Chapter 14 - The Warehouse
Naomi Reed woke tied to a metal chair in a warehouse near the river.
Caleb Mercer sat across from her eating vending-machine crackers.
"You people make money complicated," he said.
Naomi tested the zip ties around her wrists.
"That's because people like you keep trying to steal it."
He smiled.
"I like you."
"I'm devastated."
Mercer placed a laptop on a crate.
"Victoria's account has a ninety-million-dollar emergency authorization window after a beneficiary event."
"No."
"Graham said it did."
"Graham lies when breathing."
Mercer's smile faded.
"Then you can explain what does exist."
"Protective administration. You triggered it yourself."
He stared at her.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning Sterling's trustees froze discretionary transfers the moment Victoria's daughter was born under threat conditions."
For the first time, Mercer looked uncertain.
Naomi leaned back.
"You kidnapped the one person who could have told you that before you shot up a maternity floor."
Mercer stood slowly.
"There has to be a way around it."
"There isn't."
He grabbed her chair and pulled it closer.
"There is always a way."
At the hospital, Julian refused to leave Victoria and the baby until Victoria forced him.
"Go find her."
"I'm not leaving you unprotected."
"There are six cops outside and one of them looks like he eats criminals for breakfast. Go."
He kissed her forehead.
"I love you."
"Good. Come back alive so I can yell at you properly."
Detective Chen traced Mercer's stolen ambulance to an industrial zone near South Deering.
Julian wanted to go with police.
Chen refused.
"You're a civilian."
"He's targeting my family."
"Which is exactly why you're emotionally compromised."
Samuel Ross arrived with information that changed the search.
"Mercer used a warehouse on Torrence Avenue when he worked for Eleanor."
Chen pulled up the address.
It belonged to North Crown Holdings.
Police surrounded the building before midnight.
Inside, Mercer heard the first vehicle stop.
He looked at Naomi.
"You bought time."
"It's literally my job."
He cut her loose from the chair but kept one wrist bound to his.
"Then you're coming with me."
They moved toward a rear loading bay.
Outside, Chen's voice came over a loudspeaker.
"Caleb Mercer, the building is surrounded."
Mercer stopped.
Then smiled.
"No, it's not."
Naomi followed his gaze.
At the far wall was a freight elevator.
He hit the button.
The doors opened onto a lower level.
Inside were dozens of banker boxes.
May you like
North Crown records.
And three fifty-gallon drums of gasoline.
