Chapter 9 - ONE SECOND FROM DEATH
“DON’T MOVE!”
Marcus shouted.
Richard froze.
The chair had tilted just enough to arm the device.
A red light began blinking.
Julian ran toward the stairwell.
Marcus wanted to chase him.
Leo grabbed his coat.
“Dad!”
That stopped him.
Clara dropped beside Derek.
Blood covered his shirt.
“Stay with me.”
He looked at her.
“You really are my sister?”
“Apparently.”
He laughed weakly.
“Worst family reunion ever.”
“Save your strength.”
Derek grabbed her wrist.
“Listen.”
“No.”
“Listen.”
His breath shook.
“Vanessa isn’t working for Julian anymore.”
Clara looked toward the stairwell.
“What?”
“She turned on him months ago.”
“Why?”
“Because she found out what he did to Elena.”
Marcus was studying the pressure device.
“How long do we have?”
Richard whispered, “I don’t know.”
Derek continued.
“Julian poisoned Elena through Dr. Grant. Vanessa helped move money, but she didn’t know what it was for.”
Clara looked at him.
“She still attacked Leo.”
“She wanted the ring before Julian did.”
“That doesn’t make her innocent.”
“No.”
Derek winced.
“But she knew the drive could prove murder.”
A siren echoed far below.
Police were entering.
Marcus examined the bomb.
“It’s not on a timer.”
Richard stared at him.
“How do you know?”
“It triggers if your weight leaves the chair.”
Leo said quietly, “Then put something else on it.”
Everyone looked at him.
Marcus blinked.
The simplest answer.
They found bags of cement in a renovation room.
Slowly, carefully, Marcus stacked them against Richard.
One bag.
Two.
Three.
Richard stood while Marcus lowered the weight.
The red light stayed steady.
No explosion.
They moved.
Fast.
Marcus helped Derek.
Clara supported Richard.
Leo ran between them.
They reached the stairwell.
Then an alarm sounded.
The red light on the bomb began flashing.
“RUN!”
The explosion ripped through the thirty-sixth floor.
Fire blasted down the hallway.
The stairwell door slammed shut behind them.
They stumbled downward.
Thirty-five.
Thirty-four.
Thirty-three.
Smoke chased them.
On floor thirty, Derek collapsed.
Clara dropped beside him.
“No.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I can’t feel my leg.”
Marcus looked down the stairwell.
“We have to move.”
Derek pushed the flash drive into Clara’s hand.
“When this is over…”
“Stop.”
“Find the Grant file.”
“What?”
“Grant file.”
His face tightened.
“Your mother didn’t die when you were twenty-one.”
Clara stared at him.
“My mother is dead.”
Derek shook his head.
“That’s what they wanted you to believe.”
Clara’s breath disappeared.
“What are you saying?”
Derek whispered:
May you like
“June Dawson is alive.”
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