Chapter 14: The Final Betrayal
I reached the hospital in eleven minutes.
Thomas was already there.
Two police officers stood outside my father's room. A nurse was crying near the reception desk.
My father's bed was empty.
His medication remained on the bedside table.
His shoes were still beneath the chair.
But he was gone.
"What happened?"" I demanded.
A doctor approached.
"Mr. Bennett was being transferred for additional scans. The transport team arrived approximately fifteen minutes ago.""
"Who authorized it?""
The doctor checked his clipboard.
"Dr. Collins.""
I stared at him.
"Dr. Collins is under investigation.""
The doctor's face changed.
"What?""
"Who signed the transfer?""
He showed me the document.
There was a signature at the bottom.
Arthur Mills.
Thomas cursed.
"They used the hospital's emergency transfer procedure.""
I turned toward the officers.
"Find the ambulance.""
One of them spoke into his radio.
"All units, possible unauthorized medical transfer. Vehicle description to follow.""
Thomas grabbed my arm.
"Alexander, we need to check the security footage.""
We entered the control room.
A technician pulled up the hospital's parking lot cameras.
At 11:52 p.m., an ambulance appeared.
Two men entered the building.
One wore a paramedic uniform.
The other wore a dark jacket and baseball cap.
Arthur.
He walked directly toward my father's room.
Then, twelve minutes later, the ambulance left.
I stared at the screen.
"Can you identify the vehicle?""
The technician enlarged the image.
A registration plate appeared.
Thomas photographed it.
"I'll send it to the police.""
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Where is my father?""
Arthur's voice came through.
"Alexander. I'm glad you picked up.""
"Where is he?""
"Safe.""
"You're going to regret this.""
Arthur chuckled.
"You sound just like your father.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why are you doing this?""
A pause.
"Because your father made a promise he never kept.""
"What promise?""
"He promised me that when he retired, I would receive a share of the family business. Instead, he gave everything to you and Daniel.""
I stared at the hospital window.
"So you helped them kill him?""
"I helped move him.""
"You kidnapped him.""
"I protected him.""
"From whom?""
Arthur's voice became colder.
"From everyone.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where are you taking him?""
"You'll find out.""
"Arthur, listen carefully. The police are tracing this call.""
He laughed.
"Then you should hurry.""
The call ended.
Thomas looked at me.
"What did he say?""
"He wants something.""
"What?""
"Control of the family trust.""
Thomas stared.
"That's impossible. He has no legal claim.""
"Apparently, he believes he does.""
My phone vibrated again.
A photograph appeared.
My father was sitting in the back of the ambulance.
His hands were restrained.
His face was pale.
Beneath the photograph was an address.
An old waterfront warehouse.
And a message.
*Come alone. Bring the original trust amendment.*
Thomas read it over my shoulder.
"No.""
I looked at him.
"He has my father.""
"And he wants you.""
"I know.""
"We call the police.""
"Of course.""
Thomas nodded.
"We'll arrange a tactical response.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My father was alive.
I wasn't going to abandon him.
But I wasn't going to walk into another trap either.
We arrived at the warehouse just before dawn.
Police units surrounded the surrounding streets, waiting for confirmation before moving.
I carried a briefcase containing a copy of the trust amendment.
Thomas remained beside me.
Arthur had specifically demanded that I come alone.
I had no intention of obeying.
The warehouse door stood open.
Inside, a single overhead light illuminated a metal chair.
My father was sitting in it.
Arthur stood behind him.
A pistol rested in his hand.
"Alexander," Arthur said.
I stopped.
"Let him go.""
Arthur smiled.
"You're becoming very demanding.""
My father looked up.
"Don't give him anything, son.""
Arthur pressed the pistol against his shoulder.
"Be quiet.""
I took a step forward.
"Whatever you want, we can discuss it.""
Arthur laughed.
"Your father used to say that. Always negotiating. Always believing everyone had a price.""
He extended his free hand.
"The document.""
I placed the briefcase on the floor.
Arthur nodded.
"Open it.""
I did.
He glanced at the papers.
Then he looked at me.
"That's a copy.""
"Yes.""
His smile vanished.
"Where is the original?""
"Safe.""
Arthur's grip tightened around the pistol.
"Where?""
"Somewhere you won't find it.""
He struck my father across the face.
"Tell him!""
My father lowered his head.
I felt something break inside me.
"Don't touch him!""
Arthur turned the weapon toward me.
"Then give me what I want.""
I reached into my jacket.
Arthur immediately raised the pistol.
"Slowly.""
I removed a small recorder.
"Before you do anything, you should listen to this.""
He frowned.
I pressed play.
My father's voice filled the warehouse.
"Arthur, I know you were paid to move the vehicle. I know you helped Richard falsify the records.""
Arthur's face changed.
The recording continued.
"And I know you were the one who told Daniel that Alexander had survived.""
Arthur looked at me.
"Turn it off.""
I didn't.
My father's voice continued.
"You have been threatening my family for years. But you made one mistake.""
Arthur's expression twisted.
"What mistake?""
I looked directly at him.
"You thought nobody else knew.""
Suddenly, a loudspeaker crackled.
"ARTHUR MILLS! DROP YOUR WEAPON!""
Arthur spun around.
Police officers entered from the side doors.
He raised the pistol.
A gunshot exploded.
I felt a sharp impact against my shoulder and fell to the concrete floor.
My father shouted my name.
Then everything happened at once.
Officers tackled Arthur.
The gun skidded across the floor.
Thomas rushed toward me.
"Alexander! Stay with me!""
I pressed my hand against my shoulder.
Blood spread between my fingers.
But I could still move.
I could still breathe.
And my father was alive.
Within minutes, paramedics arrived.
As they lifted me onto a stretcher, I saw Arthur being handcuffed.
He looked directly at me.
"You think this is over?""
I didn't answer.
He leaned toward one of the officers and shouted:
"ASK MARGARET WHAT SHE DID TO YOUR FATHER!""
I froze.
Thomas turned.
"What?""
Arthur laughed.
"She wasn't protecting him, Alexander!""
The officers pushed him into a police vehicle.
I looked at my father.
He was standing beside the ambulance, his face pale.
Then he whispered:
"Arthur is lying.""
I stared at him.
"Are you sure?""
My father looked toward the sunrise.
"No.""
May you like
He swallowed.
"That's what I've been afraid of.""
