Chapter 18 - The Mercer WarDaniel drove toward the airport.
Chloe sat beside him.
Vanessa followed in another vehicle.
The first ledger was secured inside a metal case.
Daniel stared ahead.
“My father controls everything.”
Chloe nodded.
“But he needs something.”
“The ledger.”
“No.”
She touched Daniel's hand.
“He needs you.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
“Because you're the only person who knows how to destroy it.”
Daniel understood.
The ledger wasn't merely evidence.
It was a system.
Names.
Accounts.
Codes.
Access.
And Daniel had created the architecture.
They reached the private airport.
A plane waited.
Ruiz stood beside it.
“I've arranged a secure route.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Where?”
“Geneva.”
Chloe frowned.
“Why Geneva?”
“That's where the organization stores its financial records.”
Daniel nodded.
“Then that's where we go.”
The plane took off.
Two hours into the flight, the lights flickered.
The pilot's voice came over the intercom.
“We have a problem.”
Daniel stood.
“What kind?”
“Someone has overridden the navigation system.”
The plane turned.
Not toward Geneva.
Toward the Atlantic.
Daniel looked at Chloe.
She whispered:
“They found us.”
The cabin door opened.
Three armed men entered.
Vanessa drew her weapon.
Gunfire erupted.
Daniel tackled one attacker.
Chloe disarmed another.
Ruiz shot the third.
The plane shook violently.
The pilot screamed:
“Brace!”
Daniel grabbed Chloe.
The aircraft descended.
Then suddenly—
stabilized.
The pilot's voice returned.
“Control restored.”
Daniel looked toward the cockpit.
The pilot was dead.
Nobody was flying.
Daniel's face went pale.
“Who is flying?”
A voice answered from the speakers.
His father's.
“Me.”
Charles laughed.
“You always were impatient.”
Daniel stared at the controls.
“Dad.”
“Hello, son.”
“You killed Mom.”
“No.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
Daniel's voice became cold.
“And now?”
Charles paused.
“Now I want to give you a choice.”
The plane landed on a private island.
A massive facility stood beside the runway.
Daniel and Chloe stepped outside.
Charles waited.
Older.
Gray-haired.
But alive.
Daniel raised his weapon.
Charles smiled.
“Shoot me.”
Daniel didn't.
“Why?”
“Because you need answers.”
Charles turned.
“Then come inside.”
Daniel followed.
The facility was enormous.
Walls covered in photographs.
Every important person in America.
Charles stopped before one.
A photograph of Daniel and Chloe on their wedding day.
“You were always my greatest mistake.”
Daniel stared.
“You mean Chloe?”
“No.”
May you like
Charles looked at him.
“Love.”
