Chapter 12 - CAROL GOES TO WAR
Arthur’s convoy approached Calumet Harbor without lights.
Carol sat beside him wearing a bulletproof vest beneath her coat.
“You stay in the vehicle.”
“No.”
“Carol.”
“You said that six times.”
“I’m going to say it sixty.”
She looked out the window.
“You forget I survived Vanessa.”
“That doesn’t make you tactical.”
“No. It makes me stubborn.”
Arthur groaned.
The warehouse appeared ahead.
Cross security surrounded the perimeter.
Police tactical units waited two blocks away.
Arthur wanted Nathaniel recovered before turning the operation over to law enforcement. Julian’s history proved he had insiders everywhere.
A security analyst spoke through Arthur’s earpiece.
“Thermal imaging shows eight subjects.”
“Hostages?”
“One seated in lower chamber.”
Nathaniel.
Carol’s pulse accelerated.
Arthur pointed toward her.
“Vehicle.”
She gave him a look.
“Please.”
That word stopped her.
Arthur rarely said please.
“If something happens to you,” he continued, “Nathaniel will survive Julian only to murder me himself.”
Carol finally nodded.
Arthur’s team moved.
For three minutes, nothing happened.
Then gunfire exploded.
Carol ducked.
Security radios crackled.
“West entrance compromised!”
“Two hostiles moving south!”
“Boss located!”
Carol listened desperately.
Then another voice.
“Fire!”
Orange light appeared inside the warehouse.
Smoke poured from the roof.
Carol grabbed the door handle.
Her security escort blocked her.
“Mrs. Bennett—”
“Nathaniel is inside.”
“Arthur said—”
A massive explosion shattered several windows.
Carol ran.
The guard cursed and followed.
Inside, smoke filled the loading bay.
Carol covered her mouth.
“Nathaniel!”
She heard shouting below.
A stairwell descended into darkness.
Carol followed.
At the bottom, Arthur was fighting one of Julian’s men.
Another attacker lay unconscious.
“Nathaniel?”
“Back room!”
Carol ran.
She found Nathaniel chained to a chair while fire spread through stacked crates.
He looked up.
For one second, he thought smoke had made him hallucinate.
“Carol?”
She rushed toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Saving you.”
“You were supposed to stay safe!”
“You’re welcome.”
Nathaniel almost laughed.
Carol found keys on the floor.
She unlocked one wrist.
Footsteps sounded.
Julian appeared.
He held a pistol.
“Stop.”
Carol froze.
Nathaniel’s expression became murderous.
“Julian.”
Julian pointed the weapon at Carol.
“I told you to stay out of this.”
“I wasn’t invited.”
“This doesn’t concern you.”
“My husband died because of you.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“Indirectly.”
Carol stared at him.
“Cowards always love that word.”
Nathaniel glanced at his remaining chain.
Almost loose.
Julian stepped closer.
“David should have minded his business.”
Carol’s grief transformed into fury.
“His business was protecting people.”
“And look where that got him.”
Nathaniel ripped his hand free.
“Here.”
He launched himself at Julian.
The gun fired.
Carol screamed.
Nathaniel slammed Julian into the wall.
The pistol skidded away.
Arthur entered and tackled Julian from behind.
Within seconds, Julian was cuffed.
Nathaniel looked at Carol.
“You hit?”
“No.”
She touched his chest.
“Are you?”
He checked himself.
The bullet had grazed his shoulder.
Arthur shouted.
“Building is coming down!”
They moved toward the stairs.
Julian resisted.
“Leave me!”
Nathaniel looked at him.
For one terrible second, Julian seemed almost hopeful.
Death would be easier than prison.
Nathaniel grabbed his collar.
“No.”
Julian stared.
“You want revenge?”
Nathaniel dragged him toward the exit.
“No.”
Smoke engulfed them.
“You’re going to live long enough to explain every crime you committed.”
Outside, federal agents arrived as flames consumed the warehouse.
Julian was transferred into custody.
Carol stood beside Nathaniel while paramedics wrapped his shoulder.
He looked at her.
“You disobeyed Arthur.”
“Yes.”
“You ran into a burning warehouse.”
“Yes.”
“You confronted an armed criminal.”
“Yes.”
Nathaniel exhaled.
“I’m furious.”
Carol smiled.
“You’re alive.”
He pulled her close.
“So are you.”
Arthur approached carrying Julian’s recovered laptop.
“Boss.”
Nathaniel reluctantly released Carol.
“What?”
Arthur’s expression was grim.
“We found the smuggling ledgers.”
“Good.”
“And something else.”
He opened a file.
“Julian recorded meetings with Senator Hale.”
Carol leaned closer.
A video loaded.
Richard Hale sat inside a private office.
His words were clear.
IF BENNETT TALKS, MALCOLM WILL HANDLE HIM. HE ALWAYS DOES.
Carol stared.
Then another man entered the frame.
Malcolm Cross.
Nathaniel’s father.
The recording continued.
Malcolm looked directly at Hale.
“Nobody touches David Bennett.”
Nathaniel froze.
Richard frowned.
“He knows too much.”
“Then buy him.”
“He won’t take money.”
Malcolm leaned forward.
“Then I’ll protect him.”
Carol’s eyes widened.
Nathaniel whispered, “Father tried to save David.”
Arthur continued the recording.
A third voice spoke from outside camera range.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Everett Sloan walked into view.
Nathaniel slowly looked toward Arthur.
Everett.
Not Malcolm.
Not Julian.
May you like
Everett had ordered the sabotage.
And somewhere inside federal custody, the man who had murdered David Bennett was still alive.
