Chapter 12 - The Last Order Arthur Keane Gave
Victor had planned for arrest.
His organization continued without him.
Arthur had been kidnapped by loyalists.
The leader was Malcolm Reed.
He had escaped custody during transport.
Again, someone inside the system was compromised.
Arthur was taken to the Gilded Oak.
Back where everything started.
Freya entered through the kitchen.
Gabriel entered through the front.
Reed waited at table four.
Arthur sat bound beside him.
“You people are sentimental,” Reed said.
Freya remained near the doorway.
Reed wanted the final encrypted copy.
Freya had it.
But she had also uploaded it automatically to six news organizations.
Reed did not know.
“You kill us,” she said, “the files still publish.”
Reed smiled.
“You’re bluffing.”
Freya shrugged.
“Then shoot me.”
Gabriel looked at her.
Reed hesitated.
That hesitation ended him.
Arthur kicked the table.
Gabriel moved.
Freya pulled Arthur down.
Federal tactical officers entered.
Reed was arrested.
No dramatic escape.
No hidden tunnel.
No second chance.
Just handcuffs.
Arthur sat against the wall.
Freya checked his injuries.
“You okay?”
“I’ve been better.”
Gabriel approached.
Arthur looked at him.
“I suppose I’m fired.”
“You were never technically employed.”
“Thirty years and no benefits?”
Freya laughed.
Even Gabriel smiled.
Then Arthur became serious.
“There’s one thing left.”
He handed Gabriel an envelope.
Inside were ownership documents.
Victor had secretly transferred legitimate businesses into Gabriel’s name years earlier.
Worth millions.
Gabriel could rebuild.
Freya watched his face.
“What are you going to do?”
Gabriel folded the papers.
“I don’t know.”
Arthur nodded toward Freya.
“Maybe ask someone who isn’t terrified of you.”
Gabriel looked at her.
Freya shook her head.
“Don’t drag me into your midlife crisis.”
For a moment, they were simply people standing inside a ruined restaurant.
Then Freya noticed an envelope beneath table four.
Her name was written across it.
FREYA SULLIVAN.
She opened it.
Inside was a letter from her mother.
The first sentence read:
If you are reading this, Victor finally found you.
May you like
Freya turned the page.
And discovered what her mother had hidden from everyone.
