Chapter 11 - The Rooftop
Lucas did not take Sofía from the apartment.
He forced Marina to bring her to the roof of the headquarters building.
Daniel had arranged it before entering my office.
By the time Detective Mills reached the stairwell, Lucas had locked the access door from above.
I stared at the emergency maintenance ladder.
Forty-one floors of open steel stairs rose beside the service shaft.
Mills looked at my wheelchair.
“We wait for tactical support.”
“No.”
“You cannot climb that.”
“I only need to reach the roof.”
“That is the definition of climbing.”
I transferred from the chair to the lowest platform.
My arms shook.
My injured shoulder screamed.
But Marina’s voice came through my phone.
“He wants Daniel released.”
Lucas had placed the call on speaker.
Wind roared behind her.
Sofía was crying.
“Daddy, I want to go home.”
“I’m coming, mi amor.”
Lucas laughed.
“You cannot even stand.”
I looked up at the ladder.
“Then you have nothing to fear.”
I began climbing with my arms.
Mills stayed beneath me.
One rung.
Then another.
My legs dragged against the metal.
Sweat blurred my vision.
Every few feet, my right calf trembled.
Marina kept Lucas talking.
“You said Eduardo ruined your life,” she said.
“He blamed me for shipments Daniel ordered.”
“Then Daniel used you.”
“He promised to clear my name.”
“He left you to die at Sunhaven.”
“Shut up.”
“You are still protecting the man who sacrificed you.”
The line went quiet.
I climbed faster.
When I reached the roof access hatch, my hands were bleeding.
Mills pushed from below.
The hatch opened.
Wind slammed against my face.
Lucas stood near the edge holding Sofía by the arm.
Marina was ten feet away.
Her face was bruised.
“Let her go,” I said.
Lucas turned.
Shock crossed his face when he saw me pulling myself onto the rooftop.
“You came.”
“You wanted me.”
“I wanted my life back.”
“Then take mine.”
Sofía cried harder.
Marina looked at me.
I saw the warning in her eyes.
Lucas held a knife near Sofía’s shoulder.
“Tell the police to release Daniel.”
“They already arrested him.”
“Then call them.”
“I can’t give you what they no longer have.”
Lucas dragged Sofía closer to the edge.
Marina moved half a step.
“Stop!” he shouted.
I pushed myself onto one knee.
My right leg shook violently.
“Lucas.”
He looked at me.
“You were right.”
His expression changed.
“I blamed you because Daniel told me to.”
“What?”
“He authorized the diversions.”
Lucas’s grip loosened.
“That is a lie.”
“He signed every transfer.”
“No.”
“He used your employee number.”
Lucas looked toward the stairwell.
That second was enough.
Marina rushed forward.
She pulled Sofía away.
Lucas swung the knife.
I forced my body upright.
For one impossible moment, I stood.
Then I drove my shoulder into him.
We hit the rooftop together.
The knife slid away.
Detective Mills climbed through the hatch and pinned Lucas to the ground.
Marina held Sofía against her chest.
I remained on my knees.
My legs were burning.
But they were beneath me.
Sofía looked at me through her tears.
May you like
“Daddy…”
“You stood up.”
