Chapter 15 - VICTORIA CHOOSES
Emma expected Vincent to call the police.
Instead, he called Victoria.
She answered on the fourth ring.
"If this is about the gala—"
"Richard has Miriam," Vincent said.
Silence.
Victoria's voice changed. "That's impossible."
"You thought you were partners. You were never partners."
Emma watched the realization hit through the phone's silence.
Vincent continued.
"Dominic is missing. Miriam is tied to a chair. You're next."
Victoria hung up.
Twenty minutes later she arrived at a secure Moretti property wearing no makeup and no jewelry.
For the first time, she looked ordinary.
"Richard promised me the Meridian board seat," she said. "He said Dominic would handle Isabella."
Emma's anger rose.
"You tried to hit an old woman because she wouldn't sign away her shares."
Victoria looked at her.
"I was supposed to provoke her. Not hurt her."
"You raised your hand."
"And you stopped me."
There was no apology in it.
Vincent put Keene's video on the screen.
"Where would he take Miriam?"
Victoria hesitated.
"Old municipal records depot on Canal. Halcyon leased the lower floor."
Marco checked the address.
"She's right."
Victoria grabbed Vincent's sleeve.
"If I help you, I get protection."
"You get the truth," he said. "What happens after that isn't mine to promise."
They reached the depot before dawn.
Police units waited two blocks away while Marco's team entered from the river side.
Emma stayed in the command van.
Then Victoria disappeared from the seat beside her.
The rear door was open.
Emma jumped out.
Across the loading yard, Victoria was running toward the building.
"Victoria!"
She turned once.
"Richard has something I need."
Then she vanished inside.
Seconds later, the depot erupted with the sound of breaking glass.
May you like
And Emma heard Isabella's voice over Marco's radio.
"They have my son."
