Chapter 12 - Glass
Daniel drove me to the floor before the second shot hit.
Maya screamed.
Agents drew weapons and moved toward the hall.
"Stay down!"
Another shot punched into the wall above us.
Dad crawled toward me. "Ellie!"
"I'm okay."
The shooting stopped. Then came engines and shouting as law enforcement cleared the property.
An agent returned.
"Shooter fled through the east woods. We found a rifle position and a stolen vehicle. No injuries."
Dad sat against the wall, hands shaking.
"This ends now," he said.
"It ends when we know who ordered it."
"Cole did."
"Maybe."
"You heard him."
"I also heard Julian. They both lie for a living."
Maya slowly stood and brushed glass from her coat. "She's right. Richard heading north could be cover."
Daniel walked in carrying a plastic evidence bag.
Inside was a prepaid phone found near the shooter position.
"One outgoing text," he said. "Sent nine minutes before the first shot."
The agent put the message on a screen.
TARGET CONFIRMED. WOMAN IN BLUE. FATHER ALSO PRESENT.
I looked down at my borrowed blue sweater.
"Incoming?"
"One reply."
Daniel's mouth tightened.
DO NOT TOUCH ARDEN. ONLY HER.
"Cole wants me alive?" Dad asked.
"Maybe," I said.
My phone buzzed.
This time the number was Julian's.
Richard Cole sat tied to a chair in a warehouse, blood on his temple.
Below it was a message.
YOU WANTED THE TRUTH. COME GET IT.
A second message followed with an address.
Then a third.
COME ALONE OR RICHARD DIES, AND EVERY FILE WITH HIM.
Dad reached for my phone.
I pulled it away.
"Absolutely not," he said.
I looked at Richard's terrified face.
Then at the agents already mapping the warehouse.
May you like
"I'm not going alone," I said.
"I'm just going to make Julian believe I did."
