Chapter 18 - FIRE IN THE WAREHOUSE
Inside, plastic sheeting burned blue at the edges. Smoke erased the rafters.
Daniel found Noah behind a crate. “You were told to stay outside.”
“Grandma put something in my bracelet,” Noah said.
Before Daniel could answer, Vanessa screamed. A steel rack had fallen across her legs.
For one terrible second, Daniel wanted to leave her. She had lied, threatened his children, and helped erase Claire from the world.
Noah ran toward her. “Help me!”
“She is dangerous.”
“She's still a person.”
Claire had raised him well.
Together they lifted the rack. Vanessa crawled free and reached for the bracelet.
Elliot emerged through the smoke, gun raised. “Give me the token.”
Another shot came through the window. Voss's bullet struck Elliot's shoulder.
The pistol skidded away. Daniel tackled Elliot as Ruiz broke through a side door. Officers dragged them toward daylight.
Outside, Voss's position was empty. Only a brass cartridge and muddy footprints remained.
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Vanessa stared at Noah's wrist.
“Claire chose the only vault none of us could open,” she whispered.
