Chapter 6 - SELINA'S SECRETFlynn aimed his gun at Selina.
"Explain."
Selina was trembling.
"They've got surveillance on the building."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Who took Clara?"
"I don't know."
I stepped forward.
"Then how do you know where she is?"
Selina looked at me.
"Because they told me."
She pulled a phone from her pocket.
There was a live location displayed on the screen.
A warehouse.
South Boston.
Flynn glanced at Richard, who was unconscious on the floor.
"Can you move him?"
Selina shook her head.
"No."
"Then we leave him."
I looked at Flynn.
"No."
"We don't have time."
Selina grabbed my arm.
"She's right."
Flynn looked at her.
Selina swallowed.
"If they wanted Richard dead, he would already be dead."
"What did they shoot him with?"
"Rubber bullet."
I looked down.
Richard was breathing.
Someone had staged the attack.
They wanted us afraid.
Selina whispered:
"They want you to go to the warehouse."
"Why?"
"Because it's a trap."
Flynn stared at her.
"And you're helping them?"
Selina's eyes filled with tears.
"I was."
Silence.
She looked at me.
"I've been working for them for four years."
Flynn's face hardened.
"Why?"
"Debt."
"How much?"
"Seven million."
I stared at her.
"Seven million dollars?"
She nodded.
"My brother stole from one of their companies. They killed him."
Her voice broke.
"Then they threatened my mother."
I remembered the necklace.
The apartment.
The expensive gifts.
"You didn't get the necklace as a bonus."
Selina looked away.
"No."
"Who bought it?"
She didn't answer.
Flynn did.
"I did."
My chest tightened.
"For them?"
"No."
"Then why?"
He looked at me.
"Because Selina was trying to get close to one of the board members."
I stared.
"What?"
"The necklace had a tracking device."
Selina nodded.
"It was the only way I could follow him."
I suddenly remembered our dinner.
The necklace wasn't only jewelry.
It was surveillance.
But then another thought struck me.
"You knew the call was being recorded."
Flynn looked away.
"Yes."
"You knew your employees would see Selina on your lap."
"Yes."
"Why?"
His expression changed.
"Because I needed the entire company to believe you had discovered the affair."
I stared at him.
"The scandal was a cover."
"The scandal created chaos," he said. "It removed attention from the real operation."
I shook my head.
"You destroyed our marriage to protect me?"
"I thought it would push you toward the folder."
My heart cracked.
"You manipulated me."
"I did."
"And Selina?"
"She was part of it."
I looked at her.
"So the necklace was bait."
Selina nodded.
"The person who gave it to Flynn was the chairman of Vance Global's board."
My stomach dropped.
"Who?"
She opened her phone.
A photograph appeared.
I recognized the man instantly.
My father had invited him to our house every Christmas when I was a child.
He had held me on his lap.
Given me presents.
Called me "little Mabel."
His name was Victor Hale.
My father's closest friend.
The man who gave the eulogy at his funeral.
My father's final recording suddenly made sense.
The most dangerous lie was the one that contained nine truths.
I turned toward Flynn.
"Where is Victor now?"
Flynn looked at Selina.
She whispered:
"At the warehouse."
My phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
COME ALONE, MABEL.
Then another.
BRING THE FOLDER.
And finally:
IF FLYNN COMES, CLARA DIES.
Flynn looked at me.
"You can't go."
I picked up my coat.
"I have to."
He grabbed my wrist.
"No."
I pulled away.
"Flynn."
"What?"
"For twelve years, you made decisions for me."
May you like
I looked into his eyes.
"Tonight, I make my own."
