
Audrey whispered, “I think you need me alive.”
Daniel smiled near her ear.
“You’re learning.”
Then Julian appeared in the doorway.
Daniel swung the gun toward him.
Julian froze.
“No!”
Audrey drove her heel down onto Daniel’s foot.
He cursed.
The gun fired.
Richard screamed.
Julian lunged.
Daniel hit him with the weapon.
They crashed into a stack of metal pallets.
Audrey grabbed a loose pipe and swung.
It struck Daniel’s shoulder.
The gun slid away.
Richard kicked it beneath a cabinet.
Daniel punched Julian.
Julian tackled him.
Police stormed in.
“Hands!”
Daniel reached into his jacket.
Audrey screamed.
An officer fired.
Daniel dropped.
Silence.
Audrey stared.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Julian crawled backward.
Richard breathed heavily.
Daniel looked at Marcus, who had just entered behind police.
“Uncle.”
Marcus froze.
Daniel coughed.
“You promised.”
Marcus’s face went white.
Audrey turned.
“Promised what?”
Daniel smiled through blood.
“That if I took the company…”
He coughed again.
May you like
“…he’d make sure Richard died before the will changed.”
Every person in the warehouse looked at Marcus.
