Chapter 11 - JANE MILLER
Juliette had already buried me once.
Now she planned to finish the job without fire.
The server belonged to Halcyon Trust, a private financial company in Washington, D.C. It stored records for Mercer Development, Briarwood Recovery Center, and six shell companies.
With the password from Mom’s necklace, Juliette could delete the clinic records and move nearly eighty million dollars.
Lena obtained a warrant, but Halcyon’s attorneys blocked access.
“We don’t have time for court games,” I said.
Marcus joined us from his hospital bed by video call.
“There’s another way,” he said. “Jane Miller.”
That was the false name used at Briarwood.
The clinic had created a legal identity for me, complete with a Social Security number and medical history. If Jane owned one of the shell companies, I might have access to Halcyon.
Lena searched the records.
Jane Miller controlled Phoenix Restoration LLC.
The name made my skin crawl.
Phoenix Restoration had received monthly payments from Mercer Development since the fire.
Juliette had used my fake identity to hide stolen money.
We entered Halcyon’s office posing as Jane Miller and her attorney. My scars matched the identification photograph taken at Briarwood.
The account manager led us into a private room.
“I’ll need your fingerprint,” he said.
I placed my right index finger on the scanner.
Access approved.
Files appeared on the screen.
Phoenix Restoration held twelve million dollars.
There were also medical contracts bearing my fingerprint.
“They used my hand while I was drugged,” I whispered.
Lena copied the records.
A new login notification appeared.
Someone had accessed the master account from the top floor.
Juliette was inside the building.
We ran for the elevator, but the doors locked.
The lights shut off.
A voice came through the speaker.
“Hello, Caroline.”
I looked up at the security camera.
“You’re running out of places to hide.”
“I’m not hiding,” Juliette replied. “I’m cleaning up.”
The ventilation system began humming.
White gas entered through the ceiling vents.
Lena covered her face.
I recognized the sweet smell.
The same drug had been used during the fire and at the bank.
I slammed a chair against the glass wall until it cracked. Lena fired two shots into the weakened panel.
We crawled into the hallway as alarms sounded.
The top floor was empty except for a computer displaying a countdown.
DATA DELETION: 02:14.
Lena connected a federal drive to stop it.
I searched the room.
Behind a curtain, I found a hospital bed.
Nathan was strapped to it.
His lips were blue.
I pulled the oxygen mask from his face.
“He took the hard drive,” Nathan gasped.
“Who?”
“Shaw.”
“Shaw is dead.”
Nathan shook his head.
“The body from the mill wasn’t his.”
A gun clicked behind me.
Captain Shaw stepped from the shadows.
May you like
“Your sister was useful,” he said. “But she never understood who was in charge.”
Then he fired at Lena.
