Chapter 8 - The Mother They StoleEvan destroyed a chair.
Claire watched him lift it and throw it across the safe apartment after confirming Nora had been taken.
The wood broke against the wall.
Nobody spoke.
Evan turned toward his security chief.
“Six men.”
“Yes.”
“She had six men.”
“Yes.”
“And Caleb took her.”
The chief swallowed.
“We believe two were compromised.”
“Believe?”
“Three guards are dead. One is missing. Two were found unconscious.”
Evan stepped toward him.
Claire moved between them.
“Stop.”
Everyone froze.
Evan looked at her as if he had forgotten she was there.
“Move.”
“No.”
“This is not your business.”
“Nora is my business.”
He stared.
“You need information, not another injured employee.”
“I need Caleb dead.”
“Later.”
The room went silent.
Claire’s voice softened.
“Find Nora first.”
His breathing slowed.
She saw him return.
Not completely.
Enough.
“Fine.”
Evan turned to the chief.
“Pull traffic cameras.”
The man left.
Evan looked at Claire.
“You’re not going tomorrow.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No.”
“The message specifically demands me.”
“That makes it more obvious.”
“If I don’t go, what happens to Nora?”
His jaw tightened.
“I’ll get her.”
“How?”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“You don’t have time.”
“Claire.”
She stepped closer.
“She would go for me.”
That stopped him.
Nora would.
They both knew it.
“She shouldn’t,” Evan said.
“Neither should I.”
“Then don’t.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“I love her.”
The words surprised Claire as much as Evan.
She had never said them.
Not aloud.
“She’s stubborn and manipulative and cheats at cards. She pretends she doesn’t need help until she nearly collapses. She buys me things and lies about why. She has spent eleven months making sure I eat dinner.”
Claire swallowed.
“She’s family.”
Evan looked at her for a long time.
Then he said quietly, “To me too.”
Claire almost smiled through tears.
“I assumed.”
He stepped close.
“You could die tomorrow.”
“So could she.”
“That doesn’t make this reasonable.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Claire looked directly into his eyes.
“Because sometimes love is unreasonable.”
Evan’s expression broke slightly.
For a second, he looked like a man instead of a boss.
He touched her face.
Very gently.
Claire did not move away.
His forehead almost touched hers.
Then he stopped himself.
“We bring her home,” he whispered.
Claire nodded.
“Then you can fire me.”
“I’m not firing you.”
“You threatened to this morning.”
“I changed my mind.”
“That must be difficult.”
“You have no idea.”
By morning, they had a plan.
Or several versions of one.
Caleb wanted the case.
Crowe wanted the case too.
Evan decided to exploit that conflict.
He sent Crowe a copy of one photograph.
Then a message.
CALEB HAS NORA.
HELP ME TAKE HIM OR THE REST GO FEDERAL.
Crowe responded ten minutes later.
YOU’RE FINALLY THINKING LIKE YOUR FATHER.
Evan stared at that message.
Claire noticed.
“Does that bother you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He almost smiled.
At noon, Claire received a call from Owen’s new secure location.
“I should be there.”
“No.”
“I caused this.”
“You did not kidnap Nora.”
“My debt started everything.”
“Crowe was hunting her before you disappeared.”
Owen was silent.
“Claire?”
“Yes?”
“If something happens—”
“Don’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I mean for all of it.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Get better. That’s your apology.”
“I’ll try.”
“No. Do it.”
A shaky laugh.
“You sound like her.”
“Who?”
“Mrs. Mercer.”
Claire smiled.
“That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said.”
At one-thirty, they left.
The old river construction zone occupied several half-finished blocks near an abandoned industrial corridor.
Concrete columns rose from mud.
Cranes stood motionless beneath storm clouds.
Rain began at 1:48.
Claire sat beside Evan inside the armored SUV.
She wore a protective vest beneath her coat.
“You understand the plan?” he asked.
“You have explained it nine times.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“Caleb believes we’re bringing the original case. We’re bringing a duplicate.”
“And?”
“Crowe’s men enter from the western access road after Caleb reveals Nora.”
“And?”
“I stay inside the armored vehicle.”
He looked at her.
“That sounded painful.”
“I hate this part.”
“You stay inside.”
“Unless Nora needs medical help.”
“No.”
“That was not negotiable.”
He closed his eyes.
“Why do I even bother?”
“Tradition.”
He looked at her.
Rain drummed against the roof.
“If something goes wrong—”
“It will.”
“Claire.”
“Okay.”
“If something goes wrong, you take my mother and leave.”
“What about you?”
“You leave.”
“No.”
His eyes hardened.
“This is one order you follow.”
She stared at him.
“You really believe people abandon someone because you tell them to?”
“Yes.”
“That explains a lot about your relationships.”
He almost laughed.
Then he became serious.
“You don’t owe me anything.”
Claire looked out at the rain.
“Twelve days ago, you called me a nobody.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
“You threw my file on the floor.”
“I know.”
“You embarrassed me in front of an entire room.”
“I know.”
She turned back.
“You were wrong.”
“I know.”
Something about the simple admission surprised her.
Evan continued.
“I was wrong before I knew anything about you.”
Claire’s anger softened.
“I don’t need an apology today.”
“I’m giving one anyway.”
He looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire nodded once.
“Accepted.”
The convoy stopped.
Caleb’s men waited among concrete barriers.
Nora sat inside another SUV thirty yards away.
Claire saw her.
Alive.
“Nora.”
Evan reached for the door.
“Stay.”
He stepped into the rain.
Claire watched through the glass.
Caleb emerged.
His shoulder was bandaged from Evan’s bullet.
“You brought it?”
Evan held the case.
“My mother first.”
Caleb smiled.
“You’ve become sentimental.”
“You raised me badly.”
Caleb’s smile disappeared.
“Thomas ruined you before I could finish.”
Evan’s jaw tightened.
“Let her go.”
Caleb signaled.
Nora’s SUV door opened.
She stepped out slowly, wrists tied.
Claire’s heart pounded.
Nora looked exhausted.
But alive.
Evan took one step forward.
Then gunfire erupted from the western road.
Crowe.
Caleb shouted.
Men scattered.
Evan’s guards fired.
Claire ducked inside the SUV.
The driver started the engine.
“We need to move!”
“Nora!”
“Boss said stay!”
Claire saw Nora fall beside the open SUV door.
Not shot.
Her knees gave out.
“Nora!”
Claire opened the door.
The driver grabbed her.
“No!”
Claire slammed her elbow backward.
He released her.
She ran into the rain.
Bullets struck concrete.
Nora was crawling.
Claire reached her.
“I have you.”
“Claire!”
Nora was gasping.
Her lips were turning blue.
“Where’s your oxygen?”
“Vehicle.”
Claire dragged her behind the armored SUV.
Gunfire continued.
Evan saw them from across the site.
“CLAIRE!”
A man appeared behind a concrete column.
Claire recognized him from the lake house security staff.
One of the missing guards.
He raised a rifle.
Not toward Evan.
Toward Nora.
Claire saw the muzzle.
Time slowed.
She could have moved.
She could have hidden.
Instead she wrapped both arms around Nora.
The first bullet struck beneath her left shoulder.
The second spun her halfway around.
The third hit her side.
The fourth entered near her back.
The fifth struck lower.
May you like
Claire fell across Nora.
Somewhere in the rain, Evan Mercer screamed her name.
