Chapter 12 - The Six-Hour CountdownCaleb wanted to attack Martin immediately.
His mother stopped him.
“That is what he wants.”
“My father is being held hostage.”
“And if you rush in, you die.”
Caleb paced the warehouse.
George had spent his entire life protecting him.
Now Caleb had to make a choice.
The message demanded Lily.
Only Lily.
Caleb knew it was a trap.
Yet he also knew Martin wouldn't stop.
Olivia looked at him.
“You can't give her to him.”
“I won't.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“Make him think I will.”
They created a plan.
Caleb would take Lily.
He would meet Martin at the old Hart factory.
Meanwhile, Olivia would transfer the evidence to five independent journalists.
His mother would contact federal investigators.
Clara would move Noah and Emma to safety.
The plan was simple.
Almost too simple.
Six hours later, Caleb entered the factory carrying Lily.
Martin stood in the center of the building.
George was tied to a chair.
Blood stained his shirt.
But he was alive.
“You came.”
Caleb walked forward.
“You wanted her.”
“Yes.”
“Let my father go.”
Martin laughed.
“You still think this is a negotiation.”
He stepped closer.
“Give me the child.”
Caleb lifted Lily.
Martin reached out.
Then Lily began crying.
Martin froze.
“She's your daughter,” he said softly.
Caleb's jaw tightened.
“So you knew.”
“We all knew.”
“You planned this?”
Martin nodded.
“She was supposed to disappear the night she was born.”
Caleb stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because if people knew she existed, the trust could never be controlled.”
Martin reached for Lily.
Caleb stepped back.
“You're not getting her.”
Martin raised his gun.
Suddenly the factory lights turned on.
Hundreds of cameras flashed.
Journalists appeared behind the windows.
Police surrounded the building.
Martin's face turned white.
Caleb smiled.
“You should have checked who was watching.”
Martin looked toward Evelyn.
She was standing behind him.
She was crying.
Caleb said,
“Evelyn sent me the location.”
Martin turned.
“What?”
Evelyn dropped her weapon.
“I thought you would kill us all.”
“You betrayed me.”
“No,” she whispered.
“I finally chose the right side.”
Police stormed the factory.
Martin tried to escape.
George shouted,
“Martin!”
Martin stopped.
George looked at his brother.
“You lost.”
Martin smiled.
“No.”
He pulled a small remote from his pocket.
Caleb's stomach dropped.
“What is that?”
Martin pressed the button.
An explosion rocked the factory.
The floor collapsed.
Caleb fell.
Lily slipped from his arms.
He reached for her.
Too late.
She disappeared through the smoke.
Then he heard someone screaming her name.
Olivia.
And underneath the screams came a terrible sound.
May you like
A baby's cry.
Getting farther away.
