The Estate
1393 Words
The truck crossed the border at dawn. No checkpoints. No questions. Kane had papers. Diplomatic plates. The guard waved them through.
Cole sat in the back. His hand on his pistol. His eyes on the road behind them.
Frankie drove. Kane navigated. Petra and Ava huddled together in the jump seats.
Virginia was green. Rolling hills. Horse farms. Then the landscape changed. Walls. Gates. Security cameras.
“Almost there,” Kane said.
The estate appeared behind a line of trees. A mansion. Stone. Three stories. Iron gates. A guardhouse.
Kane pulled to the gate. A guard walked over.
“Name?”
“Kane. He's expecting me.”
The guard checked a tablet. Nodded. The gates opened.
They drove up a long driveway. Manicured lawns. Fountains. Statues. The mansion loomed ahead.
Cole looked at the windows. Dark. Watching.
Kane parked in front of the main entrance. “Everyone stay in the car. I'll talk to him first.”
“No,” Cole said. “I'm coming with you.”
“That's not the plan.”
“The plan changed.”
Kane looked at Frankie. Frankie shrugged.
“Your funeral,” Kane said.
They walked to the front door. It opened before they knocked. A butler. Old. Formal.
“Mr. Kane. Mr. Cross is waiting.”
They followed the butler through the mansion. Marble floors. Chandeliers. Paintings worth more than Cole's house.
The study was at the end of a long hallway. Wood-paneled. A fire in the fireplace.
Victor Cross sat behind a massive desk. He was older than his photograph. Gray hair. Thin face. But his eyes were sharp.
“Kane. You brought a friend.”
“This is Cole Mathers. Charles's son.”
Cross's eyes flicked to Cole. “I know who he is. The question is why he's still alive.”
“Because he has something you want.”
“The evidence.”
“Yes.”
Cross stood. Walked around the desk. He was taller than Cole expected. Imposing.
“I've been in this business for forty years. I've seen men like you come and go. Angry. Desperate. Looking for revenge.”
“I'm not looking for revenge,” Cole said. “I'm looking for justice.”
Cross laughed. It was cold. Empty.
“Justice. There's no such thing. There's only power. And those who have it.”
“My father thought that too. He's dead.”
“Your father was a tool. A useful one. But a tool nonetheless.” Cross walked to the fireplace. Stared into the flames. “I built Aegis. I recruited Charles. I gave him everything. And he failed me.”
“He failed everyone.”
Cross turned. “You want to destroy my company. My legacy. My life's work. Why should I let you leave this room?”
“Because if I don't leave, the evidence goes public. Every file. Every recording. Every photograph. My mother's testimony. My brother's confession. All of it.”
“You're bluffing.”
“Try me.”
Cross studied him. The fire crackled.
“What do you want?”
“Immunity. For me. For my family. For everyone who helped me.”
“And in return?”
“I disappear. You never see me again. The evidence stays locked away.”
Cross walked back to his desk. Sat down.
“You're asking me to trust you.”
“I'm asking you to be smart. Killing me won't stop the truth. It will only delay it.”
Cross was silent for a long moment. Then he nodded.
“Agreed. But there's a condition.”
“What?”
“Your brother. Clark. He stays in prison. He killed Charles. That's murder. Someone has to pay.”
“Clark was defending himself. And me.”
“That's not how the law sees it. He stays in prison. Or the deal is off.”
Cole looked at Kane. Kane's face was unreadable.
“I need to think,” Cole said.
“You have five minutes.” Cross pointed to the door. “Wait outside.”
Cole walked into the hallway. Kane followed.
“You can't agree to that,” Kane said.
“I know.”
“Then what's your play?”
Cole looked at the paintings on the wall. Generations of Cross family. Wealth. Power. Corruption.
“My play is to get everyone out of here alive. Then we burn him down.”
“How?”
“The evidence isn't in Canada. It's here. In this house.”
Kane's eyes widened. “What?”
“Frankie brought it. Before we left. He hid it in the truck.”
“That's insane. If Cross finds it...”
“He won't. Frankie is good at hiding things.”
The door opened. The butler appeared.
“Mr. Cross will see you now.”
Cole walked back into the study. Cross was pouring whiskey. Two glasses.
“Drink?”
“No.”
Cross shrugged. Drank both.
“Have you decided?”
“I have. I agree to your terms. Clark stays in prison. The rest of us go free.”
Cross smiled. It was the first genuine expression Cole had seen on his face.
“Good. Then we have a deal.”
He extended his hand. Cole shook it.
The handshake was cold. Brief.
“You and your people can stay here tonight. Tomorrow, I'll have my lawyers draw up the immunity agreement.”
“We're leaving now.”
“As you wish.” Cross walked to the window. Looked out at the driveway. “But I should warn you. Your brother isn't the only one in prison. Your mother was arrested this morning. Harboring a fugitive. She's being held without bail.”
Cole's blood ran cold.
“You're lying.”
“Check the news. It's everywhere.”
Cole pulled out his phone. Searched. Headline: Evelyn Mathers Arrested in Georgetown.
He looked at Cross. “This is your doing.”
“It's the law. She broke it. She has to face the consequences.”
“The deal included my mother.”
“The deal included your mother's freedom. But she's not free. She's in custody. That's not my problem.”
Cole stepped toward the desk. Kane grabbed his arm.
“Not here,” Kane whispered. “Not now.”
Cole stopped. His hands were shaking.
“This isn't over,” Cole said.
“It never is.” Cross raised his glass. “Welcome to the game, Mr. Mathers.”
Cole turned and walked out. Kane followed.
They reached the truck. Frankie was behind the wheel. Petra and Ava were in the back.
“Go,” Cole said.
Frankie drove. The gates opened. The estate disappeared behind them.
Cole pulled out his phone. Called Dean.
“Cole. Where are you?”
“Virginia. Cross's estate. He arrested my mother.”
“I know. I'm at the courthouse now. They're refusing bail.”
“Can you get her out?”
“I can try. But the judge is in Cross's pocket. It's going to take time.”
“We don't have time.”
“Then find another way.”
The line went dead.
Cole looked at Kane. “You have people inside the system. Get my mother out.”
“I can try. But Cross will be watching. If I move too fast, he'll know something is wrong.”
“Something is already wrong. He knows about the evidence. He knows about us. He's playing chess while we're playing checkers.”
Kane nodded. “Then we need to change the game.”
“How?”
Kane pulled out a tablet. Opened a file.
“Cross has a daughter. Her name is Juliet. She's thirty-two. Lives in New York. She hates her father. Hates what he does. She might be willing to help us.”
“Why would she help us?”
“Because her mother killed herself. Five years ago. Because of Victor. Because of the things he made her do.”
Cole looked at the photograph. A woman. Dark hair. Sad eyes.
“Can you get me a meeting?”
“I can try. But she's protected. Bodyguards. Security detail. Cross doesn't trust her.”
“Then we go to New York. Tonight.”
Kane nodded. Frankie drove toward the highway.
Behind them, the estate faded.
Ahead, a new battle.
And a woman who might hold the key to everything.
- Writer
