Chapter 4 - The Theater of Betrayal
Before dawn, Casper’s men recovered the music box from Marin’s apartment.
A false bottom contained a small flash drive and a handwritten ledger.
The ledger listed payments, shell companies and the names of politicians, judges and police officers who had accepted money from Soren Vale.
Gideon Hail’s name appeared on several pages.
Casper read the entries without speaking.
Marin stood beside him.
“Your uncle helped Vale steal from your father.”
“And after my father discovered it, Gideon gave Vale advance warning.”
“Did your father know?”
“He died before he could prove it.”
Marin’s voice softened.
“How?”
“Car bombing.”
She looked at him.
“I’m sorry.”
Casper closed the ledger.
“Don’t be. Sorrow doesn’t change what happened.”
“No, but it reminds people they’re still human.”
His eyes met hers.
For a second, neither spoke.
Roman was still being held inside the abandoned Vale Theater. The plan was dangerous but simple.
The wounded attacker had agreed to cooperate after Casper promised not to kill him. He would call Delphine and claim he had escaped with Marin and the evidence.
Casper would hide inside the attacker’s van with two men.
Marin insisted on going.
“You remain in the vehicle,” Casper said.
“You need me to confirm Roman is alive.”
“I need you alive.”
“And I need my sister to have a future without people hunting us.”
Casper leaned close.
“When I tell you to run, you run.”
“I don’t take orders well.”
“I noticed.”
The van entered the ruined theater through a loading entrance.
Inside, dust covered faded red seats. The old stage remained beneath a cracked gold arch.
Roman sat tied to a chair at center stage, blood dried along his temple.
Delphine stood beside him in a black coat.
Soren Vale was there with four armed men.
Gideon Hail emerged from the shadows.
Casper’s hand tightened around his gun.
Marin whispered, “You expected Vale. Not your uncle.”
“I hoped the ledger was wrong.”
The wounded attacker stepped from the van with Marin beside him.
“I brought her,” he shouted.
Delphine smiled.
“Where is the box?”
Marin held it up.
“Let Roman go first.”
Soren laughed.
“You really believe you’re negotiating?”
“I believe you need what’s inside.”
Gideon stepped forward.
“Bring it here.”
Marin looked at him.
“You killed Casper’s father.”
Gideon’s expression did not change.
“My brother was weak.”
Behind the van door, Casper went still.
Gideon continued.
“He wanted to make peace with men who only understand fear. I did what was necessary.”
Soren frowned.
“You talk too much.”
Gideon looked at him.
“I have remained silent for fourteen years.”
“And you’ll remain silent now.”
Soren raised his gun and shot Gideon in the chest.
Chaos erupted.
Casper burst from the van and fired at Soren’s guards.
Marin dropped behind a row of broken seats as bullets struck the stage.
Delphine seized Roman by the hair and pressed a weapon against his throat.
“Stop shooting!” she screamed.
Casper stepped into the aisle.
“Let him go.”
Delphine dragged Roman backward.
“Drop your gun.”
Roman met Casper’s gaze and shook his head.
Delphine struck him.
“I said drop it!”
Casper lowered the weapon.
Marin saw Soren moving behind the stage curtain with a second gun aimed at Casper.
She grabbed a fallen metal spotlight stand and shoved it across the floor.
The stand struck Soren’s ankle.
His shot went wide.
Casper turned and fired, hitting Soren in the shoulder.
Roman drove his head backward into Delphine’s face. She stumbled, and he threw himself sideways.
Casper’s men rushed the stage.
Delphine fled through a backstage door with Marin’s music box.
Marin ran after her.
“Marin!” Casper shouted.
She ignored him.
Delphine entered the costume corridor and kicked open an exit leading to the roof.
Cold wind struck Marin’s face as she followed.
The theater roof overlooked the Chicago River.
Delphine stood near the edge, holding the music box in one hand and a pistol in the other.
“Stay back.”
Marin stopped.
“You don’t need to do this.”
Delphine laughed bitterly.
“You think this was my choice?”
“You poisoned him.”
“Soren told me Casper planned to cancel our marriage. He said I would lose everything.”
“So you tried to kill the man you claimed to love?”
“Love is a luxury for women like me.”
“No. That is the excuse you use because the truth is uglier.”
Delphine’s eyes narrowed.
“And what truth is that?”
“You wanted the name, the mansion and the power. Casper was simply the man standing between you and ownership.”
Delphine raised the gun.
“You’re very brave for someone who scrubs floors.”
“I’ve spent years taking care of someone who could die at any moment. You stopped frightening me the second I saw what you really were.”
The rooftop door opened.
Casper stepped outside.
Delphine pointed the gun toward Marin’s chest.
“Don’t come closer.”
Casper stopped.
“Give me the box, Delphine.”
“She has changed you already,” Delphine said. “You used to know servants were disposable.”
Casper looked at Marin.
“No one who risks her life for another person is disposable.”
Delphine’s face twisted.
“She is nothing.”
“She is the reason I’m alive.”
The words struck Marin harder than she expected.
Delphine pulled back the hammer.
Casper moved.
The gun fired.
Marin felt an impact throw her to the ground.
For one terrifying second, she believed she had been shot.
Then she saw Casper lying across her, blood spreading through his black jacket.
Delphine stared at him in horror.
“I didn’t mean—”
Roman appeared behind her and knocked the gun from her hand.
Delphine tried to flee, but the roof’s wet surface betrayed her. She slipped near the edge and caught the railing with both hands.
“Help me!” she screamed.
Marin crawled toward Casper.
His eyes were open, but his breathing was strained.
“Stay with me.”
“The bullet went through,” he said.
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been shot before.”
“This is not the time to brag.”
Despite the pain, he smiled faintly.
Delphine continued screaming.
Roman looked at Casper.
“Boss?”
Casper glanced toward the edge.
Marin understood the question.
She looked at Delphine—the woman who had humiliated her, threatened Posie and tried to murder Casper.
“Pull her up,” Marin said.
Delphine stared at her.
“Why?”
May you like
Marin pressed both hands against Casper’s wound.
“Because I refuse to become you.”
