Chapter 11 - THE DEAL NOBODY COULD SURVIVEThomas offered a deal.
Eleanor for the journal.
Nicholas had one hour.
No police.
No federal agents.
No weapons.
He agreed.
But he didn't intend to surrender the journal.
He had already photographed every page.
The original remained hidden.
At midnight, Nicholas entered the farmhouse alone.
Thomas stood near the fireplace.
Eleanor sat nearby.
Her hands were tied.
Nicholas held the journal.
“Let her go.”
Thomas smiled.
“You came.”
“You knew I would.”
“Yes.”
“Because you think I'm like my father.”
“No.”
Thomas looked at him.
“I think you're better.”
Nicholas stopped.
“What?”
“That's why you're dangerous.”
Thomas untied Eleanor.
She stood.
Nicholas walked toward her.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot.
Glass shattered.
Eleanor grabbed Nicholas.
They dropped behind the sofa.
Victoria and Amelia entered through the rear door.
Police sirens erupted outside.
Thomas shouted:
“You lied!”
Nicholas smiled.
“You taught me.”
Thomas escaped through the basement.
Nicholas followed.
The tunnel opened into the woods.
Thomas disappeared into the darkness.
But he left something behind.
A briefcase.
Inside were passports.
Cash.
And one photograph.
Nicholas stared at it.
It showed a man standing beside Thomas.
The man was a sitting United States senator.
The same senator who had publicly praised the Hale Foundation for years.
Eleanor looked at the photograph.
“He's still in office.”
May you like
Nicholas nodded.
“And now he knows we have the evidence.”
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