Chương 14 - The Man Outside
The lake house plunged into darkness.
This time, nobody panicked.
Ortiz moved first.
“Everybody down.”
Evelyn crouched behind the stone fireplace.
Ethan pulled Grant toward the wall.
Miriam remained on the stairs.
“Mom!” Grant hissed.
A beam of light swept across the windows from outside.
Then another.
Car headlights.
A black SUV rolled to a stop in front of the house.
Miriam whispered, “Victor.”
Evelyn's skin went cold.
The front door handle turned.
Ortiz called out, “Police. Do not enter.”
The handle stopped.
Then Victor Hale's voice came through the door.
“Detective Ortiz, I think you have property that belongs to me.”
Ortiz looked at Miriam.
“The ledger.”
Miriam gripped it tighter.
Evelyn whispered, “How did he know?”
Grant stared at his mother.
Miriam closed her eyes.
“I told him.”
Grant looked devastated. “Why?”
“Because he threatened you.”
“He just shot at me!”
“I didn't know he would.”
Victor knocked politely.
“Let's not make this uglier than it needs to be.”
Ethan whispered, “How many people with him?”
Ortiz checked through a side window. “At least two.”
She called for backup.
No signal.
Victor had brought a jammer.
Miriam came down one step.
“I can give him the ledger.”
Ortiz said, “No.”
“He'll leave.”
“No, he won't.”
Evelyn looked at her aunt. “Did Victor kill my father?”
Miriam's eyes filled.
“I gave him Richard's schedule.”
Grant whispered, “Mom.”
“I thought Victor would scare him. Make him stop.”
Evelyn's voice became very quiet. “You gave a criminal my father's location.”
Miriam started crying. “I didn't know what he was going to do.”
“Did you know about the brakes?”
“No.”
Victor's voice came again.
“Miriam, you have thirty seconds.”
Ethan looked at Ortiz. “Back exit?”
“Kitchen.”
Grant said, “There is a snowmobile shed behind the house.”
Ortiz made a decision.
“Ethan, take Evelyn and Grant out the back. Miriam stays with me.”
Miriam suddenly raised the gun.
Not at Ortiz.
At herself.
Grant's face collapsed. “Mom, no.”
Miriam's hand shook violently.
“I destroyed this family.”
Evelyn stepped toward her.
“No. You don't get to make this the last thing Grant sees.”
Miriam looked at her.
Evelyn kept walking.
“You want to make one good decision? Put the gun down.”
Outside, Victor began counting.
“Ten.”
Miriam's finger trembled.
“Nine.”
Grant whispered, “Please.”
“Eight.”
May you like
Miriam lowered the gun.
Then the front door exploded inward.
