Chapter 6 - THE MAN BEHIND THE BADGE
Nobody moved.
Daniel Price held the gun steady.
David looked at him.
"Put it down."
Price laughed.
"You always were loyal."
"To the law."
"No."
Price shook his head.
"To people."
His eyes moved to Nora.
"That's your weakness."
Nora felt Julian step in front of her.
Price smiled.
"There's the hero."
Julian stared.
"You've been working with Charles."
"Charles works for me."
Richard laughed.
Price turned toward him.
"You're supposed to be dead."
"So are you."
Price's smile disappeared.
David slowly lowered his weapon.
"Let's talk."
"There is nothing to discuss."
Price pointed at the vault.
"You've found the records."
"Yes."
"Then you know what happens next."
David looked at Nora.
"No."
Price pulled out his phone.
A video played.
Eleanor sat tied to a chair.
Nora gasped.
"Mom."
Price looked pleased.
"Charles wanted me to tell you that you have ten minutes."
"For what?"
"Give me the drive."
"What drive?"
"The one Richard gave you."
Nora looked at Richard.
He shook his head.
"We don't have it."
Price raised his gun.
"Then I'll start with Julian."
Julian stepped forward.
"Don't."
Nora grabbed his arm.
"No."
Price smiled.
"Finally."
He walked closer.
"You have no idea what your father has been paying for."
Nora's voice shook.
"Tell me."
Price stared at her.
"Your father built the machine."
"And you?"
"I ran it."
"For what?"
"Control."
He gestured toward the vault.
"Money moves governments."
"That's insane."
"No."
Price's voice hardened.
"That's America."
David stepped forward.
"Don't turn this into philosophy."
Price laughed.
"You still think this is about ideology?"
He pointed toward the boxes.
"It's about leverage."
Nora stared at him.
"Who were you selling?"
"Anyone."
"Veterans?"
"Politicians."
"Judges?"
"Yes."
"Law enforcement?"
"Sometimes."
She felt sick.
"And my mother?"
Price's face changed.
"Your mother tried to expose us."
"Did you kill her?"
"No."
Richard stepped forward.
"Charles did."
Price looked at him.
"Charles didn't kill Rebecca."
Nora froze.
"Then who did?"
Price looked directly at her.
"Rebecca killed herself."
Richard shouted.
"You're lying."
"No."
Price's voice was cold.
"She knew Charles would come after Nora."
Nora shook her head.
"My mother wouldn't."
Price opened a folder.
"Read it."
He threw a document toward her.
Nora picked it up.
It was a handwritten letter.
Rebecca's handwriting.
I can't let them use my daughter.
Nora's hands trembled.
Julian moved beside her.
"There's more."
He pointed at the bottom.
A signature.
Rebecca Montgomery.
Nora stared.
"What does this prove?"
Price smiled.
"Nothing."
"Then why show me?"
"Because I wanted you confused."
David suddenly moved.
He slammed into Price.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the ceiling.
Julian pulled Nora behind a cabinet.
Richard tackled another man entering the vault.
Everything exploded into chaos.
Nora heard shouting.
Metal crashing.
A second shot.
Then silence.
She looked up.
Price was gone.
David was bleeding from his shoulder.
Richard was on the floor.
Julian crouched beside Nora.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"Where's Price?"
David pointed toward the service tunnel.
"Escaped."
Nora looked at the vault.
The black drive was missing.
Richard struggled to stand.
"He took it."
Nora's stomach dropped.
"What was on it?"
Richard looked at her.
"Everything."
"Then we're finished."
"No."
He reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small key.
"That wasn't the real drive."
Nora stared.
"Where's the real one?"
Richard smiled.
"Your wedding bouquet."
Nora's eyes widened.
"My bouquet?"
"The stems."
She remembered.
The stems she had bent when her father humiliated her.
Richard continued.
"Rebecca knew one day you would need the truth."
Julian understood.
"She hid it in the family florist's supply?"
Richard nodded.
"No."
He looked at Nora.
"She hid it in the only thing Charles would never destroy."
Nora whispered.
"What?"
"Something belonging to his daughter."
Suddenly Nora remembered.
Her bouquet had been made from flowers grown at her grandmother's estate.
The estate her father had always forbidden her to visit.
She looked at Julian.
"That's where we're going."
David shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if Price took the fake drive, he'll know we're going there."
Richard's expression darkened.
"He already knows."
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Nora's phone.
She answered.
A man's voice whispered.
"You have nine minutes."
"Who is this?"
"Your father."
Nora's blood ran cold.
Charles continued.
"Bring Julian to the estate."
"And my mother?"
"She'll be waiting."
"What happens if we don't?"
A pause.
Then:
May you like
"You'll bury her before you bury me."
The call ended.
