Chapter 9 - BENEATH THE FIREPLACE
They reached the abandoned property before dawn.
Victor brought Maya.
Ethan.
Daniel.
And four armed men.
Her father and the girls remained behind as insurance.
The old house was gone.
Only foundation stones remained beneath weeds.
Victor stared at Maya.
“You brought me to ruins.”
“She hid it before the fire.”
Maya walked toward the fireplace.
The stone chimney still stood.
She remembered sitting there as a child.
Her mother had once pointed at the hearth.
“Some things survive fire.”
Maya had thought she was talking about stone.
Now she understood.
She knelt.
Third brick from the left.
Nothing.
Fourth.
Nothing.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Maya.”
She looked up.
He nodded toward the right side.
A tiny red mark.
She pushed the brick.
It moved.
Behind it was a metal latch.
Victor’s breathing changed.
Maya pulled.
A steel compartment opened.
Inside sat a red folder.
Exactly like the evidence folder Cole had placed beside Ethan’s recorder.
Victor stepped forward.
“Give it to me.”
Maya lifted it.
“Let my family go.”
Victor laughed.
“You’re negotiating?”
“Yes.”
“You have no position.”
“I have fourteen years of evidence in my hands.”
Victor raised his weapon.
“And I have a weapon.”
Maya looked at the folder.
“Then shoot me.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Maya.”
She ignored him.
“If I die, you still don’t know whether this is the only copy.”
Victor hesitated.
That was enough.
Ethan slammed into Daniel.
The weapon fired.
Maya dropped.
Chaos erupted.
Ethan and Daniel crashed against the chimney.
Maya crawled behind the stone wall.
Victor’s men moved forward.
Then headlights appeared.
Dozens.
Cole.
Federal agents flooded the property.
“DROP YOUR WEAPONS!”
Victor ran.
Maya saw him disappear toward the woods carrying the red folder.
“No!”
She chased him.
Cole shouted after her.
Victor reached a vehicle hidden beyond the trees.
Maya grabbed the passenger door.
Victor struck her away.
She fell.
The engine roared.
Then another man stepped from the darkness.
Maya’s father.
Victor froze.
Maya stared.
“Dad?”
He wasn’t supposed to be there.
Her father raised his hands.
“I brought you what you really want.”
Victor looked behind him.
The two girls stood beside a federal agent.
Maya’s heart nearly stopped.
“Dad, get them back!”
Her father opened his jacket.
Another red folder.
Victor looked at the one in his own hands.
He opened it.
Empty paper.
Maya smiled through the pain.
“You took the wrong one.”
Victor’s face twisted.
May you like
Maya’s father held up the real evidence.
“And this one has already been copied.”
