CHAPTER 6 – THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO DIE
CHAPTER 6 – THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO DIE
Red and blue lights flashed across the snow-covered estate.
Police armored vehicles surrounded the property.
Television helicopters circled overhead, broadcasting live images across Chicago.
Inside the mansion, Emmett watched dozens of officers taking positions outside the gates.
Tommy looked out the shattered window.
"This is impossible."
"They're here too fast."
Emmett nodded.
"They were waiting."
Someone had tipped off the authorities before the attack even began.
Victor had planned every minute.
A convoy rolled through the broken entrance.
From the lead SUV stepped a woman in a dark FBI overcoat.
Special Agent Sarah Whitaker.
She was known for dismantling organized crime networks across three states.
She walked through the wreckage without hesitation.
When she entered the mansion, every weapon immediately pointed toward her.
She didn't flinch.
"I'm here to speak with Emmett Cross."
Tommy laughed bitterly.
"You've got a warrant?"
Sarah calmly held up her badge.
"I've got something more valuable."
She looked directly at Emmett.
"I know Victor Brennon is alive."
The room fell silent.
Sarah placed a thick evidence folder on the table.
"We've been chasing him for four years."
She opened the file.
Inside were photographs.
Missing children.
Corrupt politicians.
Money transfers.
The same symbols Diana had stolen.
Sarah looked around the room.
"You aren't our target tonight."
"You never were."
Emmett studied her carefully.
"So why surround my house?"
"Because Victor wanted us to."
She exhaled slowly.
"An anonymous caller reported that you kidnapped a child."
Mrs. Ingrid immediately stepped forward.
"That's absurd."
Sarah nodded.
"I know."
She turned another page.
"Because twenty minutes after the call..."
"...we received something else."
She removed a small flash drive sealed in an evidence bag.
"It arrived at FBI headquarters by courier."
"No return address."
"No fingerprints."
Emmett already knew.
"Diana."
Sarah nodded.
The drive contained encrypted copies of Victor's financial empire.
Enough evidence to indict judges...
State senators...
Police commanders...
Business leaders...
And dozens of high-ranking criminals.
Tommy whispered,
"She got it out..."
Sarah looked at Emmett.
"But she included one message."
She pressed play.
Diana's bruised face appeared on the screen.
"If this reaches the FBI..."
"...I'm probably dead."
"I've hidden the final piece where Victor can never find it."
"Protect Luna."
"Trust Emmett Cross."
Sarah paused the recording.
Every agent in the room had heard it.
One sentence lingered in the silence.
Trust Emmett Cross.
Sarah folded her arms.
"I've spent twelve years trying to arrest you."
She looked him directly in the eyes.
"But tonight..."
"...the woman risking her life to expose Victor chose you instead of us."
Emmett said nothing.
Sarah continued.
"So I have one question."
Before she could ask it—
An agent burst into the room.
"Ma'am!"
"We found a woman!"
"Alive!"
Everyone turned.
The paramedics wheeled in a stretcher.
Bruised.
Covered in dried blood.
Barely breathing.
Mrs. Ingrid gasped.
"Luna's mother..."
Diana Harper opened her eyes.
She searched the room desperately until she found Emmett.
With the last of her strength, she grabbed his sleeve.
Her lips trembled.
"You..."
He leaned closer.
She whispered only four words.
"There's another child..."
Her heartbeat monitor screamed.
Flatline.
Doctors rushed forward.
Chest compressions.
Defibrillator.
"Clear!"
Her body jolted violently.
Nothing.
Again.
"Clear!"
Another shock.
Silence.
Then—
A weak heartbeat returned.
The monitor beeped.
Slow.
Fragile.
Alive.
Diana wasn't dead.
But before losing consciousness once more, she whispered one final sentence that froze everyone in the room.
May you like
"Victor..."
"...already has the other one."
