The old Fleming Foundry had been abandoned for thirteen years.<\/p>\n
Walter showed us photographs.<\/p>\n
A massive brick industrial building sat beside railroad tracks east of the river, its windows broken and roof partially collapsed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandfather started there,\u201d Walter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMetal fabrication.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Red Marsh bought it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca sat across from him.<\/p>\n
She looked furious rather than frightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe bought the property eighteen months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorical records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat records?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFleming records.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou bought a condemned factory to dig through filing cabinets?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca ignored him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome early corporate documents were stored there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth asked, \u201cIncluding legacy trust materials?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Thomas know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Claire?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen Thomas chose the location deliberately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is Raymond\u2019s ledger?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
I watched her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're very confident.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Thomas has kidnapped three people for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo adults and a child,\u201d Walter corrected.<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is three people.\u201d<\/p>\n
He lowered his eyes.<\/p>\n
Rebecca sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaymond kept private payment records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLeverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho appears in them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't useful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWalter. Connor. Ethan. My father. My mother. Board members. Attorneys. Contractors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRed Marsh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThomas?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes the ledger dangerous enough for this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked toward her attorney.<\/p>\n
He shook his head.<\/p>\n
She ignored him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause some of Raymond\u2019s earliest payments were connected to Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter stiffened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about Michael?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked directly at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur father believed the accident involving the cyclist was used to force him out of the company.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat happened years before I removed him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it weakened him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told us someone threatened to expose inconsistencies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor believed Michael was driving.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael was driving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter looked toward the floor.<\/p>\n
Rebecca continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaymond knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Raymond was there afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot at the accident. At the cleanup.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word chilled the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat cleanup?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCorporate lawyers. Insurance. Statements. Raymond worked security investigations for Fleming at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u2019s face hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never hired him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u2019s father.<\/p>\n
The previous patriarch.<\/p>\n
Another generation.<\/p>\n
Kenneth asked, \u201cWhat did Raymond document?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know. That\u2019s why we wanted the ledger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Red Marsh\u2019s entire operation began as an attempt to recover evidence about Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd later expanded to Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Connor turned out to be Michael\u2019s son.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter flinched.<\/p>\n
Rebecca continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Connor was our half-brother biologically\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCousin legally,\u201d Walter said automatically.<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you hear yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter stopped.<\/p>\n
She continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Connor was Michael\u2019s biological child, then the old trust dispute changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur father died believing Walter had stripped his branch of the family of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps not legally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen don't say it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if Connor is Michael\u2019s son, Michael had another descendant occupying Walter\u2019s succession line without anyone knowing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that creates overlapping claims.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich Red Marsh planned to exploit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe planned to correct.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou planned a takeover.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are not mutually exclusive.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was tired of their money.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is the ledger?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody answered.<\/p>\n
I looked at Connor, who had been brought under guard into a secure conference room.<\/p>\n
His hospital gown had been replaced with gray sweatpants and a sweatshirt. A bandage covered his forehead.<\/p>\n
He looked terrible.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThomas thinks you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know where Raymond used to keep it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnit 17.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn't there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen Raymond moved it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raymond sat in another police interview room.<\/p>\n
Morales had spent twenty minutes trying to make him disclose the location.<\/p>\n
He refused.<\/p>\n
I stared through the video feed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales asked him the same thing.<\/p>\n
Raymond leaned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if Thomas gets it, people die.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are already in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen make me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raymond stared at the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ledger isn't only paper.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKeys.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPasswords?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccounts. Archives. Recordings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlackmail material.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEvidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour word choice doesn't change what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raymond smiled weakly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI'll tell Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales\u2019s expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the only one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Thomas expects him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly why he isn't going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raymond looked toward the camera.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor, watching from our room, whispered, \u201cHe\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKirsten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah is there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice are handling it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThomas asked for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThomas also shot at you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen he\u2019ll focus on me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have three fractured ribs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can walk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't the qualification required for hostage negotiation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor almost smiled.<\/p>\n
Then his expression collapsed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot sit here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe calls me Da.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sentence hurt.<\/p>\n
Not because it changed the facts.<\/p>\n
Because it explained him.<\/p>\n
Connor had lied about biology.<\/p>\n
But Noah\u2019s attachment to him was real.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to help Noah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen do exactly what police tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is not your natural talent,\u201d I added.<\/p>\n
A weak laugh escaped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales entered.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaymond gave us something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot the ledger location. A retrieval code.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor where?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSafe-deposit service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cBank?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPrivate vault company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLocal?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you access it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWarrant in progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor asked, \u201cWhat code?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales read it.<\/p>\n
Connor\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that number.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter looked at him.<\/p>\n
Not the birthday.<\/p>\n
The significance.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaymond registered it to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The warrant arrived shortly before nine.<\/p>\n
Inside the private vault were no cash and no jewels.<\/p>\n
Only a sealed metal case.<\/p>\n
Police opened it under video.<\/p>\n
Inside sat a handwritten ledger.<\/p>\n
Three encrypted drives.<\/p>\n
Several passports.<\/p>\n
Photographs.<\/p>\n
And a small envelope marked MICHAEL FLEMING.<\/p>\n
Walter stood when he saw it.<\/p>\n
Rebecca stopped breathing.<\/p>\n
The envelope contained a copy of a signed statement dated twenty-one years earlier.<\/p>\n
Michael Fleming admitted he had been driving during the cyclist accident.<\/p>\n
The statement had never been filed.<\/p>\n
Beneath it was another document.<\/p>\n
A payment authorization.<\/p>\n
Walter\u2019s father had paid Raymond Vale seventy-five thousand dollars.<\/p>\n
Purpose: confidential resolution.<\/p>\n
Walter stared at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca whispered, \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor looked at Walter.<\/p>\n
For twenty years, Walter had believed Connor caused the accident.<\/p>\n
His own father had known otherwise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would Grandfather let me take the blame?\u201d Connor asked.<\/p>\n
Walter looked sick.<\/p>\n
Rebecca answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Michael was useful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I wasn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were twenty-one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I was disposable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter stepped toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor turned away.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you believed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI believed Ethan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou believed everyone except me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter stopped.<\/p>\n
No defense existed.<\/p>\n
Morales continued cataloguing the ledger.<\/p>\n
Then he froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
He turned several pages.<\/p>\n
\u201cPayments to Thomas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Red Marsh?\u201d Kenneth asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd others?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales looked toward Rebecca.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn account linked to Claire Fleming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRepeated payments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDescriptions are coded.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDates?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales read them.<\/p>\n
The first was six months earlier.<\/p>\n
The second shortly before Gabriel filed.<\/p>\n
The third two days before Gabriel was assaulted.<\/p>\n
Rebecca stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire paid Thomas separately?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout Red Marsh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face drained.<\/p>\n
I thought of Claire in the video.<\/p>\n
Blood at her mouth.<\/p>\n
Fear in her eyes.<\/p>\n
Maybe Claire had not merely been dragged into Thomas\u2019s plan.<\/p>\n
Maybe she had helped begin it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was she paying him to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales turned another page.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne entry has a note.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
He read it.<\/p>\n
\u201cPressure C.F. until succession fails.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor went still.<\/p>\n
\u201cC.F.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor Fleming,\u201d Walter whispered.<\/p>\n
Probably.<\/p>\n
Rebecca shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Claire wouldn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said information was leverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou built a company to break Walter\u2019s control.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou brought Thomas back into Claire\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you assumed you controlled both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca did not answer.<\/p>\n
That was answer enough.<\/p>\n
Morales\u2019s phone rang.<\/p>\n
He listened.<\/p>\n
Then turned toward me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThomas is calling.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n
The call came through a moment later.<\/p>\n
Video.<\/p>\n
Morales nodded.<\/p>\n
I answered.<\/p>\n
Thomas Vale appeared.<\/p>\n
The resemblance to Raymond was stronger close up.<\/p>\n
Same gray-blue eyes.<\/p>\n
Same narrow jaw.<\/p>\n
But Thomas\u2019s expression was different.<\/p>\n
Raymond watched people.<\/p>\n
Thomas challenged them.<\/p>\n
\u201cKirsten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are Melinda and Noah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSafe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cSafe enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind him I heard machinery moving in the wind.<\/p>\n
Metal knocking against metal.<\/p>\n
The foundry.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe's here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPut him on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales shook his head.<\/p>\n
I ignored Thomas\u2019s demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want from the ledger?\u201d<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you found it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe drives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey belong to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRaymond disagrees.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father stole my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sounded less like evidence and more like grievance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is on the drives?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTruth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why kidnap a child?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Connor only understands losing things.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt anger rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah is not a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell Connor that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am telling you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think you're different from them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a one-year-old has nothing to do with your revenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is the reason Connor gets everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. He isn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe gets Walter. He gets the money. He gets Ethan\u2019s son. He gets to destroy Claire and walk away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're not making Connor pay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're becoming him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words hit.<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n
I continued before Morales could stop me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou say Connor manipulated people into solving his fear. You're doing the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou say he treated Noah like proof. You're treating Noah like leverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou say he destroyed Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas moved closer to the camera.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know nothing about Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen let her speak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut Claire on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she doesn't agree with you anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
His expression changed.<\/p>\n
There.<\/p>\n
I had found something.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire wanted Connor pressured,\u201d I said. \u201cShe paid you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut she didn't want this.\u201d<\/p>\n
No answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe tried to stop you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire doesn't know what she wants.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds familiar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas\u2019s face hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have one hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor and the drives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe foundry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Melinda and Noah walk out first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there is no exchange.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't make the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. But you called me.\u201d<\/p>\n
That stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need me for something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
His expression changed.<\/p>\n
Then he smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need you to bring Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n
The call ended.<\/p>\n
Morales took the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one is bringing Connor anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can track me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWire me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSurround the building.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe won't release Noah for police.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I will not send a civilian fugitive into an armed hostage situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor looked at me.<\/p>\n
Not Morales.<\/p>\n
Me.<\/p>\n
\u201cKirsten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what would you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
I hated the question.<\/p>\n
Because he knew the answer.<\/p>\n
If someone had taken a child I loved and demanded me, I would want to go too.<\/p>\n
Wanting was not the same as wisdom.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would want to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would trust the people trained to keep my panic from making things worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked down.<\/p>\n
That was the difference he had never learned.<\/p>\n
Then Morales\u2019s phone rang.<\/p>\n
His face changed as he listened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
He ended the call.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatrol found a vehicle leaving the foundry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFemale driver.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPossibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA baby car seat in the rear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor stopped breathing.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid they stop it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re trying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another call.<\/p>\n
Morales answered.<\/p>\n
Listened.<\/p>\n
Then looked directly at Connor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have the vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs Noah there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor grabbed the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
His knees nearly gave way.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelinda?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morales paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe driver is Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen Thomas still has Melinda.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Claire got Noah out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time that night, something had gone right.<\/p>\n
Then Morales added:<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire says Thomas has explosives inside the foundry.\u201d<\/p>\n
The old Fleming Foundry had been abandoned for thirteen years. Walter showed us photographs. A massive brick industrial building sat beside railroad tracks east of the river, its windows broken … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30484,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30529"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30612,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30529\/revisions\/30612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}