Chapter 10 - AN INVITATION WITH TEETH
Julian called Clara fourteen minutes later.
She answered with Agent Ward listening beside her.
“You’ve had a busy night,” he said.
“Let me hear Ruth.”
A scrape. A breath.
“Clara?”
Ruth’s voice was thin but unmistakable.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m—”
The phone shifted.
Julian returned.
“She’s fine. Let’s keep her that way.”
“What do you want?”
“Your copies. Daniel’s files. Everything you took from Arthur.”
“You burned the building.”
“Old wiring. Terrible tragedy.”
Clara closed her eyes.
Ward slid a note across the table.
KEEP HIM TALKING.
“You can’t undo the copies already out there.”
“No. But I can find out who has them.”
“Then you’ll keep asking forever.”
Julian was silent for a moment.
When he spoke again, his voice lost its friendly edge.
“Bring what you have to the gala. Alone. Ruth walks out with you.”
The call ended.
Clara stared at the phone.
Ward shook her head before she could speak.
“We are not sending you in alone.”
“If I don’t go, he kills her.”
“If you go without a plan, he kills both of you.”
They spent the afternoon building one.
Clara would attend as expected. Agents would cover the building. Ruth’s recovery would take priority. No exchange would happen until they had proof she was alive and a location.
Naomi sat through every discussion.
Arthur waited in a separate room.
When Clara finally agreed to see him, he stood as she entered.
She stayed by the door.
“Did Julian make you say those things?”
Arthur’s face changed.
“No.”
“Was it some plan to protect me?”
“No.”
She nodded once.
“Good. I didn’t want another lie.”
He looked down.
“Julian told me you were manipulating me. That everyone could see it.”
“And you wanted to prove nobody could make you care.”
Arthur said nothing.
“You chose the cruelest thing you could think of,” she continued. “Then you watched to see if it worked.”
“Yes.”
The honesty hurt differently.
“I’m sorry.”
“I believe you’re sorry now.”
His eyes lifted.
It was not forgiveness. She made sure he understood.
As she turned to leave, his phone vibrated on the table.
A message from Julian.
BRING THE GIRL TO THE CONSERVATORY, AND I’LL GIVE YOU BACK YOUR EMPIRE.
May you like
Arthur slid the phone toward the waiting agent.
“Tell me where you need me.”
