Chapter 12 - Everything Has a Number
Mayor Sterling stepped away from Sarah immediately.
Cowardice could move faster than any elevator.
"Marcus."
"Tom."
The men greeted each other like old friends.
Sarah watched the mayor's posture change.
Whatever courage she had purchased with political fear vanished.
Marcus approached.
"I heard Detective Vance has been having a difficult week."
"Former Detective Vance, technically."
Sterling avoided Sarah's eyes.
Marcus smiled.
"Of course."
He gestured toward the elevator.
"Sarah."
"A word?"
"No."
"Then I'll say it here."
Sarah looked at the lawyers.
Marcus reconsidered.
"Private conversation."
Against her instincts, Sarah stepped inside the elevator.
The doors closed.
Marcus selected the parking garage.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he removed a checkbook.
Sarah stared at it.
Marcus clicked an expensive pen.
"You're tired."
"My daughter is injured."
"Exactly."
"You need peace."
"You need financial security."
"You need a better apartment."
"A better school."
"A future."
Sarah's disgust grew with every word.
Marcus began writing.
"Five million."
Sarah almost laughed.
He looked up.
"Ten."
She remained silent.
"Fifteen million dollars."
He tore out the check.
Sarah looked at it.
"Is that what Andrew Wells was worth?"
Marcus's expression changed.
"Who?"
"The boy at summer camp."
Sarah stepped closer.
"What about Maria Alvarez?"
"The nanny you paid after Leo burned her."
Marcus's eyes hardened.
"You've been digging."
"Your son keeps hurting people."
"My son has challenges."
"Your son almost killed Lily."
The elevator stopped.
Marcus lowered the check.
"I protect my family."
"So do I."
"You don't understand the world you're stepping into."
Sarah gave him a cold smile.
"I'm beginning to."
Marcus moved closer.
"You think justice exists independently of money?"
"It doesn't."
"Justice requires lawyers."
"Judges."
"Police."
"Politicians."
"I know all of them."
Sarah stared directly into his eyes.
"And yet you're standing here trying to buy one exhausted mother."
That struck him.
For the first time, Marcus looked angry rather than amused.
He crumpled the check.
"Last opportunity."
"Walk away."
Sarah shook her head.
Marcus whispered the next words.
"Then I'll take Lily from you."
Sarah's body went rigid.
"I'll make sure every court believes you're unstable."
"I'll make sure you lose your badge."
"Your freedom."
"And eventually your daughter."
The garage doors opened.
Marcus stepped out.
Sarah remained inside.
Just before the doors closed, he turned.
"Everybody has a number."
Sarah touched the drive in her pocket.
May you like
"Then you're about to learn mine."
The doors closed between them.
