Chapter 15 - Marco’s Choice
Marco had not escaped custody.
He had been released as a cooperating witness.
Now he was driving Vanessa away from the one archive that could end everything.
I wanted him buried under the jail.
Claire was less certain.
“Look at the route.”
Marco was not heading toward the airport.
He was driving south.
Toward our company’s old Harbor warehouse.
Theo called Marco’s phone.
No answer.
Then my phone rang.
Marco.
I answered.
“Where are you?”
His voice was low.
“Listen carefully. Vanessa thinks I’m helping her.”
I said nothing.
“She threatened my sister. That’s why I worked for them. I’m done.”
“Then stop the car.”
“I can’t. She has a gun.”
I heard Vanessa in the background.
“Who are you talking to?”
Marco said, “Traffic dispatch.”
Then quietly, “Warehouse twelve. Ten minutes.”
The call ended.
Claire moved.
At the warehouse, police surrounded the property without lights.
I watched from an armored vehicle.
Marco’s pickup entered.
Vanessa stepped out holding the black case.
She pointed a gun at Marco.
“You think I don’t know what betrayal looks like?”
He raised his hands.
“I did what you asked.”
“No. You did what frightened men always do. You waited until losing scared you more than obeying.”
She shot toward the ground near his feet.
Police moved.
Vanessa ran inside the warehouse.
Marco dropped behind the truck.
Claire chased her.
A fire alarm began screaming.
Smoke rolled from warehouse twelve.
Vanessa had set the archive case on fire.
Then Theo shouted from beside me.
“Vincent, wait.”
May you like
He held up his phone.
“The case she stole was a decoy.”
