Chapter 18 - The Trade
Daniel walked out alone.
Rain fell across the church steps.
Shaw stood beside a black SUV.
Rachel was on her knees beside him.
Her hands were tied.
Three armed men waited nearby.
Shaw smiled.
“Where’s the kid?”
“Safe.”
“I asked for Ethan.”
“You got me.”
“You’re not worth as much.”
Daniel looked at Rachel.
Blood ran from her forehead.
She shook her head slightly.
Don’t.
Daniel looked back at Shaw.
“You need the key.”
“Yes.”
“And Ethan.”
“Yes.”
“Then killing me doesn’t help you.”
Shaw smiled.
“Finally thinking.”
Daniel reached into his pocket.
He held up Ethan’s metal key.
Shaw’s eyes locked onto it.
“Send Rachel.”
“You first.”
Daniel tossed the key.
Not to Shaw.
Past him.
Into the street.
Shaw turned instinctively.
Rachel moved.
She slammed her shoulder into his knees.
Daniel charged.
The church doors burst open.
Michael and Brenner rushed out from opposite sides.
Chaos erupted.
Carol pulled Ethan toward a car behind the church.
Shaw’s men scattered.
Daniel reached Rachel and cut her hands free.
“Move!”
She grabbed him.
“The key!”
“Fake.”
Rachel stared.
“You people really like fake keys.”
A shot struck the church wall.
They ran.
Michael reached them.
“Ethan’s gone!”
Daniel stopped.
“What?”
“Carol’s car is gone!”
Rachel’s face drained.
“Shaw?”
“No.”
Michael held up his phone.
A text had arrived from Carol.
I’M SORRY.
Daniel stared at it.
Then another message appeared.
A photograph.
Ethan sitting in Carol’s Buick.
Beside him was Senator Caldwell.
Daniel felt something inside him collapse.
Michael whispered:
“Carol was working for them?”
Rachel shook her head.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because Caldwell doesn’t use employees when he has leverage.”
A third message arrived.
A photograph of a man tied to a chair.
Carol’s brother.
The owner of the auto shop.
Caldwell’s message appeared beneath it.
BRING THE REAL KEY TO LAKESHORE TRUST.
NO POLICE.
NO SHAW.
NO TRICKS.
Daniel looked toward Brenner.
Brenner stared back.
Then a gunshot came from the street.
Brenner’s eyes widened.
He fell.
Shaw stood beside the SUV.
Smoking gun in hand.
He smiled at Daniel.
“Looks like we’re partners now.”
The next chapters are on the left side of your screen.
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