Chapter 12 - THE LIVE BROADCAST
The taxi stopped fifty feet from the police barricade.
Officers raised their weapons.
Captain Cross stood behind them.
Rain streamed down his face.
He spoke through a loudspeaker.
“Elena Ramirez, exit the vehicle with your hands visible.”
The taxi driver looked terrified.
“What now?”
Noah checked the side streets.
Police cars surrounded the block.
Alexander opened the door.
Elena grabbed his arm.
“They will arrest you.”
“That may keep them from shooting at the taxi.”
He stepped into the rain with both hands raised.
Cross smiled.
“Where is the ledger?”
Alexander walked forward.
“Already copied.”
Cross’s smile vanished.
Inside the taxi, Noah called the reporter.
“Go live now.”
“We need a visual.”
Noah looked at Milo.
The boy pointed toward a restaurant across the street.
A television played behind the window.
The news broadcast began.
Daniel’s face appeared on the screen.
His voice carried through the restaurant speakers.
People on the sidewalk stopped.
Every phone nearby began playing the same video.
Mrs. De Los Santos planting the necklace.
Vincent confessing to cutting Daniel’s brakes.
Cross ordering the arrest of Elena.
The warehouse footage showing officials dividing stolen jewels.
The truth spread faster than Cross could stop it.
One of the officers at the barricade slowly lowered his weapon.
Another did the same.
Cross turned on them.
“Keep your weapons raised!”
The youngest officer looked at him.
“Sir, that video shows you participating in a felony.”
“It is fake.”
“It has timestamps, audio records, and location data.”
Cross reached for the officer’s gun.
Alexander tackled him.
They fell onto the wet pavement.
Cross struck Alexander and ran toward the taxi.
He smashed the side window with his weapon.
Valentina screamed.
Elena pushed the children down.
Cross opened the door and grabbed Valentina’s arm.
“You caused all of this!”
Elena attacked him.
They struggled in the street.
Cross raised his weapon.
A gunshot sounded.
Elena froze.
Cross stared down at his chest.
Blood spread across his shirt.
The young officer stood behind him with his weapon raised.
“Step away from the child.”
Cross collapsed.
Elena pulled Valentina into her arms.
Federal vehicles arrived moments later.
Agents surrounded the scene.
A woman in a dark coat approached.
“Special Agent Rebecca Shaw.”
“We received the files.”
“Mrs. Ramirez, you and the children are under federal protection.”
Elena looked toward the warehouse district.
“What about Mrs. De Los Santos?”
Rebecca’s expression tightened.
“She escaped before our team arrived.”
Noah’s phone buzzed.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Mrs. De Los Santos standing inside Valentina’s school.
May you like
Beneath it were six words.
THE MIRROR STILL HAS ONE SECRET.
