Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO BE LEFT BEHIND
Arthur stared at Norah.
She stared back.
Her hand shook from the impact.
“Don’t you ever decide for me like that again.”
Every guard in the corridor pretended not to see.
Arthur slowly touched his cheek.
“That was unnecessary.”
“It was extremely necessary.”
“Norah—”
“My sister was taken because of your family.”
“I know.”
“My mother died because of your family.”
“I know.”
“And now you think you get to tell me to sit quietly while you fix it?”
Arthur opened his mouth.
Closed it.
No one had ever looked at him like that and remained employed.
Or alive.
“I am coming.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“So is working for you.”
Fair.
The plan changed.
Arthur would appear alone.
Norah would be nearby with Vincent’s team.
She hated the compromise.
He hated it more.
Pier 9 belonged to an old Cole Shipping facility closed years earlier.
Arthur entered carrying Elise’s flash drive.
Richard waited inside.
Alive.
Healthy.
Standing.
No wheelchair.
No stroke.
Nothing.
Arthur had expected anger.
Instead, he felt something colder.
Disgust.
“You look disappointed,” Richard said.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Richard smiled.
“There’s my nephew.”
“Where is Maya?”
“Safe.”
“Show me.”
A video monitor turned on.
Maya sat tied to a chair in another room.
Awake.
Terrified.
Norah saw the feed from the surveillance van and nearly moved.
Vincent stopped her.
“Wait.”
Inside, Richard held out his hand.
“The drive.”
Arthur did not move.
“Why Elise?”
“She was nosy.”
“Why Catherine?”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“Also nosy.”
Arthur’s hands curled.
“Vale killed her for you.”
“Yes.”
The confession was so casual Arthur nearly lost control.
“Why?”
“Catherine found accounts linking Orfeo Biochemical to the dumping contracts.”
Norah heard every word.
Orfeo Biochemical.
A company not on Elise’s drive.
Something new.
Arthur asked, “What was Orfeo?”
Richard smiled.
“Your father’s real mistake.”
Then he told him.
Orfeo had been a pharmaceutical research operation funded through illegal Cole profits.
Experimental compounds.
Unapproved trials.
Toxic disposal.
Vale had covered medical consequences.
Elise found the waste.
Catherine found the money.
Both became liabilities.
Arthur felt sick.
“My father knew?”
“Eventually.”
“And?”
“He wanted out.”
“So you killed him too.”
Richard smiled.
“Heart attacks are easy when the family doctor owes you everything.”
Arthur’s father had not died naturally either.
Three deaths.
One doctor.
One man behind them.
Norah’s breath shook in the van.
Then Richard said something she wasn’t prepared for.
“And little Maya?”
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
“What about her?”
Richard smiled.
“She wasn’t collateral damage.”
Norah stopped breathing.
“She was part of the trial.”
Arthur’s expression emptied.
Richard continued.
“Children absorb toxins differently. Elise’s neighborhood gave us excellent data.”
In the surveillance van, Norah made a sound Vincent would never forget.
Not a scream.
Something lower.
Broken.
Arthur took one step toward Richard.
“Where is she?”
Richard raised a gun.
“Give me the drive.”
Then a voice came through Arthur’s hidden earpiece.
Norah.
“Don’t.”
He froze.
Her next words were calm.
May you like
“Make him keep talking.”
And Arthur realized the woman who once begged him not to fire her was now the only person in the building thinking clearly.
