Chapter 11 - HANGAR SIX
Arthur wanted to drive straight through the hangar door.
Ben stopped him.
"If Victor sees police first, he may move the kid. We do this smart."
"That's my son in there."
"Which is why you don't charge in angry."
Maria grabbed Arthur's sleeve. "Lucas will be watching you. Be the calm person he needs."
Arthur hated that she was right.
Daniel copied the flash drive and placed the original in a padded envelope. Police units staged two blocks away.
Arthur walked into Hangar Six alone.
Victor stood beside the jet. Elena held Lucas by the shoulders.
"Dad!"
Arthur forced himself not to run.
"Let him go."
Elena's eyes were red, but her voice was hard. "Give us the drive."
"You kidnapped a child for a flash drive."
"I am his stepmother."
"Not after today."
Victor held out his hand. "Drive."
Arthur tossed the envelope onto the floor halfway between them.
Victor stepped toward it.
Lucas moved at the same instant.
He stomped on Elena's foot, ducked under her arm, and sprinted.
"Lucas!" Elena screamed.
Arthur ran forward.
Victor grabbed him.
They crashed into a luggage cart. Arthur drove an elbow into Victor's ribs and broke free. Elena caught Lucas's jacket, but the boy slipped out of it and kept running.
The hangar doors exploded with blue lights.
"Police! Hands where we can see them!"
Victor froze.
Elena did not.
She snatched the envelope and threw it into a maintenance drum where oily rags were burning.
Flames swallowed it.
She laughed once, breathless and wild.
"There goes your evidence."
Arthur pulled Lucas into his arms.
May you like
Then Ben walked through the smoke holding up a second flash drive.
"No," he said. "There goes the copy we wanted you to destroy."
