Chapter 5 - The UltimatumTerror gripped my throat, squeezing off my air supply. For a second, I felt dizzy, ready to collapse right onto the diner floor. But beneath the fear, a hot, protective rage flared up inside me—the fierce, primal instinct of a mother protecting her cubs. You do not threaten my grandchildren.

I yanked my wrist backward with all my remaining strength. To my surprise, the element of surprise caught him off guard, and my arm broke free from his grip.

"Try it," I hissed, leaning down so close our noses were inches apart, my eyes locking onto his with absolute fury. "And I'll make sure the entire world gets the ledger before the flames even reach the porch."

The man's polite, sinister smile vanished, replaced by a flash of genuine surprise. He hadn't expected the old diner waitress to bite back.

"You have twenty-four hours, Carolyn," the man whispered, adjusting his lapel smoothly as other customers looked over. "Bring the flash drive and the safety deposit key to the old pier behind the abandoned cannery at midnight tomorrow. Come alone. If you involve the police, or anyone else, the children become collateral damage."

I didn't answer. I turned on my heel, grabbed the coffee pot, and walked straight into the back kitchen, slamming the swinging door behind me. My hands were shaking so violently I dropped the pot onto the stainless-steel prep table, spilling hot coffee everywhere.

I couldn't go to the police. Darla had warned me they were compromised, and these men clearly had eyes everywhere. If I went to the authorities, it might trigger the very violence I was trying to avoid.

I had to handle this myself.

When my shift ended at 2:00 PM, I didn't go straight home. I drove my beat-up sedan downtown to the First National Bank, parking two blocks away to see if anyone was tailing me. The black sedan from my driveway was parked half a block down. They were following my every move.

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I couldn't go into the bank today; if I retrieved the safety deposit box now while they were watching, they would intercept me before I reached the car.

Instead, I hatched a desperate, reckless plan.