Chapter 6 - Clara's Second Plan
Nathan caught the door before it locked.
"Move!"
The lights died.
Emergency illumination came on.
Kalin heard the electronic click of security shutters closing throughout the floor.
Someone had trapped them inside.
Julian pulled out his phone.
"No signal."
"Internal suppression," Elaine said.
Kalin looked toward the ceiling.
"Fire system?"
"Independent."
"Trigger it."
Elaine broke the emergency panel.
Alarms screamed.
Nothing opened.
"They isolated that too."
Nathan's team moved toward the stairwell.
Locked.
Arthur looked almost impressed.
"Someone knows this building better than I do."
Kalin thought of Elizabeth Bennett.
Systems architect.
Then Clara.
Her daughter.
"She grew up with her mother's work."
Julian looked at her.
"Clara told me she barely remembered her mother."
"Clara told you whatever made you trust her."
His face tightened.
Kalin didn't enjoy saying it.
Nathan found a maintenance hatch.
"Here."
They moved through a narrow service corridor.
Kalin's chest burned.
She refused help until her knees nearly failed.
Julian caught her elbow.
She immediately pulled away.
"Don't."
He released her.
"I'm sorry."
"Save it."
They reached another floor.
Signal returned.
Nathan's phone exploded with alerts.
Then Julian's rang.
Clara.
Everyone stopped.
Julian looked at Kalin.
"Answer."
He did.
"Clara?"
Her voice sounded frightened.
"Julian, thank God."
Kalin almost admired the performance.
"Where are you?"
"I don't know. They took me."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Kalin gestured for him to keep her talking.
Clara sobbed.
"They said Kalin knows."
Julian looked at Kalin.
"Knows what?"
"The truth about your father."
Kalin leaned closer.
Julian continued.
"What truth?"
"Your father wasn't investigating Lantern."
Arthur's face hardened.
"He created the backdoor."
Julian went still.
Clara continued.
"My mother discovered it. Thomas killed her."
Arthur shook his head violently.
"No."
Julian closed his eyes.
"Where are you?"
"I'll send a location."
The call ended.
A pin arrived.
Abandoned Croft distribution center.
Nathan immediately began coordinating.
Julian looked at Arthur.
"Is it possible?"
"Thomas would never—"
"That's not evidence," Kalin said.
Arthur looked at her.
She continued.
"Clara wants us emotionally committed to a version of events before we arrive."
Nathan nodded.
"Assume manipulation."
Kalin studied the location.
"She wants Julian there."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
Arthur spoke.
"Ownership."
Everyone looked at him.
"If Julian dies without a finalized divorce and without children, his controlling shares transfer according to the family trust."
"To whom?"
Arthur hesitated.
"To me."
Kalin frowned.
"Then why kill Julian?"
Arthur continued.
"If I'm also dead, they transfer to the charitable foundation."
Elaine understood.
"Whose acting director is Malcolm Voss."
There it was.
Money.
Control.
Motive.
Nathan ordered Arthur to remain behind.
The old man objected.
No one cared.
An hour later, Kalin watched the distribution center from inside an unmarked vehicle.
Nathan sat beside her.
"You shouldn't be here."
"You've mentioned that."
"Doctor said no operational activity."
"I'm observing."
"With a weapon."
"Very observant."
Nathan almost smiled.
Julian sat in another vehicle.
For once, he followed instructions.
The team entered first.
No resistance.
Then Nathan received the call.
"One female located."
Clara.
Alive.
Kalin entered after the building was secured.
Clara sat tied to a chair.
Her lip was split.
Her clothes dirty.
She looked terrified.
Julian rushed toward her.
Then stopped himself.
Kalin noticed.
Clara noticed too.
"Julian."
He remained several feet away.
"Who did this?"
"Voss."
Kalin watched her eyes.
No hesitation.
Too fast.
"Where is he?" Kalin asked.
Clara looked at her.
Hatred appeared for half a second.
Then fear returned.
"Gone."
"Why keep you alive?"
"I escaped."
"While tied to a chair?"
Clara's expression shifted.
Nathan crouched.
"Clara, if you were abducted, we'll protect you. But you need to tell us the truth."
"I am."
Kalin walked around the chair.
There were marks on Clara's wrists.
Real.
But the rope knot was wrong.
Designed to look secure.
Easy to escape.
Kalin stopped behind her.
"You tied yourself."
Clara laughed softly.
Then stopped pretending.
"You always were annoying."
Julian stared.
"Clara."
She looked at him.
"You really are stupid."
The words hit him.
"You think I loved you?"
Julian said nothing.
"I needed access."
"To Lantern."
"Among other things."
"Did you change the route?"
Clara smiled.
"I suggested it."
"Did you know there would be a shooter?"
Silence.
Julian's voice broke.
"Did you know?"
Clara looked at Kalin.
"I knew there was risk."
Kalin remained calm.
"You took my armor."
"You gave it to me."
"After convincing Julian you needed it."
Clara shrugged.
"He wanted to impress me."
Julian looked physically ill.
Kalin continued.
"The trauma kit?"
Clara smiled.
"Insurance."
Nathan's expression hardened.
"And the dressing?"
Clara looked at him.
"You already have the recording."
"Say it."
"No."
Kalin stepped closer.
"Who is Malcolm Voss working for?"
For the first time, Clara's confidence changed.
"Working for?"
"Yes."
Clara laughed.
"You still don't understand."
"Then explain."
"Voss isn't running anything."
Kalin studied her.
"Who is?"
Clara's smile disappeared.
A sound came from somewhere in the building.
A phone ringing.
Not theirs.
Nathan's team searched.
One operator found a phone taped beneath a table.
The screen displayed an incoming video call.
UNKNOWN.
Kalin looked at Clara.
She had gone pale.
"Don't answer that."
Nathan looked at her.
"Why?"
Clara struggled against the rope.
"Because if he's calling, he knows you found me."
Kalin stepped toward the phone.
"Who?"
Clara finally looked afraid.
"Peter Shaw."
Nathan answered.
The screen went black.
Then an image appeared.
Arthur Croft sat in his own study.
A figure stood behind him.
Kalin couldn't see the face.
Arthur looked into the camera.
"Kalin."
She moved closer.
"I'm here."
Arthur swallowed.
"The person behind me is the one who ordered your route changed."
The figure stepped forward.
May you like
And Julian whispered:
"Dad?"
