Chapter 16 - The Children's RhymeAdrian returned to the diner.
Everything felt different.
The coloring books.
The crayons.
The tiny chair where Emma sat.
He heard her voice in his head.
“One for the man who knows where we sleep.”
Sophia arrived.
“Where is Emma?”
“I'll find her.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I will.”
Sophia stared at him.
“You're lying.”
Adrian looked at her.
“I don't know where she is.”
Sophia's eyes filled.
“Then tell me the truth.”
“She knows where the accounts are hidden.”
Sophia froze.
“Emma?”
“Daniel taught her.”
“My daughter doesn't understand any of this.”
“She doesn't have to.”
Adrian opened the blue ledger.
“She only has to remember.”
Sophia stared at the pages.
A shadow appeared in the doorway.
Graham.
He looked exhausted.
Older.
Blood stained his collar.
Sophia stepped back.
Adrian raised his weapon.
Graham lifted his hands.
“I came alone.”
“Where is Emma?”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“I can take you.”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
Graham looked at Sophia.
“I owe Daniel.”
Sophia's expression changed.
“You killed him.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Graham's voice broke.
“Vincent.”
Adrian stared.
Graham continued.
“I tried to stop him.”
“You were his man.”
“I was terrified.”
“You stole hundreds of thousands.”
“I stole it to build an exit.”
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
“Daniel discovered the consortium had a private prison.”
“Prison?”
“For people who knew too much.”
Graham looked at Sophia.
“Your husband wasn't killed.”
Sophia stopped breathing.
“He was taken.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You're saying Daniel is alive?”
Graham nodded.
“Where?”
“Below the city.”
Adrian stared.
“Where?”
“I'll show you.”
Adrian lowered his weapon.
“First Emma.”
Graham nodded.
“She was taken to the old harbor warehouse.”
Adrian grabbed his coat.
Lucas appeared.
“I'll drive.”
Adrian looked at him.
“No.”
Lucas stopped.
“I thought you trusted me.”
“I don't.”
Lucas sighed.
“Fair.”
Graham laughed bitterly.
“That is the first intelligent thing you've said today.”
Adrian pointed his weapon at him.
Graham raised both hands.
“Relax.”
“No jokes.”
“Understood.”
They left.
Halfway to the harbor, Graham received a message.
He read it.
His face changed.
“What?”
Graham handed the phone to Adrian.
A photograph.
Emma stood inside a warehouse.
Behind her was a large steel door.
And written across the wall:
ONE OF YOU IS THE TRAITOR.
Adrian looked at Graham.
Then Lucas.
Then Sophia.
No one spoke.
The car stopped.
The warehouse lights turned on one by one.
A voice came through the speakers.
“Choose.”
Adrian stared.
“Choose what?”
May you like
The voice answered:
“Which one of your three friends dies.”
