Chapter 12 - Maya’s Bargain
Maya woke in a room she recognized.
Briar Glen.
The same house where she and Noah had spent eighteen months being told they were unwanted.
The curtains were different.
The lock on the door wasn’t.
Charles Vale sat in a chair across from her.
Perfect suit.
Silver hair.
Calm smile.
Maya hated the smile most.
“You’ve caused a great deal of trouble.”
She said nothing.
Charles leaned back.
“Your mother was the same.”
Maya’s hands tightened.
“Don’t talk about her.”
“She was emotional.”
“You murdered her.”
Charles’s smile faded slightly.
“Victoria has been filling your head with stories.”
“I heard recordings.”
That changed him.
Only for a second.
But Maya saw it.
“What recordings?”
She smiled.
Now he understood he wasn’t in control.
“Scared?”
Charles stood.
“You are fourteen years old.”
“And you kidnapped me.”
“I am protecting you.”
Maya laughed.
It sounded more like her mother than she realized.
“From who?”
“Arthur Cole.”
“Arthur saved us.”
“Arthur is using you.”
“For what?”
“Money.”
Maya shook her head.
“You really think everybody is like you.”
Charles walked toward the window.
“Your grandfather built an empire because he understood people. Everyone has a price.”
“My mom didn’t.”
Charles’s face hardened.
“No.”
“And that’s why you killed her.”
He turned.
“Be careful.”
“Why?”
Maya stood.
“You’ll kill me too?”
For the first time, Charles lost his composure.
He slapped the table.
“I kept you alive!”
Maya flinched but refused to step back.
Charles breathed heavily.
“I could have solved this problem eighteen months ago.”
Maya stared.
“Then why didn’t you?”
Something almost human passed over his face.
“Because children should not pay for their parents’ mistakes.”
Maya didn’t believe him.
Then Charles continued.
“But adults eventually force difficult decisions.”
There it was.
The threat.
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“You already have one.”
Charles’s eyes narrowed.
Maya had guessed.
She had listened to adults carefully.
Grant mentioned two ledgers.
Charles didn’t know how much she knew.
“Where is it?”
“Safe.”
“With Arthur?”
Maya shrugged.
Charles stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“Then Noah comes here too.”
Maya’s stomach dropped.
She hid it.
“He’s protected.”
“By police officers?”
Charles laughed softly.
“Do you know how many police officers work for me?”
Maya thought of Ruiz.
“You don’t own everyone.”
“No. Only enough.”
He walked toward the door.
Maya called after him.
“I’ll make a deal.”
Charles stopped.
She hated herself for sounding brave when she was terrified.
“You leave Noah alone.”
Charles turned.
“And?”
“I tell you where the ledger is.”
He studied her.
“Why would I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
Maya smiled.
“But you need me.”
Charles looked almost amused.
“Your mother really did live on in you.”
Maya’s smile vanished.
Charles came closer.
“Fine.”
“You promise?”
His expression softened.
“Of course.”
Maya knew then.
Adults who planned to keep promises didn’t say “of course” that easily.
She gave him a location.
Not the real one.
Arthur’s old office building downtown.
Third floor.
Storage room.
Locker 311.
There was no locker 311.
But it bought time.
Charles left.
Maya sat alone.
Then quietly reached into her shoe.
During the kidnapping, she had managed to keep one thing.
A small emergency tracker Ruiz had given her after the lake house attack.
She pressed the button.
A red light blinked.
Once.
Then died.
Signal sent.
Across town, Arthur’s phone vibrated.
Ruiz had connected all emergency trackers to a police system.
A location appeared.
BRIAR GLEN ROAD.
Arthur stood.
“We have her.”
Daniel grabbed his coat.
Noah ran toward the door.
Arthur stopped him.
“You stay.”
“No.”
“Noah.”
“She’s my sister.”
“I know.”
“She came back for me every time.”
Arthur knelt.
“And I’m bringing her back this time.”
Noah’s eyes filled.
“Promise?”
Arthur thought of all the promises adults had broken around these children.
So he chose his words carefully.
“I will do everything I can.”
Noah hugged him.
Arthur left with Ruiz.
Unknown to him, Charles had received a call at the same moment.
Deputy Chief Hollis.
“They’re moving toward Briar Glen.”
Charles looked toward Maya’s room.
“How?”
“A tracker.”
Charles smiled.
“Then let them come.”
He hung up.
Walked to Maya’s door.
May you like
And said,
“You just invited Arthur into a trap.”
