Chapter 9 - Ada’s Real Protection
Nadine did not come alone.
She also did not bring Carver.
She made her own plan.
That distinction mattered.
The address led to an abandoned private airfield.
Nadine wore a wire.
Federal agents Elena trusted waited miles away.
Carver hated the plan.
He respected it anyway.
Before Nadine left, he said, “Bring her home.”
Not Be careful.
Not Do what I say.
Bring her home.
Nadine drove onto the runway.
Elias waited inside a hangar.
Ada lay in a portable crib beside him.
Alive.
Unhurt.
Nadine nearly collapsed from relief.
“You want the account,” she said.
“I want access.”
“You release Ada first.”
Elias smiled.
“You have no leverage.”
Nadine held up a drive.
“Yes, I do.”
His expression changed.
“The master ledger.”
“A copy.”
“Give it to me.”
“Bring Ada.”
Elias moved the crib closer.
Nadine’s entire body screamed to run forward.
She did not.
“Closer.”
He obeyed.
Then she saw blood on his sleeve.
He was weakening.
“You killed my father.”
“Yes.”
The confession came easily.
“You killed Carver’s father.”
A pause.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because men with principles are expensive.”
Nadine kept him talking.
Every word transmitted.
“My mother?”
“I tried.”
“And me?”
“You were useful.”
Ada began crying.
Elias glanced down.
Nadine moved.
She kicked the gun from his weakened hand and threw herself over the crib.
A shot fired.
Not Elias’s.
Carver appeared at the hangar entrance.
Behind him came federal agents.
Elias was arrested alive.
Nadine lifted Ada.
Her daughter stopped crying against her chest.
Carver approached slowly.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“May I?”
Nadine knew what he meant.
Ada.
She nodded.
Carver touched one finger to the baby’s tiny hand.
Ada grabbed it.
Something in his face broke open.
Nadine saw the man beneath the reputation.
Later, investigators secured the ledger.
Dominic surrendered documents through his attorney.
Amber agreed to testify.
Elena entered witness protection negotiations.
For the first time, Nadine could imagine an end.
Then a federal investigator approached.
“There’s a problem.”
He showed her the master account.
Sixty-three million dollars.
Every transfer was authenticated.
Every document identified Nadine as beneficiary.
“That money makes you look involved.”
“I was twelve when the account opened.”
“We know.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The recent transactions.”
Nadine stared.
Someone had moved nine million dollars three days ago.
After Ada’s birth.
Using Nadine’s biometric authorization.
“That’s impossible.”
The investigator turned the tablet.
A security image showed the person who had authorized the transfer.
Nadine looked at the face.
May you like
Then at Carver.
Because the man in the photograph was wearing Carver’s ring.
