Chapter 16 - NOAH
Adrian stopped breathing.
Marcus shouted into his radio.
The estate locked down.
Every car searched.
Every camera pulled.
A guard had been found unconscious near the service corridor.
Noah had not left willingly.
Owen called again.
"One hour."
"What do you want?"
"The trust declaration."
"It's filed."
"Then withdraw it."
"I can't."
"Find a way."
Adrian heard Noah breathing in the background.
"Dad?"
"I'm here."
"Don't give him anything."
Owen struck something near the phone.
Noah gasped.
Adrian's vision went red.
"Touch him again and—"
"And what? You'll buy me to death?"
The call ended.
Torres traced fragments of the connection to an old Mercer estate outside the city.
Police moved.
Adrian insisted on going.
Torres refused.
"Your son needs us focused, not rescuing you too."
Adrian waited in a command vehicle, every second tearing at him.
Inside the estate, tactical officers found the basement empty.
A chair.
Rope.
Noah's sneaker.
Then a hidden tunnel led toward an abandoned horse barn.
Officers heard voices.
Owen shouted, "Stay back!"
Noah screamed.
Adrian ran before anyone could stop him.
He reached the barn door.
Owen stood behind Noah with a handgun.
Noah's face was bruised but furious.
"Dad, don't!"
Owen laughed.
"Smart kid. Always watching."
Adrian raised his hands.
"Take me. Let him go."
"You think this is about hostages?"
Owen pulled Noah closer.
"It's about him remembering who really had power."
Noah suddenly stomped on Owen's foot and dropped.
A shot exploded into the rafters.
Police fired.
Owen fell.
Adrian reached Noah first.
His son clung to him.
"You came back."
Adrian held him so tightly Noah had to tell him he couldn't breathe.
Then Torres knelt beside Owen.
He was alive.
May you like
And laughing.
"You still don't know who turned off the cameras the first time."
