Chapter 16 - Arthur's Last Bet
Dominic stopped walking.
"You escaped custody."
Arthur gave a tired smile. "Escaped is a dramatic word."
Marcus laughed. "He was never alone."
A corrupt transport officer had diverted Arthur during a hospital transfer after he complained of chest pain.
The officer was already under arrest, but Arthur had gained ninety minutes.
That was all Marcus needed.
Angela's son sat tied to a chair on the left.
Nathan's daughter sat on the right.
Both were frightened, but conscious.
Dominic held up the ledger.
"Let them go."
Marcus looked at his cane. "Still giving orders. Even limping."
"You tried very hard to change that."
"I tried to save what should have been mine."
Dominic almost laughed.
There it was.
Marcus produced documents from a metal table.
"Sign. You resign from every Vale entity and transfer voting authority to Arthur pending medical review."
Dominic looked at Arthur. "You still think he will share anything with you?"
Arthur's eyes flickered.
Marcus noticed.
"Don't," he warned.
Arthur's face slowly changed.
Marcus stepped toward him. "Ignore him."
Dominic placed the ledger on the table.
"Arthur knows the answer."
For fifteen years Arthur had believed patience made him powerful.
Now he realized he had built a throne for somebody else.
Marcus reached for the ledger.
Dominic slapped his hand away with the cane.
Marcus lunged.
That movement was the signal.
The lights died.
Police flooded the loading bay from two entrances.
Arthur dropped flat.
Marcus grabbed Nathan's daughter and pulled her toward the service tunnel.
Dominic followed despite Chen shouting his name.
His leg burned.
He kept going.
Marcus reached a steel door and turned.
In his hand was a small remote trigger.
"One more step," Marcus said, "and this whole tunnel closes."
Dominic stopped.
May you like
Behind Marcus, red warning lights began to flash.
Arthur had never told anyone the old loading hub still contained demolition charges from an abandoned renovation.
