Chapter 14 - THE ROOFTOP EDGE
Wind swept across the roof of Warren Tower.
The city stretched hundreds of feet below.
Julian pulled Arthur toward the eastern ledge.
A helicopter waited on a neighboring building.
Mercer stood beside it.
The plan was clear.
Julian intended to cross by maintenance cable, reach the helicopter, and disappear.
Celeste emerged from the stairwell.
She remained ten yards away.
“Let him go.”
Julian pushed Arthur closer to the edge.
“One more step and he falls.”
Arthur’s face was pale.
Blood ran from his eyebrow.
Mercer shouted from the opposite roof.
“You have two minutes.”
Julian held up the scorched serial tag.
“This tiny piece of metal is all that connects Graywater to the company.”
“You forgot Vivian’s recordings.”
“Vivian will not survive long enough to testify.”
Celeste studied his expression.
“You don’t know where she is.”
Julian’s eyes shifted.
That was the confirmation she needed.
Vivian had escaped whoever held her.
The broadcast had been prerecorded or triggered remotely.
“You lost her,” Celeste said.
“I never lose.”
“You lost Mom.”
“I corrected a threat.”
Arthur turned toward his son.
“You killed her.”
Julian’s face showed no regret.
“She was going to destroy everything you built.”
Arthur looked at Celeste.
Then he drove his elbow into Julian’s ribs.
The gun fired.
Arthur collapsed.
Celeste ran forward.
Julian reached for the maintenance cable.
Celeste slid across the gravel and grabbed Arthur’s coat before he rolled over the ledge.
His body hung above the city.
She locked one arm around a steel support and held him with the other.
Pain tore through her scarred shoulder.
Julian moved toward the cable.
“Choose, Commander,” he called.
“Save the father who abandoned you or stop the brother who betrayed you.”
Celeste tightened her grip on Arthur.
Then another hand seized Julian’s ankle.
Vivian emerged from behind the ventilation structure.
Her face was bruised, but her eyes were clear.
“You should never have called me temporary,” she said.
She pulled hard.
Julian fell onto the gravel.
The serial tag slid from his hand.
Mercer raised a rifle from the opposite rooftop.
Celeste saw the sunlight flash across the scope.
“Down!”
The shot struck the steel support beside her.
May you like
The impact tore her grip loose.
Arthur fell.
