Chapter 12 - THE SHOT THROUGH THE WINDOW
Evelyn grabbed Lena and pulled her to the floor.
The bullet shattered the office window.
Glass exploded across the carpet.
The shot struck the wall where Lena had been standing.
Security alarms sounded.
The black car accelerated away.
Evelyn crawled toward the desk.
She pressed the emergency lock button.
Steel shutters dropped over the windows.
Lena covered her stomach.
“I am fine.”
Evelyn checked her carefully.
“You are bleeding.”
A piece of glass had cut Lena’s forehead.
“It is only a scratch.”
Evelyn picked up the phone.
Thomas was still connected.
“You missed.”
“I was not aiming at her.”
Evelyn looked at the bullet hole.
It had struck a framed photograph of her father.
Thomas continued.
“That was a warning.”
“You tried to kill me in the Alps.”
“That was Adrian.”
“You let him.”
“I allowed useful people to make useful mistakes.”
Evelyn’s voice stayed controlled.
“What do you want?”
“The original trust document.”
“You already stole six hundred million dollars.”
“The document controls the remaining assets.”
“You will never receive them.”
Thomas laughed.
“You misunderstand.”
“I do not need you to sign anything.”
“I only need both Vale heirs legally removed.”
Evelyn looked at Lena.
“Isabelle is in federal custody.”
“Not anymore.”
The line went dead.
Evelyn called the lead federal agent.
No answer.
She called again.
A male officer picked up.
“Ms. Vale, Agent Parker’s transport was attacked forty minutes ago.”
Evelyn gripped the phone.
“Where is Isabelle?”
“Missing.”
“Agent Parker?”
“In critical condition.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Thomas had planned every step.
He had pushed Isabelle toward revenge.
He had encouraged Adrian’s ambition.
He had allowed Victoria to collect recordings.
Then he waited for them to destroy one another.
Lena stood slowly.
“Where would Isabelle go?”
“She would come here.”
“To the hotel?”
“To me.”
Security reported movement on the roof.
Evelyn and Lena entered the private stairwell.
Two guards followed them.
Rain struck the rooftop in hard sheets.
A figure stood near the edge.
Isabelle.
Her prison uniform was stained with blood.
One wrist still carried part of a broken handcuff.
Evelyn approached slowly.
“Did Thomas help you escape?”
Isabelle turned.
Her face was bruised.
“He sent men to kill everyone in the transport.”
“I crawled out before the vehicle burned.”
Lena stepped forward.
“Then he wants both of you dead.”
Isabelle laughed bitterly.
“He has wanted us dead for years.”
She removed a flash drive from her pocket.
“I took this from one of the attackers.”
“What is on it?”
“Names.”
“Accounts.”
“And tonight’s instructions.”
Evelyn reached for it.
Isabelle pulled it back.
“First, you tell me the truth.”
“About what?”
“Did our mother leave me willingly?”
Evelyn said nothing.
Isabelle’s eyes filled with fury.
“You know.”
“I found a letter in Father’s private files.”
“What did it say?”
Before Evelyn could answer, one of the security guards raised his weapon.
He aimed it at Isabelle.
The second guard aimed at Evelyn.
Thomas Greer stepped out of the stairwell behind them.
He held Lena by the arm.
May you like
And he smiled.
“Family reunions are always so emotional.”
