Chapter 6 - The Woman Behind the Badge
The first shot struck the wall.
Lorenzo tackled Meline behind the sofa.
Antonio moved faster than his age suggested, knocking Grant's arm sideways.
Samuel grabbed the weapon.
Caroline screamed.
Marco restrained Grant.
Within seconds, it was over.
But the betrayal changed everything.
Grant wasn't merely corrupt.
She had worked for Victor for eleven years.
Federal credentials had allowed Victor to stay ahead of every investigation.
Meline stared at her.
"You knew about my mother."
Grant smiled.
"I knew about everyone."
Lorenzo stepped between them.
"Don't."
Meline touched his arm.
"I can handle her."
Grant laughed.
"That's what Gabriel used to say."
Meline's blood chilled.
"You knew him?"
"I watched him die."
Lorenzo moved.
Meline stopped him.
"No."
Grant enjoyed his anger.
That was obvious.
So Meline refused to give her more.
"What does Victor want now?"
"The files."
"He can't erase them."
"He doesn't need to."
"Why?"
"Because the people named in them will protect themselves."
Antonio shook his head.
"Not once they're public."
Grant's smile vanished.
That was the answer.
Meline looked at Lorenzo.
"Publish everything."
Antonio hesitated.
"So innocent people get dragged into it too?"
"We verify it first."
Samuel nodded.
"Gabriel separated confirmed evidence from suspicions."
They spent the next several hours working.
The confirmed files revealed enough crimes to trigger dozens of investigations.
Victor's network was collapsing.
But Beth remained captive.
And Nora was still somewhere with Victor.
Meline refused to abandon them.
Lorenzo refused to let Meline go.
So they compromised.
Badly.
Meline would contact Nora.
Lorenzo would follow.
She called.
Nora answered crying.
"I'm sorry."
"Where are you?"
"Old Bellamy Theater."
"Beth?"
"Alive."
"Victor?"
"Here."
"Why did you help him?"
Silence.
"He has my brother."
Meline closed her eyes.
Of course.
Victor didn't create loyalty.
He created cages.
"Nora, listen to me. We're getting all of you out."
"You can't."
"Watch me."
Lorenzo smiled faintly.
"That's attractive."
Meline covered the phone.
"Not now."
"Noted."
The theater had been closed for nine years.
Meline entered through the lobby alone.
Or appeared to.
Lorenzo and Marco used a side entrance.
Antonio coordinated with honest federal officers.
Samuel stayed with Caroline and the evidence.
Meline walked onto the stage.
Victor waited beneath a single work light.
Beth sat tied nearby.
Nora stood beside her.
"Where are the files?" Victor asked.
"Everywhere."
His expression changed.
Meline held up her phone.
"They've already been sent to six journalists, three federal offices, and attorneys in two states."
A lie.
Mostly.
Victor stared.
"You stupid girl."
"My father tried hiding the truth. My mother tried protecting it. Lorenzo's father tried surviving long enough to expose it."
She stepped closer.
"I'm trying something different."
"What?"
"Making sure you can't kill it."
Victor raised his gun.
Lorenzo emerged from the darkness.
"Put it down."
Victor laughed.
"The fiancé."
Meline sighed.
"He's not technically—"
"Meline."
"Fine. Bad timing."
Victor pointed the gun at her.
Lorenzo froze.
"Let Beth go," Meline said.
"No."
"Nora too."
Victor laughed.
"Nora belongs to me."
Nora's expression changed.
Meline saw it.
So did Beth.
Nora suddenly drove her elbow backward into Victor.
The gun fired.
Lorenzo moved.
Marco rushed Beth.
Meline dropped.
Victor fled backstage.
Lorenzo chased him.
"Meline, stay!"
She stood.
"No chance."
She followed.
Backstage corridors twisted through darkness.
A door slammed.
Meline heard footsteps above.
Catwalk.
She climbed.
Lorenzo was ahead.
Victor reached the roof.
By the time Meline emerged, Victor stood at the edge.
Lorenzo faced him.
Sirens approached.
"It's over," Lorenzo said.
Victor smiled.
"You still believe this is about me."
"You're finished."
"Maybe."
Victor looked at Meline.
"But ask her mother who gave Gabriel's location to me eighteen years ago."
Meline stopped.
Victor smiled wider.
"It wasn't Antonio."
Caroline appeared through the rooftop doorway behind them.
She had followed the police.
Her face was white.
Meline looked at her.
"Mom?"
Caroline couldn't answer.
Victor laughed.
"Tell her."
Meline stared at her mother.
"Tell me what?"
Caroline began crying.
"I made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"I thought I was saving you."
Meline's stomach dropped.
Victor stepped backward toward the edge.
"Your mother didn't just know where Gabriel was the night he died."
He smiled.
May you like
"She's the one who told me."
And before Meline could ask why, Victor stepped off the roof.
