Chapter 16 - Four Forty-Two
"Eighteen minutes," Daniel said.
"The bank has a fraud alert and the court papers," Nadia replied. "They still have to verify the right account."
Reyes radioed the details of Victor's vehicle. A black pickup had left the rear gate with a cardboard box on the passenger seat. Officers spread toward the exits from town while she stayed to finish securing the warehouse.
Mallory stood under a blanket an EMT had brought her. She watched the scene with an expression Daniel recognized from childhood: the look she wore when she'd broken something and waited for somebody else to admit it.
"Tell them everything," he said.
"They'll put me in prison."
"Maybe. But hiding made this worse for every person on that list."
Mallory looked at him with raw resentment. "Mom always believed you were the good one."
"This isn't about being her favorite. It's about what you did."
At 4:51, Patel called Nadia. The receiving institution had placed a temporary hold on the transfer pending review of the disputed authorization. It wasn't a recovery. It was a chance to trace the money before it vanished.
Daniel let out a breath. "What about Victor?"
Reyes's radio crackled. A patrol officer had spotted the pickup near the interstate ramp. Victor refused to stop until his truck hit a curb. He tried to run between parked cars and was detained. The box of records was still on the front seat.
Daniel wanted to shout with relief. Instead he found himself staring at the warehouse door where Mallory had been trapped.
"You could have died in there," he told her.
"Claire almost did," Mallory said. "I know."
For the first time, she said the words without adding an excuse.
May you like
Reyes came toward them. "Mallory Bennett, we need to speak with you formally. You have the right to counsel."
Mallory looked once more at her brother. "There's something else I hid," she said. "Mom left a letter for Emma. It's in my purse."
