Chapter 11 - the night they came for ellie
The attack began during a power failure.
At 1:12 a.m., every light in the mansion went out.
Backup generators should have activated within five seconds.
They did not.
Evan was in the nursery Margaret had prepared for Ellie when he heard glass break downstairs.
Leah entered the hallway carrying Ellie.
“What happened?”
“Stay behind me.”
He locked them inside the room and called Naomi.
No signal.
The mansion’s internal network had been cut.
Daniel appeared from the stairwell with a flashlight.
“Three vehicles at the west gate. Security lost contact with two guards.”
“Jonathan?”
“Too organized. This is Northstar.”
Evan looked at Leah.
“There’s a safe room behind my father’s library.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You’re taking Ellie somewhere they can’t reach.”
Ellie clung to Leah.
Evan crouched.
“Remember what you drew?”
She nodded.
“You gave me long arms so I could reach you.”
“Yes.”
“I need you to let me use them now. Go with Mommy and stay quiet until I come.”
“Promise?”
He could not promise safety in a house under attack.
He touched her small hand.
“I promise I will do everything I can.”
Daniel led Leah and Ellie through the service corridor toward the library.
Evan moved downstairs.
Two security officers were unconscious near the kitchen, alive but injured. The rear door had been forced open.
A masked man stepped from behind a pillar.
Evan struck first.
Years away from professional hockey had not erased his reflexes. He drove the man into the wall, tore away a stun weapon and forced him to the floor.
Another intruder appeared.
A gunshot cracked through the corridor.
The bullet struck the ceiling.
Daniel returned fire from the staircase, driving the second man back.
“Safe room is locked,” Daniel shouted. “Victor changed the code.”
Evan remembered the message in the safe.
THE WRONG BRIDE FOUND IT FIRST.
“What date was the original wedding supposed to happen?”
Daniel gave him the date.
Evan shouted the numbers.
Seconds later, Daniel confirmed the door had opened.
Leah and Ellie entered the room.
Margaret and Claire were already inside.
Evan moved toward them when his phone vibrated.
A temporary signal had appeared.
A video call filled the screen.
Jonathan Vale sat inside a private aircraft.
“You were warned,” he said.
“Call them off.”
“They do not work for me anymore.”
“You hired Northstar.”
“I hired them to contain Victor. Your father offered them more.”
Evan stopped.
“Victor ordered this?”
Jonathan smiled without warmth.
“Victor Halstead has spent his life deciding which sacrifices are acceptable.”
“You expect me to believe he sent men after his granddaughter?”
“I expect you to understand that Ellie is not their target.”
“Then who is?”
The safe room alarm sounded upstairs.
Someone had entered the library.
Evan ran.
Jonathan’s voice continued through the phone.
“Your father needs Claire.”
“Why?”
“She is the only person who can activate the Northstar account.”
Evan reached the library.
The hidden safe-room door stood open.
Margaret lay on the floor, conscious but dazed.
Leah held Ellie behind a desk.
Claire was gone.
A small dart had struck the wall beside the doorway.
Evan helped Margaret sit up.
“What happened?”
“The air vent,” she said. “Gas came through the air vent. Claire opened the door to get Ellie out. They took her.”
Leah’s face was pale.
“She traded herself for us.”
Evan looked at his phone.
Jonathan remained on the call.
“Where are they taking her?”
“Probably to the airport.”
“You’re there.”
“For another four minutes.”
Naomi’s team was already moving toward the private terminal, but Jonathan’s plane began taxiing early.
Evan put the call on speaker.
“Why does Victor need Claire?”
Jonathan looked toward something outside the camera.
“Northstar’s accounts are protected by a biological key. Victor created the system using his own family line. Evan can open one part. Claire can open the other.”
“What happens if both parts are activated?”
“Every hidden identity, payment and operation connected to Northstar becomes public.”
Daniel understood first.
“Victor built a weapon into the company.”
Jonathan nodded.
“He planned to destroy everyone who helped the Vales. Then he learned Northstar was larger than either family.”
“Where is he?”
Jonathan’s expression changed.
Fear replaced satisfaction.
A voice spoke from behind him.
“I’m closer than you think.”
Jonathan turned.
The video shook.
A man stepped into view.
He was older, thinner and scarred along one side of his face, but Evan recognized him instantly.
Victor Halstead looked into the camera.
May you like
“Hello, son.”
The call ended.
