Chapter 16 - The Exchange

Nolan had taken Rosa's twenty-two-year-old daughter, Sofia, from her apartment less than an hour earlier.

"You call the police, she dies," Nolan said on speaker. "You bring the ledger and the flash drive to Eastman Bridge. One car. Ethan and Mara only."

Rosa grabbed the phone. "You touch my daughter--"

The call ended.

Rosa looked at Mara with wild eyes. "Please."

"We're going," Mara said.

"It's a trap," Ethan answered.

"Of course it is. Sofia is still in it."

Bianca stepped closer. "Nolan will kill all three of you."

Mara looked at her. "Then tell me how he thinks."

That silenced everyone.

Ethan's truck rolled onto Eastman Bridge, closed overnight above a black river.

Mara had the ledger in a backpack.

The real flash drive was taped beneath Rosa's greenhouse sink.

Bianca had given them a blank one as bait.

At the center of the bridge, Nolan's SUV waited with its headlights on.

Sofia sat in the passenger seat, wrists tied.

Keene stood beside the vehicle.

"I thought we left him tied up," Mara muttered.

"We need better knots," Ethan said.

They got out.

Nolan emerged from the driver's side.

He looked strangely calm for a man whose mansion was burning and whose crimes were appearing on live television.

"Ledger," he said.

"Sofia first," Ethan replied.

Nolan smiled. "You always negotiate like Dad. That's why he liked you better."

Keene opened the passenger door and pulled Sofia out.

She was crying but walking.

Mara held up the backpack.

"Let her cross."

Nolan nodded.

Sofia started toward them.

Halfway across, Nolan said, "Stop."

She froze.

"Now the drive."

Mara tossed him the fake flash drive.

Nolan handed it to Keene.

Keene plugged it into a laptop.

His face changed.

"It's blank."

Nolan looked at Mara.

"That was stupid."

"No," Mara said. "Hitting me at my mother's grave was stupid. Framing your brother was stupid. Keeping records of your crimes was extremely stupid. This is just annoying you."

Sofia suddenly ran.

Keene grabbed for her.

Ethan charged.

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