Chapter 7 - THE TRAP
We moved again.
This time to a police-protected safe house.
Michael called at midnight.
"I want the baby."
Ethan laughed bitterly.
"You'll never get him."
Michael's voice remained calm.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"The baby is evidence."
"No. He's a child."
Michael paused.
Then he said something that chilled me.
"His mother knew too much."
I grabbed the phone.
"Did you kill Vanessa?"
Silence.
Then:
"Not personally."
My knees weakened.
Ethan took the phone.
"You admitted it."
Michael laughed.
"You don't know what you have."
"We have the ledger."
"You have copies."
Ethan froze.
"What?"
"I have the originals."
Michael hung up.
Detective Bennett immediately traced the call.
"He's at the old warehouse."
Richard looked at Ethan.
"We end this tonight."
Ethan nodded.
I grabbed his arm.
"No."
"Mom."
"You're not going."
"I have to."
"No. You've already lost a year."
He looked at me.
"I can't let them hurt Samuel."
"You don't have to do it alone."
We went with the police.
The warehouse was enormous.
Dark.
Empty.
Rain hammered the roof.
Detective Bennett divided the team.
Richard and Ethan stayed behind the police line.
Then the lights came on.
Michael stood on a raised platform.
Daniel stood beside him.
Charles was tied to a chair.
Michael smiled.
"Richard."
Richard stepped forward.
"You ruined everything."
Michael laughed.
"No. I saved everything."
He held up a folder.
"The company was going bankrupt."
Richard shook his head.
"You stole from it."
"I borrowed."
"Eight million?"
"It was supposed to be temporary."
Charles suddenly shouted:
"He's lying!"
Michael struck him.
The police moved.
Michael pulled out a gun.
"Stay back!"
Daniel grabbed Ethan from behind.
Ethan fought.
I screamed.
Samuel was in my arms.
Michael pointed the gun toward us.
"Give me the baby."
I stepped backward.
"No."
"Then someone dies."
Richard moved between us.
"Take me."
Michael stared.
"What?"
"Take me."
"Richard..."
"I'll give you everything."
Michael smiled.
"You still don't understand."
He pulled out another photograph.
It showed Vanessa.
Alive.
My heart stopped.
"That's impossible."
Michael whispered:
"She survived the crash."
Everyone froze.
Ethan stared.
"Where is she?"
Michael smiled.
"Not far."
A side door opened.
A woman stepped into the warehouse.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
A scar along her temple.
Ethan's mouth fell open.
"Vanessa?"
The woman nodded.
"I've been waiting for you."
I looked at Richard.
He couldn't move.
Vanessa looked at him.
"You told them I was dead."
Richard whispered:
"I thought you were."
She walked toward us.
"I survived."
"Why didn't you come back?"
"Because they were hunting me."
She pointed toward Michael.
"He ordered the crash."
Michael shouted:
"You're lying!"
Vanessa pulled out a recording.
His own voice played through the warehouse.
"I don't care what happens to her. Make it look like an accident."
Michael's face collapsed.
Police rushed forward.
Daniel surrendered.
Charles began sobbing.
Michael was handcuffed.
But Vanessa wasn't finished.
She looked at Ethan.
"You saved my son."
Ethan looked at Samuel.
"I promised you."
She smiled.
Then she turned toward Richard.
"You destroyed your family for nothing."
Richard lowered his head.
"I know."
But there was still one final secret.
Vanessa looked at me.
"Margaret, there's something you need to know."
My heart sank.
"What?"
She reached into her coat.
May you like
She handed me a small envelope.
"It concerns your marriage."
