Chapter 14 - Fourteen Seconds
Nathan drove south toward Chicago with both hands on the steering wheel.
Catherine sat beside him.
Her wrists were no longer tied.
She wore a dark coat over hospital clothing.
A small cut marked her lower lip.
Nathan had given her water.
He had also told her that if she tried to escape, someone would hurt Lily.
Catherine no longer believed everything he said.
But she believed he was desperate enough to do something terrible.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
Nathan kept his eyes on the road.
"Somewhere safe."
She gave a humorless laugh.
"You people really need a new word."
He glanced at her.
"Catherine, please."
"Don't."
"I know you're angry."
"Angry?"
She turned toward him.
"You let my husband bury me."
Nathan looked away.
"You don't understand."
"I've heard that sentence for eleven months."
"Nathan—"
"You think I wanted any of this?"
Catherine stared at him.
"I think you wanted money."
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"I wanted a chance."
"At what?"
"To prove I wasn't useless."
Catherine looked at him.
Nathan's face had changed.
For a moment, he looked like the younger brother who used to arrive at family dinners determined to impress everyone.
Robert had spent years comparing his sons.
Daniel was disciplined.
Nathan was imaginative.
Daniel was reliable.
Nathan was reckless.
Daniel understood business.
Nathan understood how to spend money.
Catherine had watched Nathan grow smaller under those comparisons.
She had felt sorry for him once.
Now pity seemed obscenely inadequate.
"Your father made you feel worthless," she said.
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"Don't talk about him."
"That doesn't justify what you did."
"You think I don't know that?"
"Then stop doing it."
He laughed bitterly.
"You think it's that simple?"
"No."
Catherine looked directly at him.
"But I think you still have a choice."
Nathan shook his head.
"Not anymore."
"Where are you taking me?"
He glanced at the rearview mirror.
"To the archive."
Catherine went still.
"Which archive?"
"The one you hid."
She stared.
Nathan smiled faintly.
"Did you really think I wouldn't figure it out?"
Catherine looked away.
The house.
Fourteen Seconds.
The place where she had once imagined raising Lily without walls, gates, or guards.
Nathan continued.
"Father knows about the original ledger."
"Then why does he need me?"
"Because you're the only one who knows where the second copy is."
Catherine said nothing.
Nathan's voice hardened.
"You kept insurance."
"Yes."
"Against us."
"Against everyone."
He looked at her.
"Even Daniel?"
She met his eyes.
"Especially Daniel."
Nathan frowned.
Catherine continued.
"When I disappeared, I thought your brother had betrayed me."
"I know."
"I thought he'd ordered the crash."
Nathan stared ahead.
"Andrew made sure you believed that."
Catherine swallowed.
"Yes."
"Then why did you leave evidence for Daniel?"
"Because I was wrong."
Nathan said nothing.
Catherine continued.
"I spent months watching recordings."
"Recordings?"
"Surveillance footage."
She looked at him.
"You gave Andrew access to Daniel's house."
Nathan's face tightened.
"I didn't authorize everything he did."
"But you knew."
Silence.
Catherine continued.
"I watched Daniel take Lily to school."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I watched him sit in our kitchen after she went to bed."
Nathan stared at the road.
"I watched him cry on our anniversary."
Her voice broke.
"He didn't know anyone could see him."
Nathan's expression changed.
Catherine looked out the window.
"That's when I knew."
"Knew what?"
"That your brother wasn't the man who wanted me dead."
Nathan said nothing.
Catherine turned toward him.
"He loved me."
The words hung between them.
"He still loves me."
Nathan swallowed.
Then his phone rang.
Robert.
He ignored it.
It rang again.
Catherine watched his hands.
"Nathan."
"Don't."
"Your father is going to sacrifice you."
He shook his head.
"You don't know him."
"I know what men like him do when the truth catches up."
Nathan stared ahead.
Catherine continued.
"Andrew Voss is dead."
Nathan's face went pale.
"What?"
"Your father told me."
Nathan gripped the wheel.
"He said Andrew was becoming a liability."
Nathan looked horrified.
Catherine watched realization dawn.
Robert had used him.
Praised him when he was useful.
Threatened him when he questioned orders.
And now the entire scheme was collapsing.
Nathan whispered, "He wouldn't."
Catherine said nothing.
Nathan's phone rang a third time.
He answered through the car speakers.
"Father."
Robert's voice filled the vehicle.
"Where are you?"
"Driving."
"With Catherine?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Nathan swallowed.
"Andrew's dead."
A pause.
Robert said, "He made an unfortunate decision."
Nathan stared at the road.
"What happened?"
"That isn't your concern."
"Was it an accident?"
Robert's voice hardened.
"Nathan."
Catherine watched Nathan's expression.
For years, this was the voice that had controlled him.
A voice that turned a grown man into a frightened boy.
"Bring Catherine to the property," Robert said.
Nathan swallowed.
"Why?"
"Because she has something we need."
"And afterward?"
Silence.
Nathan asked again.
"What happens afterward?"
Robert sighed.
"Don't complicate matters."
Nathan looked at Catherine.
She held his gaze.
Then he said, "I want immunity."
Robert went silent.
Nathan continued.
"For me."
Robert laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I know where the money went."
"You know what I allowed you to know."
Nathan's face hardened.
"Maybe."
Robert said, "Bring her in."
Nathan disconnected.
For a moment, only the engine filled the car.
Then Catherine whispered, "He doesn't intend to protect you."
Nathan stared through the windshield.
"No."
"Then help me stop him."
He didn't answer.
Catherine continued.
"You don't have to become your father."
Nathan's eyes filled with tears.
"I think I already have."
Catherine looked at him.
"Then choose to be different for once."
The car slowed.
Nathan pulled onto the shoulder.
For several seconds, he sat staring ahead.
Then he turned off the engine.
He reached into his jacket.
Catherine stiffened.
Nathan removed a phone.
He handed it to her.
"Call Daniel."
She stared.
"What?"
"Call him."
Catherine looked down at the phone.
Nathan's voice broke.
"Tell him where we are."
She didn't move.
Nathan swallowed.
"Tell him I'm surrendering."
Catherine stared at him.
"Why?"
He looked at her.
"Because I finally understand something."
"What?"
Nathan wiped his eyes.
"Father never loved either of us enough to stop."
Catherine took the phone.
Her fingers shook as she dialed.
Daniel answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
Catherine couldn't speak.
She had imagined this moment for eleven months.
Sometimes she imagined screaming.
Sometimes she imagined apologizing.
Sometimes she imagined hearing his voice and collapsing.
Now she could only cry.
"Hello?"
Daniel's voice sharpened.
"Who is this?"
She drew a shaky breath.
"Daniel?"
Silence.
Then a sound escaped him.
"Catherine?"
She pressed her hand against her mouth.
"Yes."
He inhaled sharply.
"Oh, God."
She closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Catherine, where are you?"
"I'm with Nathan."
"Are you hurt?"
"A little."
"Is he threatening you?"
She looked at Nathan.
He shook his head.
"No."
Daniel breathed unevenly.
"Tell me where you are."
Catherine described the road and the nearest exit.
Daniel repeated the information to someone beside him.
Then he returned.
"Listen to me."
She closed her eyes.
"I'm listening."
"You're going to stay on the phone."
"Okay."
"And you're going to keep talking."
She began to cry again.
"About what?"
"Anything."
His voice cracked.
"Tell me what you had for breakfast."
Catherine laughed through tears.
"I didn't eat."
"Then tell me what color the sky is."
She looked through the windshield.
"Gray."
Daniel made a broken sound.
"Chicago in October."
She smiled sadly.
"Always gray."
For a few seconds, they simply breathed together.
Then Catherine whispered, "I heard your interview."
Daniel went silent.
"The scholarship one."
He swallowed.
"You saw that?"
"Yes."
Catherine began to cry harder.
"You said you'd give everything away for one more morning with me."
Daniel's voice broke.
"I meant it."
"I know."
"I would."
"I know, Daniel."
She pressed the phone against her ear.
"I was wrong about you."
He shook his head, though she couldn't see him.
"We'll talk about all of it."
"I'm so sorry."
"We'll talk when you're safe."
Catherine looked toward Nathan.
He was watching the rearview mirror.
His expression changed.
"Catherine."
She turned.
"What?"
"Get down."
She looked behind them.
A black SUV had pulled onto the shoulder.
Two men stepped out.
Nathan shouted, "NOW!"
Catherine dropped below the dashboard.
A gunshot shattered the rear window.
Daniel heard the glass break through the phone.
"CATHERINE!"
Nathan threw the car into gear.
The tires screamed.
Catherine slid across the seat.
Daniel shouted her name again.
She clutched the phone.
"Daniel!"
Another shot rang out.
Nathan gasped.
The car swerved.
Catherine reached for the steering wheel.
"Nathan!"
He pressed one hand against his shoulder.
"Drive!"
"I can't—"
"TAKE THE WHEEL!"
Catherine grabbed it.
The car veered toward the median.
She fought to keep it on the road.
Daniel's voice thundered through the phone.
"CATHERINE, TALK TO ME!"
She screamed, "THEY'RE SHOOTING!"
Then the vehicle struck the guardrail.
Metal shrieked.
May you like
The phone flew from her hand.
And the line went silent.
