Chapter 8 – The Runway
Marcus's black sedan tore through the empty streets, its engine roaring as he headed toward Langford Executive Airfield.
Rain had begun to fall.
The windshield wipers struggled to keep up as flashes of lightning split the night sky.
Samuel Grant's voice came through the hands-free speaker.
"The police have units on the way."
Marcus kept his eyes on the road.
"How long?"
"About twelve minutes."
Marcus glanced at the dashboard clock.
"They don't have twelve minutes."
At the private airfield, a sleek white Gulfstream jet sat at the end of the runway.
Its engines were already running.
Ground crew members hurried to complete the final safety checks while rain pounded the tarmac.
Near the aircraft, Victor Langford stood beneath a black umbrella.
Despite the storm, he looked remarkably calm.
Ethan Cole hurried toward him carrying a slim black briefcase.
"I'm sorry I'm late," Ethan said, slightly out of breath.
Victor accepted the briefcase.
"Were you followed?"
"I don't think so."
Victor gave him a long look.
"You don't think?"
Ethan swallowed.
"No."
Victor opened the briefcase.
Inside were hard drives, financial records, and confidential files bearing the logo of Thorne Global.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"You've done well."
Ethan looked toward the runway.
"When this is over..."
"...you'll keep your promise?"
Victor closed the case.
"I always honor my agreements."
But his eyes revealed nothing.
Miles away, Khloe woke suddenly.
She glanced around her hospital room.
Marcus was gone.
A nurse noticed she was awake.
"Mrs. Thorne, are you feeling all right?"
Khloe frowned.
"Where's my husband?"
The nurse hesitated.
"He had an urgent matter to attend to."
Khloe immediately sensed something was wrong.
She reached for her phone.
Three missed calls from Samuel.
One message.
Marcus found the traitor. He's gone to stop Victor. Please stay in your room. Security has been increased.
Khloe's heart began to race.
She dialed Marcus.
No answer.
Marcus's phone vibrated on the passenger seat, but he ignored it.
His entire focus remained on the road ahead.
Suddenly, Samuel spoke again.
"We've intercepted Ethan's last outgoing text."
Marcus listened.
"It says, 'The package is secure. Leaving tonight. No loose ends.'"
Marcus's grip tightened on the steering wheel.
"No loose ends."
Those words weren't about documents.
They were about people.
A terrible thought crossed his mind.
"Samuel."
"Yes?"
"Increase security at the hospital."
"We already have."
"Double it."
Samuel understood immediately.
"You think Khloe is still in danger."
Marcus didn't answer.
He simply accelerated.
Back at the hospital, two plainclothes officers took positions outside Khloe's room.
Dr. Nathan Carter arrived moments later.
"What happened?"
One officer spoke quietly.
"There may be another threat."
Nathan immediately stepped inside.
Khloe looked at him.
"Tell me the truth."
Nathan pulled a chair beside her bed.
"Marcus believes the attack wasn't the end."
She closed her eyes.
"So someone else could come."
"We're making sure they don't."
Nathan tried to sound reassuring, but deep down he shared Marcus's concern.
If Victor Langford had spent years planning revenge...
One failed attack might not satisfy him.
At the airfield, Ethan watched mechanics disconnect the fuel hoses.
The jet was almost ready for departure.
He looked nervously toward the entrance.
"When are we leaving?"
Victor checked his watch.
"As soon as one more guest arrives."
Ethan frowned.
"What guest?"
Victor smiled faintly.
"The one who believes he can stop me."
Almost on cue, headlights appeared through the rain.
Marcus's sedan skidded to a stop near the hangar.
He stepped out before the car had fully stopped.
Rain soaked his suit within seconds.
Victor watched him approach.
"I was wondering how long it would take."
Marcus ignored the greeting.
"Step away from the plane."
Victor chuckled.
"You sound just like your father."
"My father isn't here."
"No."
Victor's smile faded.
"But everything happening tonight began because of him."
Marcus stopped a few feet away.
"This ends now."
Victor slowly shook his head.
"No."
"It ends when one of us finally lets go of the past."
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"You don't have to do this."
Ethan couldn't meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Marcus took one step closer.
"I trusted you."
"I know."
"You were family."
Ethan's voice broke.
"I never wanted to hurt Khloe."
Marcus stared at him.
"Then why?"
Before Ethan could answer, Victor interrupted.
"Because loyalty doesn't pay hospital bills."
Marcus looked sharply at Victor.
"What does that mean?"
Victor answered calmly.
"Ethan's daughter needed experimental treatment."
"The insurance company refused."
Marcus turned back toward Ethan.
Tears filled Ethan's eyes.
"He was the only one who offered to help."
Marcus felt as though the ground had shifted beneath him.
"You could have come to me."
"I tried."
Ethan wiped his face.
"You were overseas."
"Your office said your schedule was full."
Marcus froze.
He remembered.
Three years earlier.
A request for a personal meeting had been canceled because of an emergency merger negotiation.
He had never known why Ethan wanted to see him.
Victor stepped forward.
"I gave him something you never did."
Marcus looked at him coldly.
"Hope?"
Victor smiled.
"No."
"A choice."
The distant sound of police sirens echoed through the storm.
Blue and red lights began flashing beyond the airport gates.
Victor glanced toward the runway.
"Our conversation is over."
He reached into his coat.
Marcus instinctively moved forward.
For one split second, everyone believed Victor was reaching for a weapon.
Instead...
He pulled out a small silver flash drive.
Then, with a calm smile, he tossed it into the spinning turbine of the waiting jet engine.
The flash drive disappeared instantly.
Destroyed.
Victor looked directly at Marcus.
"There goes every secret you've been searching for."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"I don't believe that."
Victor's smile widened.
"You shouldn't."
"Because I never keep the only copy."
Before Marcus could react, another black SUV sped onto the runway from the opposite side of the airfield.
Its headlights cut through the rain.
The vehicle stopped beside Victor.
The rear door swung open.
A woman stepped out.
Marcus stared in disbelief.
Khloe, watching the live news coverage from her hospital television moments later, whispered the same words.
May you like
"It can't be..."
Standing beside Victor Langford was a woman everyone believed had died nearly twelve years ago.
