Chapter 13 - The Meeting)
Laura went.
But not alone.
She told Daniel.
She told federal agents.
And she hid a tracker inside her shoe.
The meeting location arrived at 6:20 p.m.
Union Station.
Locker 317.
Inside was a train ticket to Milwaukee.
Laura boarded.
At Milwaukee another message directed her to a hotel.
Room 604.
She knocked.
Thomas Hayes opened the door.
For seventeen years Daniel had mourned him.
For fourteen years Laura had unknowingly lived inside a plan he created.
Now he stood before her.
“Laura.”
She slapped him.
Thomas accepted it.
“That was deserved.”
“Not even close.”
He stepped aside.
Laura entered.
“You manipulated my marriage.”
“I arranged a coincidence.”
“You watched me for years.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“You let Daniel believe you were dead.”
“Yes.”
“Give me one reason I shouldn’t call the agents waiting three blocks away.”
Thomas smiled faintly.
“They’re already downstairs.”
Laura's heart jumped.
“How?”
“Because I know how federal surveillance works.”
“Then why meet me?”
“Because you are the only person in this family Arthur cannot predict.”
“You chose me.”
“That was my mistake.”
Laura stared.
Thomas explained.
Years ago, he believed Laura's family connection to Evelyn Price would make her resistant to Arthur’s influence.
He had wanted Daniel surrounded by someone Arthur had not chosen.
But Arthur learned about Laura.
And adapted.
“Did Arthur arrange my relationship with Daniel?”
“No.”
“Did you?”
“I created the coffee shop meeting.”
Laura felt sick.
“Everything after that?”
“Yours.”
“You expect me to believe you?”
“No.”
Thomas handed her a small notebook.
Inside were dates.
Photographs.
Financial transfers.
Names.
Then Laura saw Margaret's.
Beside it was one word.
WITNESS.
Not accomplice.
Laura looked up.
“You think Margaret is innocent?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I think she has been terrified for forty years.”
“Fear doesn't excuse what she did.”
“No.”
Thomas sat.
“But Arthur wants Daniel to hate her. Hatred isolates people.”
“Why does Arthur want Daniel?”
“Because Daniel can open the Trust.”
“He doesn't want the money.”
“The money is irrelevant.”
Thomas leaned forward.
“The Trust is a dead man's switch.”
Laura frowned.
“If Daniel formally accepts control, sealed evidence is distributed to authorities and journalists.”
“Then why hasn't Arthur killed him?”
“Because Daniel's death transfers control.”
“To who?”
Thomas looked at Laura.
“Emily.”
Laura stopped breathing.
Her daughter.
“That’s why they took her.”
“Yes.”
Laura stood.
“I’m ending this.”
“You can’t.”
“Watch me.”
Thomas grabbed her wrist.
Laura pulled away.
“Never touch me.”
Thomas released her.
“Arthur has people inside the investigation.”
“We already discovered Brooks.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Brooks was disposable.”
“Who else?”
“I don't know.”
A gunshot exploded outside.
Thomas shoved Laura to the floor.
Glass shattered.
Another shot.
Thomas drew a pistol.
“Bathroom!”
Laura crawled behind the wall.
Thomas fired toward the broken window.
Then everything became silent.
Laura heard his breathing.
“Thomas?”
No answer.
She looked around the doorway.
He was gone.
The hotel door stood open.
On the carpet lay blood.
And the notebook had disappeared.
Federal agents stormed the room seconds later.
Laura was taken downstairs.
No Thomas.
No shooter.
No notebook.
Only blood.
Then Daniel called.
His voice was frantic.
“Laura, get home.”
“What happened?”
“Emily found something.”
“What?”
“Inside Grandma’s handbag.”
Laura's stomach tightened.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“A second house key.”
“To what?”
“We don't know.”
Then Emily spoke in the background.
“Yes, we do.”
Laura heard paper unfolding.
May you like
Emily continued.
“Grandma has a map.”
