Chapter 18 - The Second Betrayal
"Drop the drive," Morris said.
Daniel did.
Margaret's smile returned.
"There. Much easier."
Morris picked up the bag.
Daniel kept his hands visible.
"How long have you worked for her?"
"Long enough to know people believe a badge before they believe a frightened woman."
Rebecca laughed weakly from the chair.
"That's what they said about me."
Morris's jaw tightened.
Margaret took the drive.
"Untie Rose."
The armed man hesitated.
"Do it," Margaret ordered.
Rose ran to Daniel.
He pulled her behind him.
One hostage free.
Margaret connected the drive to a laptop on a metal table.
Folders appeared.
She exhaled.
For the first time, she looked relieved.
Daniel said, "You built all this because you were afraid of what people might say about you."
"I built it because information is the only form of security that matters."
"You recorded children."
"I recorded households. Children happened to live in them."
Emma recoiled.
Rebecca whispered, "Monster."
Margaret looked at her daughter without emotion.
"You always were dramatic."
The laptop screen flashed.
ACCESS DENIED.
Margaret frowned.
Then every folder disappeared.
A countdown appeared.
00:30.
Margaret looked at Daniel.
He smiled for the first time all night.
"Wrong drive."
Chaos erupted.
Margaret shouted at Morris.
Price's tactical team breached two doors at once.
Morris swung her gun toward the entrance.
Daniel grabbed her wrist.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Rose dropped behind a steel beam.
Rebecca kicked her chair sideways into the armed guard's knees.
Emma threw herself against him too.
Price's officers flooded the room.
"Police! Drop your weapons!"
Morris fought Daniel viciously, elbowing him in the mouth.
He held on until Price tore the gun free.
Across the room, Margaret ran.
Claire stepped out from behind an old machine.
Daniel stared.
"Claire!"
She had followed them.
Margaret froze when she saw her.
Mother and daughter faced each other across ten feet of dirty concrete.
Claire said, "It ends here."
May you like
Margaret reached inside her coat.
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