Chapter 16 - No Audience

Daniel kept his eyes on the gun.

"If you shoot me, you don't get the money."

Graham smiled. "That's why you're still standing."

He pointed toward a laptop.

"Log in."

Daniel sat.

His hands were steady even though his heartbeat was not.

He entered the account information.

The screen requested the authentication token.

Outside, agents surrounded every exit but could no longer hear what was happening.

Emily sat in the command van gripping the edge of her chair.

"Go in."

Mark shook his head. "Not until we know where Graham is positioned."

"He has my husband."

"And a rushed entry could get him killed."

Inside, Daniel inserted the disabled token.

The screen flashed ERROR.

Graham's expression changed.

"Again."

Daniel did.

ERROR.

Graham stepped closer and pressed the pistol against Daniel's shoulder.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing."

Graham struck him across the face with the back of his hand.

Daniel tasted blood.

"Again."

Daniel looked at the laptop.

Then at Graham.

"It's over."

Graham's eyes went flat.

"Your father said that too."

Daniel stopped breathing.

"You were there."

Graham smiled faintly.

"Your father was stubborn. Vanessa panicked. Monica cried. And I solved the problem."

The words were quiet.

Casual.

Daniel felt something colder than rage.

"You poisoned him."

"I adjusted circumstances."

Daniel suddenly understood why Graham had chosen the warehouse.

He wanted to leave no witness.

Outside, Emily saw one of the building's old security feeds flicker on a secondary monitor.

"What's that?"

Mark leaned forward.

The warehouse had an analog camera system not affected by the jammer.

The image was grainy but clear enough.

Graham stood behind Daniel with a gun.

"Now," Mark said.

Agents moved.

The side door burst open.

Graham spun.

Daniel grabbed the laptop and shoved it backward into him.

The gun fired once into the ceiling.

Agents shouted.

Graham ran toward a rear staircase.

Daniel fell to the floor.

Emily watched the screen, unable to breathe.

Then Graham disappeared from camera.

An officer yelled over the radio.

"Suspect on the roof!"

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Mark grabbed his vest and ran.

Emily followed before anyone could stop her.