Chapter 5 - The Price of Protecting Her
Hale moved before they could.
At 8:17 the next morning, Lena received a message.
A photograph of Mrs. Alvarez leaving her apartment building.
Underneath were six words.
Bring the sketch. Come alone. Noon.
Lena showed Nikolai.
His face became stone.
“No.”
“He's threatening my neighbor.”
“He's manipulating you.”
“She has grandchildren.”
“And walking into his hands won't protect them.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Trust me.”
Lena stared at him.
“You realize how ridiculous that sounds?”
“Yes.”
“Your entire life is secrets.”
“Yes.”
“You investigated me without permission.”
“Yes.”
“You manipulated me with an eight-hundred-dollar repair estimate.”
“Yes.”
“And now you want trust?”
Nikolai stepped closer.
“Yes.”
“Why should I?”
His answer came quietly.
“Because I would burn everything I've built before I let your honesty become the reason you get hurt.”
Lena stopped breathing for a second.
Nikolai seemed almost angry that he'd said it aloud.
Marco entered.
“We have Hale's location.”
Nikolai turned.
“Where?”
“Old conservation warehouse near Pier Nine.”
Lena looked between them.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“Nikolai.”
“No.”
“The message is addressed to me.”
“Exactly.”
“He won't show himself if I'm not there.”
Nikolai's jaw flexed.
Lena stepped closer.
“You said trust you.”
“Yes.”
“Then trust me too.”
That was harder.
Everyone in the room knew it.
Finally Nikolai nodded.
“But you follow every instruction.”
“I'll consider most instructions.”
“Lena.”
“Fine.”
The meeting happened at noon.
Lena entered the warehouse carrying her notebook.
Hale emerged from behind stacked restoration crates.
“You made a terrible mistake.”
Lena held up the notebook.
“Apparently I make several.”
“Give it to me.”
“First tell me Mrs. Alvarez is safe.”
Hale laughed.
“She was never in danger.”
“Then you're worse at threats than I expected.”
His smile disappeared.
“You have no idea who you're involved with.”
A voice came from behind Lena.
“She knows exactly who she's involved with.”
Nikolai stepped into view.
Hale's face changed.
Men appeared at every exit.
But Nikolai didn't approach him.
Instead, another group entered from the side.
Federal investigators.
Hale stared.
“You brought authorities?”
Nikolai looked at Lena.
“She insisted.”
Lena shrugged.
“Truth. Daylight. Remember?”
Hale's confidence collapsed.
“You think they'll protect you, Voss?”
Nikolai's expression remained calm.
“This isn't about me.”
He looked toward Lena.
“Not anymore.”
Hale was arrested.
The evidence collected from the university exposed a corruption network involving grant money, fraudulent acquisitions, and several officials.
Outside, Lena finally exhaled.
“It's over?”
“For you, yes.”
“For you?”
Nikolai looked toward the river.
“There will be consequences.”
“Because you cooperated?”
“Yes.”
“You could lose money?”
“Probably.”
“Influence?”
“Some.”
Lena watched him.
“Do you regret it?”
Nikolai looked at her.
“No.”
“Why?”
He stepped closer.
“Because for the first time in years, I did something without calculating what it would cost me.”
“And?”
“It was expensive.”
Lena laughed.
Nikolai smiled.
May you like
“But worth it.”
---
