He Thought His Mother Was Dead for 8 Years—Until She Appeared on Screen as a Gunman Threatened His Wife!

Mara showed Graham the back of the van. Samuel sat upright and looked directly into the camera.

“Hello, Graham,” he said. “Miss me?”

For the first time, Graham Cross lost his polished smile.

“You should have stayed buried.”

“You should have let my children grow up.”

Graham leaned toward the camera. “You have fifteen minutes to reach Meridian. Come without police.”

The call ended.

Ruiz gripped the wheel. “We can't just walk in.”

“We won't,” Mara said. “We'll make him think he controls the door.”

She took the paper Lily had written on and the flash drive from June. Samuel explained the building's emergency control system in a rush. The ventilation fail-safe could force open every secure door, but it would also sound a tower-wide evacuation alarm.

“Which is what we need,” June said. “Five hundred witnesses running through the lobby while Graham explains his armed men.”

Ruiz passed Mara her own badge. “Once you're inside, find a camera. If we can get a live feed to the commission, his money won't buy every screen at once.”

“And Lily?”

Adrian's voice came from the burner phone. “She's alive. I'm in the north service stairwell.”

Mara nearly dropped it. “You got away?”

“Barely. Graham thinks I'm restrained upstairs. Evelyn's with me.”

“Is she okay?”

“She will be if we get out.” A pause. “Mara, I should've told you about the transfer papers the first night. I was ashamed.”

“I know.”

“I don't deserve your trust.”

“Then earn it. Bring my sister home.”

His breath trembled. “I will.”

The line cut off.

At Meridian Tower, Mara stepped out of the van alone, carrying a small black case. Graham's men searched her and escorted her through a marble lobby decorated with election banners.

Upstairs, the city commission waited to hear a speech about public safety.

Graham met her in a private elevator. He held out his hand.

“The evidence, please.”

Mara opened the case. Inside lay only Lily's red mitten.