Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN IN THE REFLECTION
Daniel enlarged the reflection.
The woman’s face was partially hidden.
But Helen recognized her immediately.
“That is Brenda.”
Brenda Collins had watched Ivy and Skye after Lauren abducted them.
Police had assumed she had fled.
Now it appeared she was working with Lauren.
Helen stared at the image.
“She wore my medallion after they took it from me.”
Detective Ortiz ordered surveillance around the abandoned hotel.
Daniel agreed to send Lauren a reply.
“I will sign the documents.”
“But I need proof that every copy of the recording will be destroyed.”
Lauren answered within minutes.
“Come alone.”
Daniel did not intend to obey.
A small transmitter was hidden inside his jacket.
Police tactical teams surrounded the property from a distance.
The abandoned hotel had once belonged to Daniel’s father.
Its ballroom was stripped bare.
Broken chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
Lauren waited beside a long table.
Calvin stood near the entrance.
Charles Voss held a stack of transfer documents.
Brenda watched from the balcony.
“Where are the children?” Lauren asked.
Daniel walked forward.
“Safe from you.”
Lauren’s smile disappeared.
“Then you have nothing to bargain with.”
“You are wrong.”
Daniel placed Claire’s original recordings on the table.
“These prove Margaret committed fraud.”
“They also prove you forged the audio.”
Charles Voss looked at Lauren.
“You said the original files were destroyed.”
Lauren ignored him.
“Sign the transfer.”
Daniel flipped through the documents.
They gave Ethan control of Whitmore Holdings.
But Ethan’s signature was already present.
Daniel looked at the attorney.
“Ethan is in police custody.”
“He did not sign this.”
Charles stepped back.
“I was told he had authorized it.”
Lauren’s composure began to crack.
“Everyone stop pretending to be innocent.”
“Margaret stole those children.”
“Ethan accepted one.”
“Daniel ignored his dying wife.”
“Why should I be the only person who walks away with nothing?”
Daniel’s voice remained calm.
“Because children are not compensation for your disappointment.”
Brenda suddenly shouted from the balcony.
“He is wearing a wire.”
Calvin grabbed Daniel from behind.
Police rushed through the doors.
Lauren seized the recordings and ran toward the old service corridor.
Daniel broke free and followed her.
The corridor led to the hotel’s basement kitchen.
Lauren reached a metal furnace and raised the recordings over the open flames.
“One more step and Claire’s truth disappears forever.”
Daniel stopped.
Lauren smiled.
Then Claire’s voice came from behind her.
“You cannot destroy what I already copied.”
Lauren spun around.
A small speaker had activated inside the room.
May you like
Detective Ortiz had recovered Claire’s files from an encrypted cloud account.
Every word was already safe.
