Chapter 12 - THE LAST BETRAYAL
Victor found Camille in the back seat of an abandoned delivery truck.
Her wrists were restrained.
A bruise darkened her cheek.
She looked up when he opened the door.
For one brief moment, relief crossed her face.
“Victor.”
He smiled.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
“Thank God.”
He climbed inside.
“Did you think I'd abandon you?”
Camille began crying.
“They attacked the transport. I thought they were going to kill me.”
Victor sat beside her.
“They were following orders.”
She stopped crying.
“What?”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Mine.”
Camille stared at him.
“No.”
“Yes.”
He leaned closer.
“You've been talking to the police.”
“I was scared.”
“You've been talking to Olivia.”
“She found me.”
“And you gave them the key.”
Camille began shaking.
“Victor, please.”
He looked at her with cold disappointment.
“I thought you were smarter than this.”
She pulled against the restraints.
“What are you going to do?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you're still useful.”
Camille stared at him.
The man she had believed would rescue her from an unhappy marriage had become her captor.
She had destroyed her life for him.
Helped steal millions.
Helped arrange her husband's murder.
And now Victor was deciding whether she deserved to live.
“Julien loved me,” she whispered.
Victor laughed.
“Julien was a fool.”
Camille looked away.
“No.”
Victor frowned.
“What?”
“He trusted me. That doesn't make him a fool.”
Victor grabbed her chin.
“Don't start pretending you're innocent.”
She met his eyes.
“I'm not.”
For the first time, she said it without excuses.
“I betrayed him. I stole from him. I stood there while you tried to kill him.”
Victor stared at her.
Camille continued.
“And I will spend the rest of my life knowing what I did.”
He released her.
“Good.”
She shook her head.
“But I'm not going to help you do it again.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“You don't have a choice.”
Camille looked directly at him.
“Neither did Julien, according to you.”
Victor leaned closer.
“And look what happened to him.”
Camille smiled through tears.
“He survived.”
Victor froze.
“What?”
She watched the realization spread across his face.
“Julien is alive.”
Victor grabbed her shoulders.
“How do you know?”
“The police told me.”
He shook her.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
Victor released her.
For several seconds, he sat motionless.
Then he reached for his phone.
### The trap
At the federal field office, Reeves studied the latest intelligence.
Camille's transport had been intercepted by men posing as law enforcement officers.
Two legitimate officers had been injured.
The attackers had used stolen credentials and a vehicle fitted with false markings.
A statewide search was underway.
Julien stood beside Reeves.
“Victor has her.”
“We believe so.”
“He'll kill her.”
“We're working to locate them.”
Julien stared at the map.
Then he made a decision.
“Let me call him.”
Reeves shook his head.
“No.”
“He wants me.”
“That's exactly why you shouldn't contact him.”
Julien looked at the investigator.
“Victor believes I can still stop him.”
“You can.”
“Then he'll listen.”
Reeves studied him.
“What are you proposing?”
“A controlled call. You record it. You trace whatever you can. I tell him I have the ledger.”
Olivia stepped forward.
“He'll know you're bluffing.”
Julien looked at her.
“Not if you tell me enough to sound convincing.”
Reeves considered the proposal.
Then shook his head.
“It's dangerous.”
“So is waiting while Camille disappears.”
Sophie, who had been standing near the doorway, spoke quietly.
“Dad.”
Julien turned.
She looked frightened.
“Please don't do something reckless.”
He approached her.
“I won't.”
“You promised.”
“I remember.”
Sophie took his hand.
“Then let the people trained for this help you.”
Julien looked toward Reeves.
For once, he accepted that courage did not require him to act alone.
“All right,” he said.
“We do it your way.”
### The call
At 9:14 p.m., Victor's phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?”
Julien's voice came through.
“Hello, Victor.”
Silence.
Then Victor whispered, “You.”
Julien remained calm.
“Surprised?”
Victor stood.
Camille watched him.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you can't reach.”
Victor laughed.
“Everyone can be reached.”
“Maybe.”
“What do you want?”
“Camille.”
Victor looked toward her.
“Why?”
“Because you're going to release her.”
Victor smiled.
“You still love her?”
Julien paused.
“No.”
Camille closed her eyes.
The answer hurt.
But she knew she deserved it.
Julien continued.
“I'm not asking because I love her. I'm asking because she deserves to face justice alive.”
Victor's expression changed.
“You think you're better than me?”
“No.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“Because someone has to stop the killing.”
Victor paced.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with.”
“I know about Whitcomb.”
Silence.
“I know about the shell companies. The forged documents. The insurance policy. And Black Harbor.”
Victor stopped moving.
“How do you know that name?”
Julien glanced toward Reeves.
The investigator nodded for him to continue.
“I know enough.”
Victor's voice dropped.
“Then you know what happens next.”
Julien remained silent.
Victor laughed softly.
“You think Whitcomb is the one in charge?”
Julien frowned.
“Isn't he?”
Victor looked toward the truck door.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Whitcomb takes orders from someone much closer to you.”
