Chapter 6 - BEFORE SUNRISE
They had less than nine hours.
Cole called in federal authorities.
Not local police.
Not anyone connected to his former unit.
Only people he trusted.
Maya stayed with the girls.
She told them they were taking an unexpected trip.
She smiled while packing their clothes.
She made her voice calm.
She told them everything would be okay.
Then she went into the bathroom and threw up.
When she came out, Ethan was standing in the hallway under guard.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I asked Cole for sixty seconds.”
“I don’t want sixty seconds.”
“Maya.”
“No.”
“Victor has someone close to you.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“He couldn’t get those photographs otherwise.”
Maya thought of teachers.
Neighbors.
Friends.
Staff.
Family.
Her father.
“No.”
“Someone has been giving him access.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Convenient.”
“I’m trying to save you.”
She laughed.
“You spent seven years lying to me.”
“I know.”
“You married me because Victor told you to.”
“I know.”
“You knew my mother may have been murdered.”
“I know.”
“And now you want me to trust you?”
“No.”
That surprised her.
Ethan stepped closer until the officer stopped him.
“I want you to distrust everyone.”
Maya stared at him.
“Especially me.”
He walked away.
At 2:17 a.m., the federal convoy arrived.
Cole checked every vehicle.
The girls were placed in the middle SUV.
Maya climbed in beside them.
Her father sat in front.
Cole rode behind.
Ethan traveled separately.
They pulled away at 2:31.
For the first fifteen minutes, nothing happened.
Then Maya’s father’s phone rang.
He answered.
Nobody spoke.
A text arrived.
Maya watched his face change.
“What is it?”
He turned the screen toward her.
A photograph.
Their convoy.
Taken less than a minute earlier.
Maya looked behind them.
“Cole!”
The radio crackled.
Before her father could speak, the lead SUV suddenly swerved.
Brake lights exploded across the highway.
Their driver slammed the brakes.
The girls screamed.
A truck blocked the road.
Another appeared behind them.
Cole shouted through the radio.
“Reverse!”
The rear SUV tried.
Too late.
Black vehicles emerged from both sides.
Maya pulled the girls down.
Her father covered them.
Glass shattered.
Agents poured out.
Maya heard shouting.
Then silence.
Terrible silence.
A man approached their SUV.
Maya recognized him immediately.
Daniel Reeves.
The dead investigator.
He opened the door.
“Hello, Maya.”
Her father lunged.
Daniel raised his weapon.
“Don’t.”
Maya stared at him.
“Where’s Cole?”
Daniel smiled.
“Alive.”
He looked at the girls.
“For now.”
Then a voice came through Daniel’s radio.
May you like
Victor Hale.
“Bring me File 42.”
