Chapter 9 - THE LAST TRAP
The hospital was surrounded by police.
My father was inside with Natalie.
Lucas stood beside him.
Claire was there too.
Everyone had been moved into one secured room.
Mason locked the doors.
“We wait.”
I shook my head.
“He wants us here.”
Mason looked at me.
“What?”
“He escaped because he wants us to come.”
Lucas understood.
“He's setting the final trap.”
My father looked at us.
“Where is Daniel?”
“Police custody.”
My father frowned.
“Then Richard has another way in.”
Suddenly, the lights went out.
The hospital emergency generator activated.
Mason drew his weapon.
“Everyone stay together.”
A loud crash came from the corridor.
Then another.
Glass breaking.
People screaming.
Security alarms started.
Lucas grabbed Natalie.
I grabbed Lily.
My father moved toward the door.
“No.”
I stopped him.
“Stay here.”
He looked at me.
“I've spent twenty years running.”
“And now you stay.”
He smiled faintly.
“You sound like your mother.”
“I'll take that as a compliment.”
Then the door exploded open.
Two men rushed in.
Police stopped them.
But one slipped past.
He grabbed Lily.
I screamed.
“Lily!”
She fought.
“Daddy!”
I grabbed her arm.
The man pulled harder.
Lucas tackled him.
The struggle lasted only seconds.
Police arrested him.
Lily ran into my arms.
I held her tightly.
“I'm sorry.”
She cried.
“I was scared.”
“I know.”
Then Mason looked at the arrested man.
“Who sent you?”
The man refused to answer.
But Lily pointed toward his jacket.
“Daddy.”
“What?”
“He has Grandpa's watch.”
My father froze.
That watch belonged to Richard.
Mason removed it.
Inside was a tiny tracking device.
He stared at the screen.
“Richard is still in the building.”
“How?”
Mason looked toward the ventilation system.
“He never left.”
We followed the signal.
It led to the basement.
The same basement where Natalie had been held.
The door opened.
Richard stood inside.
He held a gun.
But he wasn't pointing it at us.
He pointed it at himself.
“You don't understand.”
My father stepped forward.
“Richard.”
“You ruined everything.”
“No.”
Richard's hands trembled.
“You were supposed to give me the trust.”
“You were never entitled to it.”
“I built it.”
“You stole it.”
Richard laughed.
“I spent thirty years protecting this family.”
Natalie appeared behind us.
“You spent thirty years destroying it.”
Richard looked at her.
His face changed.
“You.”
Natalie stepped forward.
“You thought I was dead.”
“I should have made sure.”
“You should have.”
Richard's eyes moved to Lucas.
“I gave you a life.”
Lucas shook his head.
“You stole one.”
Richard looked at me.
“You think you're different?”
“Yes.”
“You'll become exactly like your father.”
“No.”
I looked at Lily.
“I learned from his mistakes.”
Richard's hand tightened around the gun.
Then a voice came through the speaker.
Daniel.
His recorded voice.
Richard's own words filled the basement.
“Once Lily is under my guardianship, Mark disappears.”
Richard looked toward the ceiling.
His face went white.
Daniel had recorded everything.
Mason stepped forward.
“Drop the weapon.”
Richard looked at the gun.
Then at us.
He finally lowered it.
Police arrested him.
But before they took him away, he looked at my father.
“You won.”
My father shook his head.
“No.”
May you like
He looked toward Lily.
“She did.”
