Chapter 15 - Twelve Hours
They had twelve hours.
Daniel hated clocks.
Clocks made fear measurable.
Carol drove them north to an old church where her brother volunteered.
The priest gave them a basement room without asking questions.
Michael spread papers across a table.
“The vault is beneath Lakeshore Trust.”
Carol laughed.
“A bank?”
“Private financial storage.”
Daniel studied the floor plan.
“Security?”
“Heavy.”
“Police?”
“Worse.”
Michael pointed to several names.
“Three board members are in the ledger.”
Daniel looked at him.
“So walking in is impossible.”
“Pretty much.”
Ethan sat quietly in the corner.
Daniel noticed.
He walked over.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Fair answer.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Is my mom bad?”
Daniel sat beside him.
He could have lied.
Instead he said:
“I think your mom made bad choices because she was scared.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Daniel looked at the floor.
“No.”
Ethan waited.
Daniel sighed.
“I don’t think she’s bad.”
“You sure?”
“No.”
The boy nodded.
At least it was honest.
After a moment, Ethan asked:
“Are you bad?”
Daniel looked at him.
“I’ve done things I wish I could change.”
“That means yes?”
“Sometimes.”
Ethan thought about that.
“Dad says bad people don’t feel bad about being bad.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“Your dad talks too much.”
Across the room, Michael looked over.
“I heard that.”
For the first time all night, Ethan laughed.
It lasted two seconds.
Then the church lights went out.
Daniel stood instantly.
Michael reached for the papers.
Carol whispered:
“Again?”
Daniel heard footsteps upstairs.
Slow.
Heavy.
One set.
Not a team.
The basement door opened.
Officer Brenner walked in.
His hands were empty.
Blood covered one side of his shirt.
Michael moved toward him.
Brenner raised both hands.
“I’m not here to fight.”
Daniel stared.
“You kidnapped a kid.”
“I know.”
“You helped murder his father.”
“I thought he was dead.”
Michael glared.
“Sorry to disappoint you.”
Brenner looked at him.
Then at Daniel.
“Shaw just tried to kill me.”
Daniel’s expression didn’t change.
“Congratulations.”
Brenner leaned against the wall.
“He’s cleaning house.”
“Why should I care?”
“Because I know who he works for.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Name.”
Brenner looked around the room.
Then said two words.
“Senator Caldwell.”
Michael went pale.
Carol whispered:
“You mean the senator who’s running for governor?”
Brenner nodded.
And Ethan quietly said:
“He was at my house too.”
The next chapters are on the left side of your screen.
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