The Maybach sped past Stewart and disappeared down the road.
He kept his eyes fixed on the car''s fading silhouette until it waspletely out of sight. Only then did he turn away.
Stepping out, Stewart crouched beside his own car and checked the
undercarriage.
Just as he''d suspected.
Someone had rigged the car with a timed explosive.
The countdown had less than ten minutes left.
He snapped a photo of the device and sent it to Lorna.
Her call came through instantly.
"Stewart, listen to me," Lorna''s voice was sharp with urgency. "This is a modified bomb—if it goes off, the st radius will be huge. You need to get everyone out of there, now-"
"There''s only ten minutes," Stewart cut her off, voice taut. "There''s no time to evacuate the whole block. There are apartment buildings and a yground nearby. I need to get the car away from here."
"Are you out of your mind?" Lorna''s pitch rose. "Ten minutes isn''t enough! Where could you possibly go?"
"I checked the map. There''s an abandoned dock less than two miles from here." "Even if you make it, will you have time to get away?"
He slid back into the driver''s seat and shut the door. "Lorna, today''s been a good day."
Lorna fell silent.
"We both know-even if we make it to Switzend, there''s no guarantee I''ll survive."
"Don''t you dare give me that!" Lorna snapped. "My brother''s a genius-he''s promised, as long as you cooperate, he''ll pull you back from the brink. You just have to trust him!"
Stewart started the engine, set the GPS, and floored the gas pedal.
The M9 roared toward the old dock.
Inside the car, his voice dropped to a murmur. "Lorna, tell Cedric rke and Dr. Riley I''m sorry for all the trouble I''ve caused them."
Lorna''s voice broke through, desperate and pleading. "Stewart, please don''t do this!"
"They''re after me. As long as I''m alive, Bryn and the kids will never be safe."
Her voice trembled. "But if you die, your children will lose their father!"
Stewart said nothing.
He ended the call.
The dock drew closer on the GPS, minute by minute. Stewart activated autopilot, his hands shaking.
In thosest few minutes, he couldn''t help himself he called Briony.
At that moment, Briony sat in the
backseat of the Maybacet
her so
out
Pand daughter close, staring
the window at the sudden
darkness that had swept across the
?ky.
Just moments ago, the sun had been shining. Now, as if someone had thrown a
switch, everything was shrouded in shadow.
At an intersection, the light turned red.
Carl pressed gently on the brake, and the ck Maybach came to a stop.
From Briony''s purse, her phone started to vibrate.
A strange unease swept over her. Her eyshes fluttered. She spoke softly, "Crystal, could you get my phone for me?"
Crystal pulled it from the purse and checked the screen. "It''s an unknown number. Maybe it''s another telemarketer?"
Briony bent her head to wipe away her daughter''s tears. "Let''s answer it and see."
Crystal picked up and put it on speaker.
"Bryn."
The voice on the other line was deep, roughened by emotion.
Briony didn''t answer, but little Mario and little Nina instantly cried out, "Daddy!"
Stewart swallowed hard, his voice tight. "Mario, Nina, Daddy has to go overseas for a while."
"Daddy, can''t you stay?" Nina''s voice trembled on the verge of tears.
Stewart''s voice wavered. "I wish I could, sweetheart, but there''s something very important I have to do."
Nina broke down, sobbing even harder.
overseaddy, how far away is
overseas? You always said you could make anything happent Can''t you fly back every weekend to see us?"
On the other end, Stewart''s breathing
grew ragged. "Det won''t be able to cohet
often."
going to be really busy over I be able toe hom
Mario stared at the phone, his eyes red and brimming with tears. "I''ll wait for you,
Daddy. I''ll wait as long as it takes."
Stewart''s voice cracked. "Okay, buddy. Daddy knows..."