Chapter 13 - Daniel's Betrayal
Nora stared at her father.
"What are you doing?"
Daniel kept the gun trained on Adrian.
"Ending this."
Elias laughed from the end of the pier.
"Took you long enough."
Nora's stomach dropped.
"You're working with him."
Daniel's eyes stayed on Adrian.
"No."
"Then put the gun down."
"I can't."
Federal agents were hidden nearby, but no one moved.
One wrong shot could turn the pier into chaos.
Elias held up Adrian's stolen drive.
"Key first."
Nora reached for the chain around her neck.
Daniel said, "Don't."
Elias's smile vanished.
That was when Nora understood.
Daniel was not betraying them.
He was forcing Elias to reveal himself.
Adrian understood too.
He stepped forward.
"Shoot me, Daniel."
Nora stared at him.
"What?"
Adrian kept walking.
Elias shouted, "Stop!"
Daniel fired.
The shot hit the pier beside Adrian's foot.
Elias flinched and reached inside his coat.
Federal agents moved.
Lights exploded across the pier.
"FEDERAL AGENTS! HANDS!"
Elias ran.
Dominic tackled one guard.
Adrian went after Elias.
Nora chased them both.
Elias reached a waiting speedboat.
Before he could start it, Nora jumped aboard and slammed the key into the water.
Elias screamed.
"You idiot!"
He lunged for her.
Adrian grabbed him from behind.
The two men crashed against the rail.
Nora kicked the drive from Elias's hand.
It skidded across the deck.
Daniel boarded with agents seconds later.
Elias was cuffed.
Nora picked up the drive.
Adrian looked at her.
"The key?"
She opened her fist.
The real brass key lay in her palm.
"I threw a copy."
Daniel laughed.
For the first time in twelve years, Nora heard her father's real laugh.
Then Elias looked up from the deck.
"Celebrate later."
His smile was ugly.
"The drive doesn't expose the person who mattered most."
Nora's laughter died.
"Who?"
May you like
Elias looked at Daniel.
"Ask him who signed the original harbor accounts."
