Chapter 11 - THE KEY IN SOPHIE’S POCKET
William took one step forward.
“Give me the key.”
Sophie hid behind Ethan.
“No.”
William’s face hardened.
“Sophie.”
Ethan moved between them.
“You heard her.”
Claire lifted the drive.
“You shoot anyone, I break this.”
“You won’t.”
“Try me.”
“She already copied it.”
“What?”
Claire said, “You think eighteen months in captivity made me stupid?”
“The key opens a safe-deposit box.”
“Where?”
“Santa Barbara.”
“What’s inside?”
“Original records.”
William’s jaw tightened.
“Your father kept paper backups. Signed contracts. offshore account instructions. payoff lists.”
Ethan looked at William.
“You kept trophies.”
“I kept insurance.”
“Against Graham?”
“Against everyone.”
That was new information to him.
“You were never supposed to know.”
“I spent twenty years cleaning your mess.”
“You were paid.”
“I was owned.”
For the first time, the alliance cracked.
Vanessa whispered to Ethan, “Keep them talking.”
Claire moved slowly toward the gas shutoff.
“Stop.”
Graham’s gun swung toward her.
Then Vanessa grabbed a metal wrench from the floor and threw it.
It struck Graham’s wrist.
The bullet hit the ceiling.
Claire ran for the shutoff.
“LET HER GO!”
William held his granddaughter in front of him.
Something in Ethan broke.
“You’re using her.”
William’s voice stayed calm.
“Give me the key.”
Claire froze at the valve.
Vanessa crawled toward the fallen gun.
He kicked her hard in the ribs.
Sophie suddenly bit William’s hand.
Vanessa reached the gun.
Then another shot exploded.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Vanessa held the gun with both hands.
May you like
“You shot me.”
“You should’ve left the kid out of it.”
