Chapter 11 - The Missing Valve

Police surrounded the Keller Medical warehouse before dawn.

The building appeared empty.

All exterior doors were locked.

Security footage had been erased.

The helicopter waited on the warehouse roof while officers entered through the loading dock.

I watched the operation from a tablet beside Elise’s incubator.

Her numbers continued to fall.

Dr. Morales estimated that she had less than three hours before permanent damage became likely.

Officers found the valve’s transport case in the cold-storage room.

It was empty.

A trail of water led toward Dock Four.

One of the emergency exits stood open.

A warehouse employee finally answered his phone.

He told investigators that Grant had ordered him to move several medical cases into a black SUV.

The vehicle had left twenty minutes before police arrived.

Margaret contacted every state transportation agency.

Grandfather called the governor.

Federal investigators issued an emergency alert.

Vanessa sat in the consultation room with us.

She studied the map of the warehouse district.

“He isn’t leaving the city.”

“How do you know?” I asked.

“The money is useless unless Calvin helps him access the shell accounts.”

“Where would they meet?”

Vanessa pointed toward the river.

“Keller Medical rents an old distribution center under another company name.”

Police reached the building forty minutes later.

Calvin’s car was parked outside.

Grant’s black SUV was inside.

The men were arguing near a loading bay.

Calvin held the medical case.

Grant held a gun.

The police negotiator called Grant’s phone.

He refused to release the valve until Grandfather agreed to stop the investigation and restore his access to the Cayman account.

I took the phone from Margaret.

“Let me speak to him.”

“Emma, no,” Grandfather said.

“He wants me to be afraid.”

I called Grant directly.

He answered.

“You finally understand,” he said.

“Elise needs that valve.”

“You should have thought about that before taking my company.”

“It was never your company.”

“Then your grandfather can buy another valve.”

“There isn’t time.”

“That sounds like his problem.”

I closed my eyes.

“Grant, listen to yourself.”

“I’m done listening to you.”

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A gunshot sounded through the phone.

The line went dead.