Chapter 14 - THE BAIT
Federal agents prepared a controlled response.
Evelyn would agree to meet.
But she would never leave the hospital.
Instead, authorities would send a vehicle appearing to transport her.
Tom hated every part of the plan.
Lily hated being excluded from it.
For once, Tom did not apologize.
“You are staying here.”
Lily crossed her arms.
“I found Grandma.”
“And that is exactly why you are not going anywhere near Helen.”
At 10:15 p.m., the decoy vehicle left St. Matthew’s.
Agents followed at a distance.
Instructions arrived by text.
Drive south.
Exit at Route 14.
Turn toward the old Carter cannery.
Evelyn frowned when Pierce read the location.
“That building has been abandoned for fifteen years.”
“Which makes it useful.”
The convoy approached.
Inside the decoy SUV, an agent wore Evelyn’s coat and scarf.
Thermal cameras scanned the cannery.
Two people inside.
A third near the river.
Agents moved.
Within minutes, they captured Robert Chen.
The second person was a hired driver.
The third escaped into the trees.
Helen was not there.
Robert looked strangely calm when they arrested him.
Pierce immediately understood why.
The meeting was another diversion.
Back at the hospital, a fire alarm suddenly screamed.
Red lights flashed.
Nurses rushed into the hallway.
Smoke began pouring from a utility room two floors below.
Tom grabbed Lily.
Evelyn’s security detail moved toward the door.
Then the lights went out.
Emergency power activated.
For eight seconds, the hallway fell into darkness.
Eight seconds was enough.
A woman wearing hospital scrubs entered through the rear door.
Lily saw her first.
“Aunt Helen.”
Helen held a syringe.
Tom stepped between them.
Helen froze.
For a moment, brother and sister stared at each other.
Helen looked exhausted.
Her hair was tied beneath a surgical cap.
Her eyes were wild.
“You should have stayed out of this.”
Tom moved closer.
“You chained our mother underground.”
“You think this is about Mom?”
Helen laughed softly.
“You still don’t understand.”
Evelyn pushed herself upright.
“Then explain it.”
Helen looked at her.
“All my life, you gave Tom forgiveness.”
“You gave employees loyalty.”
“You gave charities millions.”
“And me?”
Her voice cracked.
“You gave me tests.”
Evelyn stared at her.
“I gave you responsibility.”
“You gave me scraps.”
“You were earning seven figures.”
“It was never mine.”
Helen pointed toward Evelyn.
“It was always yours.”
Police shouted from the hallway.
Helen backed toward the door.
Then she pulled something from her pocket.
Not a weapon.
A phone.
On the screen was live video.
A small room.
A chair.
And Claire Dawson tied to it.
Tom went still.
May you like
Helen smiled.
“Now we negotiate.”
