Chapter 12 - THE NIGHT EVERYONE HAD TO CHOOSE|
By eleven-thirty, the warehouse was surrounded by darkness and rain.
Police officers had established positions nearby, and Detective Serrano was directing the response.
Luca sat inside an unmarked vehicle, staring at the building where his father was being held.
I was beside him.
For the first time, I saw fear without anger in his eyes.
"He's going to blame himself if Peter gets hurt," I whispered.
Luca nodded.
"That's Dad."
He looked down at the photograph of his mother.
"She spent her whole life trying to protect him from men like Voss."
"And he spent his whole life trying to protect everyone else."
I touched his sleeve.
"Then it's our turn."
Detective Serrano approached the vehicle.
"We've received confirmation that Vanessa is willing to cooperate."
Luca looked up.
"Where is she?"
"She's with officers."
"She provided information about the warehouse and agreed to answer questions."
"Can we trust her?"
"We aren't relying on trust alone," Serrano replied.
"We're checking what she tells us against other evidence."
Inside the warehouse, Elias Voss was losing patience.
Frank had spent nearly an hour reading documents and requesting corrections.
Every time Voss pushed the pen toward him, Frank found another discrepancy.
A missing date.
An inaccurate property description.
An unexplained account number.
Finally, Voss seized the papers.
"You're doing this deliberately."
Frank looked at him.
"Of course I am."
Peter Kline stared.
Voss smiled coldly.
"You think your son is coming to save you?"
"I know he is."
"Then you don't know your son as well as you think."
Frank straightened his shoulders.
"I know him better tonight than I did five years ago."
Voss leaned closer.
"Your son built his reputation on fear."
"Yes," Frank admitted.
"And I failed him by letting him believe that was enough."
For the first time, Voss had no immediate answer.
Frank continued.
"But he came back when I needed him."
"He listened when I told him the truth."
"And he has something you will never understand."
Voss narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"People who love him without wanting his money."
A sound came from the far end of the warehouse.
Caleb turned toward it.
"What was that?"
A second sound followed.
Then a voice called from beyond the loading area.
"Chicago Police!"
"Put down your weapons!"
The officers had entered after receiving information that the hostages faced imminent danger.
Voss grabbed Frank's collar.
"Get up!"
The old man stumbled.
Peter tried to help him, but Caleb pulled the notary away.
Outside, Luca heard the police announce their presence over the radio.
He started toward the vehicle door.
Detective Serrano stopped him.
"Stay here."
"That's my father!"
"And we're trying to bring him out alive."
Luca's face twisted with desperation.
He looked at me.
I knew what he wanted.
He wanted to rush inside and fight everyone standing between him and Frank.
Five years earlier, he would have done exactly that.
But tonight, he slowly sat back down.
He kept his promise to his father.
Inside, Voss dragged Frank toward the loading section.
Caleb moved behind them, using Peter as a shield.
Officers continued ordering them to surrender.
Then another voice echoed through the warehouse.
"ELIAS!"
Vanessa stood near an interior doorway, having entered from an adjoining office before police secured that section.
Her cream-colored coat was stained with rain.
Voss froze.
"What are you doing here?"
She stared at Frank.
"Let him go."
Voss laughed.
"You've developed a conscience?"
"I told you I wouldn't help you kill him."
"You helped me take everything else."
Vanessa flinched.
"I know."
The words echoed through the warehouse.
She looked toward Frank.
"I'm sorry."
Frank watched her quietly.
Then he answered.
"Being sorry is what happens after you understand the harm."
"What matters now is what you choose to do."
Voss raised his weapon toward her.
"Move."
Vanessa didn't.
"I'm done doing what you tell me."
A sudden struggle erupted when Caleb tried to pull Peter toward the loading door.
Peter broke free, and officers moved to protect him.
Frank lost his balance and fell against the metal table.
Voss turned toward the confusion.
For one brief instant, he released Frank's collar.
The old man pushed himself beneath the table.
A loud crash rang through the warehouse.
Then another.
Over the radio, Detective Serrano heard an urgent message.
"Hostage moving toward the lower office!"
"Possible fire hazard in the loading area!"
Smoke began rising behind the warehouse windows.
Luca stared through the windshield.
"No."
A bright orange glow appeared beneath the loading doors.
Then flames swept upward along the interior wall.
Vanessa had warned them.
May you like
Voss intended to destroy the building.
And Frank Moretti was still inside.
