Chapter 16 - The Deal He Wanted

“Walk away from what?” I asked.

Daniel looked toward the cockpit.

“We don’t have time.”

“For once, make time.”

The jet began a gentle descent through thin cloud.

He leaned closer.

“Monica thinks I’m bringing you to Vancouver. If I don’t show up, she’ll disappear.”

“Good.”

“No. Not good.”

“Why?”

“Because she has everything.”

“What is everything?”

He looked at Valery.

“Records. Names. Accounts. People who paid us. People we paid.”

“You mean evidence,” Valery said.

“Yes.”

I crossed my arms.

“And the USB?”

“A copy.”

Valery’s expression did not change.

Daniel noticed.

“You took it.”

She said nothing.

He turned to me.

“Claire, give it back.”

“I don’t have it.”

“Tell her to give it back.”

“No.”

His control broke.

Not into violence.

Into panic.

“You don’t understand what Monica does when she thinks she’s been betrayed.”

Valery’s eyes narrowed. “What did she do to my mother?”

Daniel went silent.

That was the wrong silence.

Valery’s face changed.

“My mother’s warehouse fire.”

Daniel looked away.

“It was ruled electrical,” she said.

“I know.”

“How do you know?”

He didn’t answer.

Valery stepped back as if he had pushed her.

I felt sick.

Daniel spoke quickly.

“I wasn’t there. I didn’t order anything. Monica used pressure when people resisted. I left that life years ago.”

“You were taking me to her tonight,” I said.

“I was going to trade the drive for our exit.”

“Our?”

“Yes.”

I shook my head.

“There is no our.”

The landing gear lowered with a deep mechanical thump.

Daniel looked out the window.

Then his face changed.

On the tarmac below, three black SUVs were waiting.

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Daniel pressed his forehead briefly against the window. His reflection floated over the runway glass: white shirt, dark hair, expensive watch, the face I had once trusted enough to fall asleep beside. Behind that reflection sat Adam Blake, Michael Dane, Jonathan Cross, and whatever other names the agents had not found yet. I wondered whether Daniel Mercer had ever existed anywhere except with me.

Private Jet Story - 20 Chapters