Chapter 8
Dawn at the old mill.
Gray light filtered through broken windows.
I stood near the center, waiting.
Jake arrived minutes later. Carrying a briefcase.
He looked nervous. Kept glancing over his shoulder.
"I have everything," he said, handing me the case. "Bank records. Wire transfers. Names. Dates."
Suddenly, doors slammed shut behind us.
Lights blazed to life.
Three men stepped out of the shadows.
Arthur Vance's brothers. Richard and Marcus. And a third man I didn't know.
Richard smiled coldly.
"Thank you, Jake," he said. "You've been very helpful."
Jake stepped back, terrified.
"You... you set me up?"
"We needed to see who you were working with," Marcus said. "And now we know."
They turned to me.
"Give us the case," Richard said. "And we might let you walk away."
"No," I said.
The third man pulled a gun.
My heart hammered. But I didn't move.
"You won't shoot me," I said. "Not here. Too many questions."
Richard laughed.
"You think we're afraid of questions? We're about to take over everything. Arthur will be in prison by noon. And you... you'll disappear."
He signaled the gunman.
I moved.
Fast.
I kicked the gun upward as it fired. The shot went into the ceiling.
I drove my elbow into his chest. Spun away from Richard. Swept Marcus's legs.
It was three against one. And they were ready.
I took a blow to the ribs. Staggered. Recovered. Landed a solid kick to Richard's knee. Heard him cry out.
Marcus grabbed me from behind.
I drove my head backward into his face. Heard his nose crack. Broke free.
The gunman was raising his weapon again.
A voice boomed from the entrance.
"SHERIFF! WE'VE GOT THEM SURROUNDED!"
The brothers froze.
Arthur Vance walked in. Followed by Sheriff Miller and half the county's deputies.
Richard dropped his head. Defeated.
Marcus stared at me. Realization dawning.
"You called him," he said. "Before I even left the house."
May you like
I nodded.
"I never go anywhere without backup."
