Chapter 7 - Victor Hayes Makes a Promise
The only vehicle left in Victor Hayes's forty-car garage was a twelve-year-old pickup truck used by the gardeners.
Liam stared at it.
"This is what the most feared man in the city drives to war?"
Victor opened the driver's door.
"Get in."
"The passenger window is held up with tape."
"Then avoid lowering it."
Lily climbed into the back with Liam.
Mason sat beside Victor.
The engine protested before starting.
Liam shook his head.
"If we survive, I'm telling everyone."
"If we survive, I'll deny it."
For the first time all night, Lily laughed.
It surprised all of them.
Especially her.
Victor looked at her through the mirror.
The laugh disappeared.
But a faint smile remained.
Then they drove into the rain.
Warehouse Seventeen was twenty-three minutes away.
Victor made three calls.
The first went to a retired federal investigator named Samuel Cross.
The second went to a judge whose name did not appear in Paul's files.
The third went to a private security team Victor had kept separate from his internal staff.
"You had another security team?" Mason asked.
"Insurance."
"Against us?"
"Against everyone."
Mason nodded.
"Fair."
Victor arranged for evidence copies to be delivered automatically if he failed to check in by dawn.
Then he handed Lily a second phone.
"Emergency number."
"Who answers?"
"Samuel."
"What do I tell him?"
"If anything happens to me, tell him the phrase 'black ledger.'"
"And then?"
"He'll understand."
Lily held the phone.
Victor's eyes met hers in the mirror.
"If I tell you to run tonight, you run."
She frowned.
"Victor—"
"Say you understand."
It was the first time he had used his own name as though inviting her to.
Not Mr. Hayes.
Victor.
"I understand."
"Good."
"But I'm not promising I'll listen."
Liam smiled.
"That's my sister."
Victor shook his head.
They crossed the river.
Industrial buildings rose ahead.
Lily's anxiety returned.
She recognized the area.
"I came through here."
Victor slowed.
"Which direction?"
"Left at the tracks."
He followed.
"There."
Warehouse Seventeen stood near the river.
Long brick structure.
Broken upper windows.
A single loading-bay light.
No visible guards.
Which meant many guards.
Victor parked three blocks away.
Mason checked his weapon.
"Cross's people?"
"Ten minutes behind."
"We don't have ten."
"No."
Victor looked at Lily.
"You stay here."
She stared.
"You said—"
"I changed my mind."
"Why?"
"Because every instinct I have is telling me this goes badly."
"Daniel is inside."
"Daniel chose this life."
"So did you."
Victor's expression changed.
Lily leaned forward.
"I didn't. Neither did Liam. That's why we should finish it tonight."
Victor turned fully.
"Lily, listen carefully. Paul has spent months building a story in which you are disposable."
"Exactly."
"He'll use you."
"Then let him think he can."
Victor stared.
She continued.
"If I stay here and you walk inside alone, he knows something changed."
Mason glanced at Victor.
"She's right."
Victor gave him a look.
Mason shrugged.
"Don't shoot the messenger."
Victor finally nodded.
"Fine."
Lily opened the door.
Victor stopped her.
"One condition."
"What?"
"You stay behind me until I say otherwise."
"Fine."
"And if shooting starts—"
"I run."
"Immediately."
"Yes."
He studied her.
"You're lying."
"A little."
They moved toward the warehouse.
Rain covered their footsteps.
Liam and Mason circled toward the rear entrance.
Victor and Lily approached the main loading door.
It opened before they touched it.
Paul stood inside.
No weapon visible.
He smiled.
"You're late."
Victor glanced at his watch.
"Thirty seconds early."
Paul's eyes moved toward Lily.
"Hello, Lily."
She said nothing.
Paul smiled wider.
"Still making bad decisions?"
Victor stepped between them.
"Where is Daniel?"
"Upstairs."
"Release him."
"Ledger first."
Victor held up a drive.
Paul's eyes changed.
"Everything Liam photographed."
"Original?"
"Original enough."
Paul chuckled.
"You always did enjoy wording."
Victor entered.
Lily followed.
Inside were six armed men.
Two she recognized from the estate.
Her stomach turned.
Victor noticed where she was looking.
"Names later," he whispered.
Paul led them through the warehouse.
"You look better than expected."
"You need better shooters."
Paul's smile vanished.
Victor continued.
"And better poison."
Paul stopped.
Lily saw the flicker.
Victor had confirmed another suspicion.
"So there was something in the glass."
Paul recovered.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course."
They reached a central open area.
Daniel sat tied to a chair.
Blood ran from a cut above his eyebrow.
He was conscious.
When he saw Victor, he swore.
"You idiot."
Victor almost smiled.
"Nice to see you too."
Daniel looked at Lily.
"And you brought the girl?"
"She insisted."
Daniel groaned.
"Of course she did."
Paul held out his hand.
"Drive."
Victor did not move.
"Daniel first."
"No."
"Then we're finished."
Paul laughed.
"You aren't leaving."
"No?"
"You walked into my building with one wounded shoulder and a housekeeper."
Lily bristled.
Victor calmly said, "Maid."
Paul blinked.
Victor continued.
"If you're going to underestimate her, at least use the correct job."
Lily looked at him.
Paul rolled his eyes.
"This sentimentality is embarrassing."
Victor's expression became cold.
"You threatened her brother."
"I used leverage."
"You stole in my name."
"I improved your business."
"You trapped families in false debts."
"They paid."
"You planned to blame my murder on her."
Paul finally lost the smile.
"There it is."
Victor watched him.
"Your weakness."
Victor said nothing.
Paul pointed toward Lily.
"You spent years turning yourself into something nobody could touch. Then some exhausted girl falls asleep on you and suddenly you're making promises."
Lily's heart kicked.
How much had the camera recorded?
Paul continued.
"Do you know why your father lasted so long?"
Victor's face became blank.
"He understood people are tools."
Victor's voice was quiet.
"And that's why he died alone."
Paul's jaw tightened.
Victor held up the drive.
"Release Daniel."
Paul gestured.
One guard cut Daniel's restraints.
Daniel stood slowly.
"Walk."
Daniel approached Victor.
Halfway there, Paul raised a gun.
"Stop."
Daniel froze.
"Drive first."
Victor tossed it.
Paul caught it.
Lily's breath caught.
Paul handed the drive to another man.
"Check it."
A laptop sat nearby.
The man inserted it.
Files appeared.
Paul smiled.
"Good."
He gestured toward Daniel.
"Continue."
Daniel crossed the floor.
Victor pulled him behind.
For a brief second, it looked like the exchange had worked.
Then Paul asked, "Where's Liam?"
Lily's expression changed.
Paul saw it.
"Ah."
He smiled.
"Here."
Victor remained silent.
Paul glanced toward the ceiling.
"Liam!"
A speaker crackled.
"Liam Carter, your sister is standing in front of me."
Nothing.
Paul drew his pistol and pointed it at Lily.
Victor immediately stepped between them.
"Try again."
Paul smiled.
"Found the nerve."
Victor's voice lowered.
"Point that at her again and this negotiation ends."
"Victor, you walked in with an empty gun."
Lily looked at him.
Victor did not react.
Paul laughed.
"You think I didn't check? Mason removed ammunition from your emergency cache months ago."
Victor slowly looked toward the darkness above.
"Mason?"
Paul smiled.
"You still haven't learned."
A shadow moved on the catwalk.
Mason appeared.
Beside him stood Liam.
Mason had a pistol pressed against Liam's head.
Lily stopped breathing.
"Liam."
Her brother looked down.
"I'm sorry."
Victor stared at Mason.
Mason's face held no shame now.
Only exhaustion.
Paul spread his arms.
"Welcome to the truth."
Victor's jaw tightened.
Paul stepped closer.
"The takeover was never just mine."
Mason forced Liam toward the stairs.
Lily whispered, "You said you were helping us."
Mason met her eyes.
"For a while, I was."
Paul laughed.
"Everybody helps themselves eventually."
Mason brought Liam onto the warehouse floor.
Paul took the pistol from Mason and pointed it at Liam.
Then he looked at Victor.
"Now give me the real memory card."
Victor slowly reached into his jacket.
Lily's eyes widened.
He still had it.
Paul smiled.
"There you are."
Victor held the tiny card between two fingers.
Paul extended his hand.
Victor looked at Lily.
Then Liam.
Then Daniel.
Three people in danger because they had trusted him.
Paul waited.
Victor made his decision.
He dropped the memory card onto the concrete.
Then crushed it beneath his shoe.
Paul's smile vanished.
"What did you do?"
Victor stared at him.
"Changed the terms."
Paul raised his weapon.
Victor continued.
"You wanted evidence."
He glanced toward the windows.
"Unfortunately, copies have already been delivered."
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Paul's face went pale.
Victor smiled.
May you like
"And your thirty-seven minutes just expired."
---
