Chapter 15 - Fire in the Archive
Mercer intended to leave nothing behind.
He kicked over the first gasoline drum.
Fuel spread across the concrete floor.
Naomi pulled against the restraint binding them together.
"Burning financial records doesn't erase bank wires."
"No. But it erases signatures, originals, notes, and whatever your prosecutors haven't found yet."
"You'll burn with them."
"Not if we move fast."
He poured gasoline across boxes labeled 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Naomi saw one marked CHARLES VANCE - PRIVATE.
She changed tactics.
"Eleanor killed him, didn't she?"
Mercer stopped.
"Careful."
"You disabled Charles Vance's car."
"I said careful."
"Graham told Julian."
Mercer's face hardened.
"Graham talks too much."
That was enough.
Naomi kept him talking.
"What did Eleanor promise you?"
"Protection."
"And now?"
"Now she owes me."
"She's in jail."
"People like Eleanor are never really in jail."
He struck a lighter.
Naomi swung their joined arms hard into his wrist.
The lighter flew.
Mercer punched her in the shoulder.
She stumbled, then kicked the gasoline drum into his knees.
He fell.
Naomi ran.
The restraint jerked her backward.
Mercer grabbed her coat.
A gunshot exploded above them.
Concrete dust fell from the ceiling.
Police had entered the warehouse.
Mercer dragged Naomi toward the elevator.
She saw the lighter on the floor.
Still burning.
Flame touched the gasoline.
The fire moved like it had been waiting.
"No!" Mercer shouted.
Heat rolled across the room.
Smoke swallowed the lights.
Naomi grabbed the CHARLES VANCE box with her free hand.
"Leave it!"
"Absolutely not."
They reached the loading corridor as fire climbed the shelving.
Detective Chen appeared through the smoke.
"Drop the weapon!"
Mercer raised his pistol.
Chen fired first.
He collapsed.
Naomi hit the floor with him, the restraint still locked between their wrists.
Minutes later, firefighters carried out the rescued records.
The Charles Vance box was scorched but intact.
Inside were handwritten notes, bank statements, and a small digital recorder.
At the hospital, Julian listened to the recovered audio at 3:17 a.m.
His father's voice filled the room.
"Eleanor, if you move one more dollar through North Crown, I'm going to the FBI."
May you like
Then Eleanor's voice answered.
"If you destroy this family, Charles, don't expect me to let you walk away from it."
