Chapter 9: The Last Bargain
The old church stood at the end of a dirt road, surrounded by dead grass and enormous oak trees that seemed to swallow the moonlight.
It had been abandoned for years.
The stained-glass windows were cracked.
The wooden doors were weathered gray.
A broken bell hung crookedly above the entrance.
And somewhere inside that building, according to the message on my phone, were the two men I loved most in the world.
Ryan.
And my father.
I sat in the driver's seat and stared at the church.
The black ledger was hidden beneath my coat.
I could feel its weight against my ribs.
Daniel sat beside me.
“You don't have to do this.””
“Yes, I do.””
“They want you alone.””
“I know.””
“They're expecting you to come frightened.””
“I am frightened.””
“That isn't what I mean.””
I turned to him.
“What do you mean?””
“They expect you to come desperate.””
I looked through the windshield.
“I am desperate.””
Daniel shook his head.
“They think that makes you weak.””
I looked at him.
“But it doesn't.””
He nodded.
“No.””
I reached for the door.
He caught my wrist.
“Sarah.””
I looked back.
“Whatever happens inside, don't give them the ledger until you know Ryan and your father are alive.””
“What if they threaten them?””
“They will.””
“What if they hurt them?””
“They might.””
I swallowed.
“And if they kill them?””
Daniel's grip loosened.
“I won't let that happen.””
I almost smiled.
“You've said that before.””
“I know.””
There was pain in his voice.
“I failed you before.””
I looked at him.
“You lied to me.””
“Yes.””
“You watched me believe my father was dead.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Ryan had found him.””
“Yes.””
“You knew more than everyone else.””
“Yes.””
I waited.
“Why?””
Daniel stared at the church.
“Because I was afraid.””
I had heard that word too many times.
Everyone was afraid.
My father.
Ryan.
Daniel.
Emily.
Even Linda.
But somehow their fear had always become my suffering.
“You don't get to use fear as an excuse anymore,” I said.
“I know.””
He released my wrist.
I opened the door.
“Sarah.””
I stopped.
“You were right about one thing.””
“What?””
“You're done being controlled.””
I looked at him.
“Stay here.””
He frowned.
“You just told them you were coming alone.””
“I know.””
“You think I'll listen?””
“No.””
I smiled faintly.
“I know you'll follow.””
Then I closed the door.
The church looked abandoned from the outside.
But when I stepped closer, I saw light leaking through the cracks in the doors.
Someone was inside.
I opened the door.
It groaned.
The smell of dust and old wood filled the air.
At first I saw nobody.
Then a voice came from the front.
“You came.””
I stopped.
Linda stepped into the light.
She wore a dark coat.
Her hair was neatly tied back.
She looked almost calm.
As if this were a business meeting instead of a kidnapping.
“Where are they?””
She smiled.
“You didn't bring anyone?””
“No.””
It was a lie.
But she didn't know that.
“Show me Ryan.””
She shook her head.
“Your father first.””
She gestured toward the side aisle.
I followed her.
My heart pounded harder with every step.
Then I saw him.
My father was sitting in a wooden chair.
His wrists were tied.
Blood stained the shoulder of his shirt.
But he was alive.
“Dad.””
His eyes lifted.
“Sarah.””
I ran toward him.
Linda stepped in front of me.
“Slowly.””
I stopped.
“Untie him.””
“Not yet.””
“Where is Ryan?””
“Close.””
I stared at her.
“You've lost your mind.””
“No.””
She smiled.
“I've simply stopped pretending I'm afraid.””
“You kidnapped my father.””
“I protected myself.””
“You shot him.””
“He survived.””
“You dragged me across your kitchen.””
“I was angry.””
“You've spent years destroying people.””
She tilted her head.
“And yet you still came.””
I looked at my father.
He whispered,
“Don't give her the ledger.””
Linda smiled.
“There it is.””
She looked at me.
“You brought it.””
I didn't answer.
Her smile widened.
“I knew you would.””
She snapped her fingers.
Someone moved behind the altar.
Ryan was pushed into view.
My breath stopped.
His face was bruised.
His lower lip was split.
His hands were tied behind him.
But he was standing.
Alive.
“Ryan.””
His eyes found mine.
“Sarah.””
I almost ran toward him.
A man pointed a gun at his head.
I stopped.
Ryan shook his head.
“Don't.””
Linda walked between us.
“This can all end tonight.””
I laughed.
“You've been saying that all night.””
“And yet here we are.””
“Where are the police?””
She smiled.
“Do you really think I would bring police into this?””
“I mean, where are the police coming for you?””
Her smile faded.
“They aren't.””
“They will.””
“No.””
She looked at Daniel's empty car through the window.
“You came alone.””
I said nothing.
Linda had believed me.
That was the first mistake she had made tonight.
She extended her hand.
“The ledger.””
I reached beneath my coat.
My fingers touched the black book.
Ryan stared at me.
“Sarah, don't.””
Linda glanced at him.
“Quiet.””
Ryan shook his head.
“Whatever she wants you to do, don't.””
“Ryan,” I whispered.
He looked at me.
“I’m sorry.””
“For what?””
“For not telling you.””
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“We'll talk later.””
“If there is a later.””
“There will be.””
Linda laughed.
“That's touching.””
She held out her hand again.
“The ledger.””
I pulled it out.
Linda's eyes widened.
For the first time, she looked almost human.
Greedy.
Desperate.
Afraid.
I held it up.
“You want this?””
“Yes.””
“Then let them go.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“You promised.””
“I never promised anything.””
“You said this would end.””
“It will.””
“For whom?””
She smiled.
“For me.””
The man holding the gun moved closer to Ryan.
My father's eyes filled with fear.
I looked at Linda.
“You don't trust me.””
“Why would I?””
“Because if you kill them, you lose the ledger.””
She smiled.
“Not necessarily.””
“What does that mean?””
“You won't die before you tell me where the second copy is.””
My blood ran cold.
“There is no second copy.””
Linda laughed.
“Your father told me the same thing.””
I looked at him.
He shook his head.
“She's lying.””
Linda's eyes narrowed.
“Am I?””
Then she pulled out her phone.
A video played.
I saw myself.
Walking into my house.
Going to work.
Sleeping.
Leaving restaurants.
Talking to Ryan.
My stomach turned.
She had watched me.
Recorded me.
Followed me.
Then another video.
My mother.
Years ago.
I watched my mother walking out of a grocery store.
Young.
Alive.
I stopped breathing.
“Where did you get that?””
Linda smiled.
“Your mother.””
I stared at the screen.
“That's impossible.””
“She kept copies.””
“Copies of what?””
Linda stopped the video.
“Your father wasn't the only person who kept secrets.””
My hands trembled.
“My mother knew?””
“She knew enough.””
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because I convinced her it would destroy you.””
My father's voice broke.
“That's not true.””
Linda turned toward him.
“You're still lying.””
My father struggled against the ropes.
“Sarah, don't listen to her.””
Linda walked toward him.
“You always thought you were smarter than everyone else.””
She slapped him.
I screamed.
“Stop!””
Ryan lunged forward.
The gunman struck him across the face.
Ryan fell to his knees.
“Ryan!””
I stepped forward.
Linda smiled.
“Now you understand the rules.””
I looked at the ledger.
Then at Ryan.
Then at my father.
My mind raced.
I couldn't fight four armed people.
I couldn't overpower Linda.
I couldn't save everyone by force.
So I needed something else.
A mistake.
One mistake.
And Linda was arrogant enough to make one.
“You want the ledger,” I said.
“Yes.””
“You're willing to kill everyone for it.””
“Yes.””
“Then there's something you don't know.””
Her expression changed.
“What?””
I held the ledger tighter.
“You're too late.””
She stared at me.
“For what?””
“The copies already exist.””
Her face went pale.
I continued.
“Every page.””
Ryan looked at me.
He understood immediately.
“Sarah…”
Linda stepped forward.
“Where?””
“Three locations.””
“Where?””
“I sent them to three people.””
“Who?””
“People you can't threaten.””
Linda grabbed my arm.
I didn't flinch.
“You're lying.””
“Am I?””
Her eyes darted toward the ledger.
“Who has them?””
I smiled.
“You really want to know?””
“Yes.””
“Then let Ryan go.””
“No.””
“Untie my father.””
“No.””
“Then kill us.””
I looked at her.
“But understand this.””
I raised the ledger.
“If I don't call them in the next five minutes, the files go public.””
Linda froze.
Silence filled the church.
Then Ryan smiled.
The smallest smile.
But I saw it.
He knew what I was doing.
Linda didn't.
“How?””
“I made one phone call before coming.””
Lie.
But a convincing one.
She looked at the men around her.
“Take the ledger.””
One of them stepped toward me.
I stepped backward.
“Five minutes.””
“Give it to me.””
“Four fifty-five.””
Linda's face changed.
“Three?””
“Four fifty.””
Her composure cracked.
“Where are the copies?””
“Let my family go.””
“You're bluffing.””
“Then test me.””
She turned toward Ryan.
“Kill him.””
My heart stopped.
The gunman raised his weapon.
“Wait!””
I shouted.
Linda smiled.
“Thought so.””
I took a breath.
“Okay.””
I looked directly at her.
“You win.””
I extended the ledger.
But just as the gunman reached for it, the church lights went out.
Darkness.
A loud crash.
Someone screamed.
Then another gunshot.
I dropped to the floor.
“Ryan!””
“Sarah!””
His voice came from somewhere in the darkness.
I crawled toward him.
Hands grabbed mine.
I almost screamed.
“It's me.””
Daniel.
“You lied to me,” I whispered.
“I followed you.””
“Good.””
“Can you move?””
“Yes.””
“Come on.””
We crawled through the pews.
Gunshots echoed behind us.
Someone shouted.
Linda screamed,
“Don't let them escape!””
We reached the side door.
Ryan stumbled after us.
I grabbed him.
“Can you run?””
“Yes.””
My father was behind us.
Daniel cut his restraints.
“Go.””
We ran into the night.
For several seconds, nobody followed.
Then sirens appeared in the distance.
Real sirens.
Linda's men scattered.
I turned toward Daniel.
“You called them.””
“Yes.””
“Before we came?””
“Yes.””
Ryan looked at him.
“You were waiting.””
Daniel nodded.
“I had to.””
We reached the cars.
Then Linda appeared in the doorway.
She wasn't running.
She was holding the ledger.
I froze.
“How?””
She smiled.
“You dropped it.””
My heart stopped.
The original ledger was gone.
Linda held it against her chest.
She laughed.
“You thought you were clever.””
I reached for my phone.
She shook her head.
“Don't.””
“Why?””
“Because your little copies?””
She smiled.
“They'll never matter.””
“Why?””
“Because the ledger you copied was incomplete.””
My blood turned cold.
“What?””
She held up one finger.
“You don't have the final pages.””
My father went pale.
“Linda…”
She looked at him.
“Tell her.””
He said nothing.
Linda smiled.
“The final pages tell Sarah who actually ordered her father's disappearance.””
I looked at my father.
His eyes filled with tears.
“Dad?””
He whispered,
“Sarah…”
Linda's smile disappeared.
“Ask your father.””
I turned toward him.
“Who?””
He closed his eyes.
Then he whispered the name.
“Your mother.””
Everything inside me stopped.
My mother.
The woman I had mourned for years.
The woman whose death I had believed was natural.
The woman who had held my hand at my father's funeral.
My father looked at me.
“She wasn't protecting you from me.””
His voice broke.
“She was protecting you from the truth.””
Ryan stepped closer.
“Sarah…”
I backed away.
“No.””
Everyone stared at me.
“No more.””
I looked at my father.
“Tell me everything.””
Before he could answer, an explosion sounded from inside the church.
The windows shattered.
Smoke poured from the doorway.
Linda disappeared into it.
Daniel pulled me backward.
“Move!””
But I kept looking at the flames.
The ledger was gone.
Linda was gone.
And my father's final secret was still locked inside that burning building.
Then Ryan took my hand.
“Sarah.””
I looked at him.
He was crying.
“I know who your mother was protecting you from.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
May you like
Ryan stared at me.
“Me.””
