CHAPTER 11 – THE EMPTY TOWER
CHAPTER 11 – THE EMPTY TOWER
Thorne Tower had been abandoned for twelve years.
The forty-story building stood near the river, dark and unfinished after a corruption investigation halted construction.
Victor Rossi had once managed the project.
Marcus understood the location immediately.
The tower contained tunnels leading to the old financial district.
Victor knew every exit.
Adrian refused to let Marcus go alone.
“They demanded the second drive.”
“They will kill her whether I bring it or not.”
“Then we give them a reason to keep her alive.”
Marcus placed the flash drive inside his jacket.
“It contains evidence they need destroyed.”
“The archive has already transmitted.”
“Victor may believe this copy includes something else.”
Adrian handed Marcus a watch.
“Camera, microphone and tracker.”
“They will search me.”
“The transmitter is inside the clasp.”
Detective Morales assembled teams around the tower.
No police vehicles approached within six blocks.
Marcus entered through the main lobby alone.
Broken glass covered the floor.
Wind moved through unfinished walls.
A portable light flashed on the twentieth floor.
Marcus climbed the stairs.
At the top, he found Khloe seated in a chair near the open edge of the building.
Her wrists were tied.
Isabella stood behind her.
Victor waited near a laptop.
Three armed men guarded the floor.
Marcus stopped.
“Let her go.”
Victor held out his hand.
“The drive.”
“Release Khloe first.”
Isabella pressed a gun against the back of Khloe’s chair.
“You are not negotiating.”
Khloe looked at Marcus.
“Don’t give it to them.”
Isabella struck the chair.
“Be quiet.”
Marcus removed the drive.
Victor approached.
“Place it on the floor.”
Marcus did.
Victor picked it up and inserted it into the laptop.
A password screen appeared.
“What is the password?”
“I don’t know.”
Victor aimed at Khloe.
“Then guess.”
Marcus looked toward the open side of the tower.
Rain swept across the concrete.
Somewhere below, Adrian’s team was moving into position.
Victor typed several combinations.
None worked.
Isabella watched Marcus.
“You destroyed everything.”
“You attacked my wife.”
“She took what should have been mine.”
“Nothing was ever yours.”
Isabella’s expression twisted.
“You loved me before she appeared.”
“No.”
“You did.”
“I tolerated you because our families were close.”
“You came to my apartment.”
“To discuss your father’s company.”
“You held my hand.”
“When you pretended your mother was dying.”
Khloe looked at Isabella.
Even now, the truth wounded her less than Marcus’s previous silence.
Isabella pointed the gun at him.
“You made me believe.”
“I never promised you anything.”
“You let me hope.”
“That was my mistake.”
She smiled bitterly.
“Then watch what hope becomes.”
She pulled Khloe’s chair backward toward the open edge.
Marcus moved forward.
The armed men raised their weapons.
“Stop!” Victor shouted.
He stared at the laptop.
The password screen had vanished.
A video began playing automatically.
William Thorne appeared.
“This copy is intended for Victor Rossi.”
Victor froze.
William’s recorded face looked older and exhausted.
“You believed I never discovered your final account. You were wrong.”
Numbers appeared on the screen.
An offshore fund worth more than two billion dollars.
Victor stepped closer.
William continued.
“The account was never yours. It was a controlled trap created with federal investigators.”
Victor’s face collapsed.
“All money transferred into it was marked and tracked.”
Adrian’s voice came through loudspeakers hidden in the tower.
“Victor Rossi, the building is surrounded.”
Victor grabbed the laptop.
Marcus tackled the nearest guard.
Gunfire erupted.
Khloe threw herself sideways as Isabella lost control of the chair.
The chair slid toward the edge.
Marcus reached for her.
His fingers caught the back of her coat seconds before she fell.
Khloe cried out.
Her chair hung partly over open air.
Marcus pulled with both hands.
Isabella aimed at him.
Before she could fire, Detective Morales shot the weapon from her hand.
Adrian’s officers flooded the floor.
Victor ran toward a service staircase.
Khloe’s restraints tore.
Marcus dragged her back onto the concrete.
She collapsed against him.
Then she gasped.
Warm fluid spread beneath her.
Marcus looked down.
May you like
Khloe’s eyes widened.
“The baby is coming.”
