Chapter 14 - The Warehouse on Canal Street
Maya wanted police.
Rebecca wanted federal investigators.
Claire wanted to go herself.
They compromised badly.
Two police units headed toward the warehouse while Maya, Ethan, and Claire followed three blocks behind with private security.
The building looked abandoned from the street.
Inside, lights were on.
They heard shouting before they reached the loading door.
A man’s voice.
Then a woman screamed.
Maya ran.
Security tried to stop her.
Too late.
She pushed through a side entrance and found a wide warehouse lined with empty pallets.
Grant Mercer stood near a black SUV.
Margaret Whitmore stood ten feet away.
Between them was Elena Marlow.
Alive.
Older. Thinner. Furious.
Grant held a gun.
Everything slowed.
Claire whispered, “Mom.”
Margaret turned.
Her expression did not change.
“You should have stayed at the hotel.”
Claire looked at Elena. “You kidnapped her?”
“I moved a liability.”
Elena laughed harshly. “Still calling people liabilities, Margaret?”
Grant raised the gun. “Enough.”
Maya stepped forward.
His weapon shifted toward her.
Ethan cursed. “Maya, stop.”
She stopped.
Grant looked exhausted. “You ruined everything.”
“No,” Maya said. “I noticed everything.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Grant’s face tightened.
Margaret hissed, “You said you jammed dispatch.”
“I did.”
“Apparently not.”
Grant grabbed Elena by the arm and dragged her toward the SUV.
Claire moved first.
She swung a champagne-sized fire extinguisher off the wall and smashed it into Grant’s wrist.
The gun clattered across the concrete.
Ethan kicked it away.
Grant shoved Claire hard enough to send her down.
Maya lunged for Elena.
Margaret stepped between them.
For one second, Maya and Margaret faced each other.
Margaret smiled.
May you like
“You have your mother’s eyes.”
Then she pulled a second gun from her coat.
