Chapter 13
I stood perfectly still.
Eyes on my mother.
She was alive.
That was all that mattered.
Hayes stepped forward.
“You came alone. I’m impressed. Most people would have brought the police. Tried to be clever.”
“I’m not most people,” I said.
Hayes smiled.
“So I see. Arthur chose well when he selected you as his final target. You have spirit. It will make breaking you that much more satisfying.”
He gestured to the men with guns.
“Tie her up.”
They moved toward me.
I didn’t resist.
Let them tie my hands behind my back.
Let them push me to my knees.
In front of my mother.
She looked at me.
Tears streaming down her face.
Mouthing “I’m sorry.”
I shook my head slightly.
Told her without words that everything would be okay.
Hayes walked in front of me.
Leaned down.
Whispered in my ear.
“Arthur was right about you. You are strong. But everyone breaks. Eventually. And I have all the time in the world.”
He stood up.
Faced me.
“Here’s how this works. I’m going to hurt you. Slowly. Very slowly. And your mother is going to watch. And when she can’t take it anymore… she’ll beg me to stop. And I will. But only if she agrees to take your place. And then you’ll watch. And then… we’ll see how long you last.”
He smiled.
“Arthur always said the best revenge is making people choose. Who lives. Who dies. Who suffers. And now… you get to choose, Valerie. Who suffers first. You? Or your mother?”
I looked at my mother.
Then at Hayes.
And I smiled.
Hayes frowned.
“What’s so amusing?”
“You made a mistake,” I said.
“Did I?”
“You assumed I came alone.”
Hayes laughed.
“The police are outside, aren’t they? I knew you couldn’t be trusted. No matter. If they come in… your mother dies before they take three steps. And then you die. And then my men escape. And the game continues. I told you. I don’t lose.”
“You’re right about one thing,” I said. “The police are outside. But they’re not the only ones waiting for you.”
Hayes’s smile faded.
“What are you talking about?”
I nodded toward the ceiling.
“Nick. Now.”
Hayes looked up.
Just as Nick dropped from the rafters.
Onto one of the gunmen.
The man went down.
His gun skittered across the floor.
Thomas burst from behind a stack of crates.
Where he’d been hiding since we’d arrived.
He grabbed the gun.
Pointed it at the second gunman.
“Get away from her!”
The second gunman froze.
Hayes stared.
Stunned.
“Boys,” he whispered. “You brought boys.”
“Family,” I corrected. “I brought family.”
Rebecca burst through a side door.
Agent Torres and the FBI followed.
“FBI! EVERYONE DOWN!”
Hayes recovered quickly.
Grabbed my mother.
Pulled a knife from his pocket.
Held it to her throat.
“Nobody move!” he screamed. “Or she dies!”
Everyone froze.
Hayes backed away.
Dragging my mother with him.
Toward the back door.
“Let her go, Hayes,” Agent Torres said calmly. “It’s over. There’s nowhere to run.”
Hayes laughed.
A wild, desperate sound.
“I always have a way out. Arthur taught me that. Always have an exit. Always have insurance.”
He looked at me.
“Arthur said you were clever. But he also said you were sentimental. And sentiment is weakness. And weakness… is fatal.”
He raised the knife.
Higher.
Ready to strike.
“NO!” I screamed.
And then…
A shot rang out.
Hayes froze.
The knife slipped from his hand.
Clattered to the floor.
He looked down.
At the blood spreading across his chest.
Then he looked up.
At the rafters.
And collapsed.
Dead.
Everyone stared.
Shocked.
Silent.
May you like
Then a figure dropped from the rafters.
Land
