Chapter 15 - THE MOTHER TAKEN AGAINMaya’s scream echoed through the courthouse corridor.
Leah’s hospital room had been guarded.
But one of the guards had been replaced during a shift change.
The replacement used forged federal credentials.
Security footage showed Leah being transported in a wheelchair through a service elevator.
A nurse followed them.
The nurse was later found unconscious inside a storage room.
Senator Hale’s aircraft had already left the runway.
Military air control tracked it heading east.
Marcus called the Air National Guard.
“They cannot enter foreign airspace without authorization,” Ortiz warned.
“They will not need to.”
Marcus studied the flight path.
“Hale’s aircraft cannot reach its destination without refueling.”
“There are three private airfields along that route.”
“Which one does Victoria control?”
Maya remembered something Ethan had once mentioned.
The Sterling family owned an abandoned resort on Blackwood Island.
Its runway had been officially closed after a hurricane.
Unofficially, Ethan said his mother still kept fuel there.
“Blackwood Island,” Maya said.
Aircraft were dispatched immediately.
Maya insisted on going.
Ortiz refused.
“Your mother has been taken because Victoria wants leverage over you.”
“Then hiding will not save her.”
“It may save you.”
Maya placed the medal around her neck.
“My mother ran through fire to save me.”
“I will not sit in a protected room while she is taken again.”
Marcus supported her.
So did Eleanor.
Noah remained under Eleanor’s protection at a military base.
Maya boarded a federal aircraft with Ortiz and Marcus.
Below them, the ocean stretched beneath heavy clouds.
At Blackwood Island, Victoria forced Leah into the abandoned resort ballroom.
Broken chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
Salt air moved through shattered windows.
Senator Hale paced near the fireplace.
“You said the evidence had been destroyed.”
Victoria placed the red ledger on a table.
“The evidence can still be controlled.”
“Vance has Gabriel’s archive.”
“Then we need the authorization key.”
Victoria looked toward Leah.
“Her daughter carries it around her neck.”
Leah’s voice was weak.
“Amelia will never give it to you.”
“She will for you.”
Hale stared at Victoria.
“This has become personal.”
“It was always personal.”
“My husband spent his life standing behind Gabriel Vaughn.”
“Every room belonged to Gabriel.”
“Every invention.”
“Every honor.”
“Every headline.”
“So Charles stole from him.”
“Charles corrected the balance.”
Leah laughed softly.
Victoria turned.
“What is amusing?”
“You still think this was about power.”
“It was about envy.”
Victoria struck her.
Leah fell against the chair.
Hale moved toward the door.
“I will not be part of murder.”
Victoria pointed a gun at him.
“You have been part of murder for twenty-four years.”
An aircraft engine sounded outside.
Victoria smiled.
“Amelia came.”
Maya’s plane landed at the far end of the island runway.
Ortiz’s team moved toward the resort through the trees.
Marcus examined the old building.
“Two entrances.”
“One tunnel leading to the beach.”
Maya’s phone rang.
Victoria’s name appeared.
“Bring the medal to the ballroom,” Victoria said.
“Release my mother.”
“After I receive the authorization key.”
“You already lost the company.”
“Companies can be rebuilt.”
“Bloodlines cannot.”
Maya looked toward Marcus.
He shook his head.
Victoria continued.
“Come alone.”
“If I see an agent, Leah dies.”
The call ended.
Maya removed the medal.
Marcus stopped her.
“You cannot surrender the only key to Gabriel’s archive.”
Maya looked toward the broken resort.
“My father built an archive to protect the truth.”
“My mother protected me.”
May you like
“I know which one matters more.”
She walked toward the ballroom alone.
Related Stories
