Chapter 15 - Daniel Cross
Claire ran.
"Daniel!"
The elevator doors started closing.
She shoved her hand between them.
They reopened.
Daniel Cross stood alone inside.
He was in his early forties, broad-shouldered, clean-shaven now, and terrifyingly calm.
"Mrs. Bennett," he said.
"You tried to cut the rope while I was climbing out of a burning building."
"I knew you could jump."
"How thoughtful."
Ethan appeared behind her.
The brothers looked at each other for the first time knowing what they were.
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"So Vanessa told you."
Ethan stepped into the elevator.
"Get out."
Daniel glanced at Claire.
"He always gives orders when he's scared. Richard did too."
Ethan grabbed his coat.
Daniel didn't resist.
"You want to hit me? Do it. But you'll still need me."
"For what?"
"To prove Mercer didn't act alone."
Claire froze.
"Mercer's dead."
"No body was recovered."
"The station flooded."
"Grant grew up fishing that river. There are maintenance exits nobody uses anymore."
Ethan let go of him.
"What do you want?"
"Immunity."
Claire laughed.
"After arson? Kidnapping? Attempted murder?"
"I didn't set the fire. Mercer did. I was there for the lockbox."
"You cut my ladder."
"And I'm not proud of it."
"That's going to look beautiful on a greeting card."
Daniel finally lost some of his calm.
"You think I wanted this life? Richard visited twice a year, gave me cash, and told me never to use his name. Then Ethan was born and suddenly there were magazine photos, school ceremonies, family foundations. He got a father. I got envelopes."
Ethan's face hardened.
"So you decided to punish my daughter?"
Daniel looked at him.
"I never touched Emma."
"You wanted her inheritance."
"I wanted the trust opened. There's a difference."
Claire stepped closer.
"Then help us."
Daniel looked at her.
"Get me a lawyer and protection. I'll give you Mercer's storage unit, account books, and the original Merritt lab records."
Ethan said, "Where?"
Daniel smiled faintly.
"See? Now you need me."
A gunshot cracked from the parking garage.
The elevator glass shattered.
Daniel jerked backward.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Claire dropped.
Ethan pulled Daniel to the floor.
Another shot struck the metal frame.
Daniel grabbed Ethan's sleeve.
"Locker... 317... Union Station..."
His eyes rolled shut.
May you like
Across the garage, a black Lincoln sped toward the exit.
