Chapter 5 - Unraveling the Double Life
I sat in the sterile hospital room, the ambient hum of the heart monitors sounding like a ticking time bomb.
Detective Vance looked at me grimly. “Victor Rostov is one of the most dangerous men in North America. If Sarah walked into his hands four days ago…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “She gave you a chance to run, Mark. My department can put you and your kids into federal protective custody right now.”
I looked at my sleeping children.
Lily’s little face looked so peaceful now, relieved of the agonizing fear she had carried for four days alone on that cold floor. She had dragged her baby brother across the house, acting as his shield because her mother had begged her to keep him quiet.
My wife had sacrificed her freedom—and likely her life—to keep us alive.
“No,” I said, looking up at Detective Vance. “I’m not running.”
“Mark, you’re an architect,” Vance said sternly. “You don't know who these people are. Rostov’s men are ruthless murderers.”
“My wife spent five years building a life with me,” I said, rage replacing the cold despair in my chest. “She cooked my meals, she held my hand, she gave birth to my children. I don't care what her name was six years ago. She is my wife. And she’s still alive.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because if Rostov wanted her dead, he would have killed her in my house,” I argued, pointing toward the tablet. “He needs her alive to unlock the master ledger. She’s the only one who knows the encryption keys.”
I reached into the hospital bag containing Lily’s belongings and pulled out her favorite plush brown teddy bear. I took a pen from my pocket and ripped open the seam along the bear's back.
Inside, wrapped in aluminum foil, was a micro-SD card.
May you like
Detective Vance stared at the card in awe. “Is that…?”
“The master ledger,” I said. “Rostov doesn't know Sarah left it here. Which means I have the only bargaining chip in the world that can buy her life back.”
