Chapter 3 - The Man on the StairsNobody moved.
Victor’s voice came again.
“Come out, Derek.”
Stone positioned himself between Noah and the staircase.
Jax killed his flashlight.
Darkness swallowed the corridor.
Victor laughed softly.
“You really think you can protect them?”
Stone answered:
“I don't need to think about it.”
A shot struck the concrete wall.
Dust exploded.
Noah flinched.
Stone grabbed him and pulled him into the nearest room.
Jax and Rook moved through the corridor.
Another shot.
Then silence.
Stone looked at Noah.
“Can you walk?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Stone noticed the boy was trying hard not to cry.
“Your mom is alive.”
Noah’s eyes filled.
“She is?”
“Yes.”
Noah nodded.
Then whispered:
“Victor wasn't alone.”
“Who else?”
“I don't know.”
“Names?”
Noah shook his head.
“He called the other man Mr. Black.”
Stone looked at Jax.
That meant nothing.
Then Noah added:
“But there was a woman.”
“What woman?”
“She wore white gloves.”
Stone frowned.
“Did you see her face?”
“No.”
“What did she do?”
“She told Victor not to kill us.”
That changed everything.
Stone opened the door a fraction.
The corridor was empty.
“Move.”
They climbed the stairs.
The motel office was abandoned.
The manager was gone.
Crowe was standing in the parking lot with his gun drawn.
“Where's the boy?”
Stone ignored him.
“Where did the manager go?”
Crowe frowned.
“He left.”
“You let him leave?”
“He wasn't our suspect.”
Stone looked at the rear gate.
“Tires.”
Crowe turned.
A fresh set of tracks led through the mud.
Toward the highway.
Jax checked the memory card.
“Stone.”
“What?”
“It’s encrypted.”
Noah stepped closer.
“I know the password.”
Everyone looked at him.
“What is it?”
Noah looked toward his mother.
“Her birthday.”
Stone stared.
“Try it.”
Jax entered the date.
The folder opened.
There were photographs.
Dozens.
Documents.
Bank transfers.
Vehicle registrations.
Audio files.
And a spreadsheet.
Stone scrolled.
Names filled the screen.
Judges.
Business owners.
Police officers.
City officials.
Then he saw one name.
Sheriff Alan Crowe.
Jax looked at Stone.
“That's bad.”
Stone said nothing.
Crowe approached.
“What did you find?”
Stone closed the laptop.
“Nothing useful.”
Crowe stared at him.
For a long second, neither man moved.
Then Crowe smiled.
It was a small smile.
Almost friendly.
“Good.”
He turned toward his cruiser.
Stone watched him leave.
Noah tugged on Stone’s sleeve.
“Don't trust him.”
Stone looked down.
“Why?”
“Because Victor called him before we found the basement.”
Stone’s expression hardened.
“You heard that?”
Noah nodded.
“He said, ‘Tell Crowe the boy is handled.’”
Stone looked toward the road.
The sheriff’s cruiser was already disappearing.
Jax spoke quietly.
“We need to move your family.”
Stone nodded.
“Now.”
They brought Mara from the motel.
She could barely stand.
Clara ran to her.
“Mom!”
Mara dropped to her knees and wrapped both children in her arms.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Then Mara pulled back.
She looked at Stone.
“You found Noah.”
“We did.”
“Then they know.”
Stone’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Mara whispered:
“The men in the ledger.”
Before he could ask another question, the motel exploded behind them.
Fire surged from Room 17.
Windows shattered.
Flames climbed the walls.
Clara screamed.
Mara pulled both children against her.
Stone stared into the fire.
Someone had just tried to erase the evidence.
But from the second floor, a shadow moved behind the smoke.
A woman.
White gloves.
Watching them.
May you like
Then she slowly raised one hand...
and pointed directly at Clara.
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