Chapter 40 - The Northline Divide
Tessa contacted the police commander overseeing the House Zero investigation.
He advised them not to approach the reservoir. A tactical unit would secure the location after obtaining a warrant.
Miriam laughed bitterly.
“Victor chose the reservoir because he owns the judge who signs emergency warrants.”
Tessa checked the judge assigned to the request.
Harold Venn’s brother-in-law.
The warrant would take hours.
Rachel refused to wait.
Marcus was released into police transport as a cooperating witness. Instead of taking him to the courthouse, the driver turned toward the river.
Marcus noticed first.
“This is not the courthouse route.”
The officer beside him did not respond.
Marcus struck the emergency alarm with his restrained hands. The vehicle stopped beneath an overpass, where another car waited.
Rachel received the alert through the tracking application Tessa had placed on Marcus’s phone.
They reached the overpass with legitimate officers ten minutes later.
The transport van was empty.
Marcus’s restraints lay on the floor beside the driver’s identification.
The officer’s name was false.
A message had been written across the fogged rear window.
HE AGREED TO FINISH WHAT HE STARTED.
Miriam believed Marcus had accepted another deal.
Rachel was not certain.
Marcus had betrayed her once for money, but he had also carried her father’s package into House Zero and recorded Victor’s operation.
Tessa searched the van.
Under the seat, she found a button torn from Marcus’s hospital shirt. A tiny audio transmitter was hidden inside it.
His voice came through faintly.
“I’m inside their vehicle. Two men. Traveling east.”
Then another voice spoke.
Victor.
“You understand what Rachel must believe?”
“That I betrayed her again.”
“Exactly.”
“And after she brings the key?”
“You will receive everything I promised before the wedding.”
Marcus paused.
“What about Evelyn?”
“She was never part of your agreement.”
A door opened near him.
May you like
Victor lowered his voice.
“But Olivia was.”
