What Victor Wanted
Chapter 11 - What Victor Wanted
Rachel screamed Eli's name.
Adrian picked up the teddy bear.
The flash drive was gone.
Marcus checked the security system.
"Camera loop."
"Victor?"
"Someone who knows professional surveillance."
Adrian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Victor Hale's voice came through calmly.
"Hello, Adrian."
"Where is my son?"
"Safe."
Adrian gripped the phone.
"If you hurt him—"
"I have no interest in hurting a child."
"Then let him go."
"Bring me the second drive."
Adrian looked toward Charles.
Victor continued.
"I know Charles made a copy."
Charles went pale.
"Where?"
"Midnight. Pier Seventeen."
Adrian's blood ran cold.
"No police."
Victor laughed softly.
"You were always smarter than your father. Don't disappoint me now."
The call ended.
Rachel grabbed Adrian's arm.
"You can't go."
"My son is there."
"It's a trap."
"I know."
Charles stepped forward.
"I'll go."
Adrian stared at him.
"Victor wants me."
"He wants the evidence."
Charles held up the drive.
"And I'm the reason any of this happened."
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
"Let me do one decent thing before I die."
"Stop talking like that."
Charles's voice cracked.
"I stole your life from you."
Adrian looked away.
"You made choices."
"So did I."
Adrian took the flash drive.
"Then we both live long enough to answer for them."
At 11:55 p.m., Adrian arrived at Pier Seventeen.
Alone.
At least, that was what Victor believed.
Federal agents watched from concealed positions.
Marcus had insisted.
Adrian walked into the warehouse.
Eli sat tied to a chair.
Unharmed.
Victor stood beside him.
"Give me the drive."
"Let him go."
"Drive first."
Adrian held it up.
Eli looked terrified.
"Dad."
It was the first time he had called Adrian that.
One word.
Adrian felt it through his entire body.
Victor smiled.
"Touching."
Adrian looked directly at his son.
"It's okay."
Then he turned toward Victor.
"You've already lost."
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Not yet."
But Adrian knew something Victor didn't.
The evidence was no longer on two flash drives.
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An hour earlier, Rachel had sent copies to federal investigators.
And to every major newspaper in New York.
