CHAPTER 6: The Billion-Dollar Conspiracy
Rain poured across the empty highway as the stolen ambulance sped through the darkness.
Behind them...
Three black SUVs appeared.
"They found us!" Emma shouted.
Bullets shattered the ambulance's rear windows.
Daniel struggled to stay awake while trying to reload his pistol.
"They're not police anymore."
"They're private security."
"For who?" Emma asked.
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
"The richest man in the country."
Emma frowned.
"Victor Langford?"
Daniel nodded.
"The billionaire everyone calls America's greatest philanthropist."
"He built children's hospitals..."
"He funds police charities..."
"He donates billions every year."
Daniel looked out the shattered window.
"It was all a mask."
"He controls the trafficking network."
Emma felt sick.
"The children..."
Daniel's voice broke.
"They weren't being rescued."
"They were being sold."
Noah suddenly pointed toward the GPS screen.
"Daddy..."
"The red dot is moving."
Emma looked down.
Hidden inside the silver key was a GPS tracker.
Someone was following its signal.
Daniel's face turned white.
"No..."
"They planted it years ago."
Emma slammed the brakes.
"We have to leave the ambulance. Now!"
The three of them sprinted into an abandoned warehouse just seconds before—
BOOM!
The ambulance exploded into a massive fireball, lighting up the night sky.
The assassins stopped, believing everyone inside had been killed.
Hidden in the shadows, Emma held Noah tightly while flames reflected in her tear-filled eyes.
For a brief moment...
They were safe.
Then slow footsteps echoed through the dark warehouse.
Clap...
Clap...
Clap...
An elderly man in an expensive black suit emerged from the shadows, calmly applauding.
He smiled at Emma as if he had been expecting her all along.
"Impressive, Detective Carter."
"But you've made one very dangerous mistake."
Emma raised her gun.
"Who are you?"
The old man smiled.
"I'm not your enemy."
He reached into his coat and placed a faded photograph on the floor.
It showed Emma as a little girl...
Standing between the elderly man...
And a woman she had never seen before.
Then he whispered the words that changed everything.
May you like
"Victor Langford isn't your greatest enemy..."
"...He's your father."
