Chapter 19 - THE LAST NIGHT OF RAYMOND CROSSThe old shipping terminal stood near the Hudson River.
Its windows were broken, its loading bays were rusted, and weeds had grown through cracks in the concrete.
Raymond Cross had chosen the location carefully.
It was where Richard Reed had once built his business.
And where the conspiracy had begun.
Ellen was tied to a chair inside the main office.
Raymond stood behind her, holding a telephone.
"You've caused me considerable inconvenience," he told her.
Ellen looked exhausted.
"You've ruined enough lives."
Raymond laughed.
"You helped us once."
"I was threatened."
"Everyone has an excuse."
He placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed Maya and Daniel leaving the hospital.
"Your little girl has become quite troublesome."
Ellen lifted her head.
"Leave her alone."
Raymond smiled.
"That's exactly what Richard said seventeen years ago."
Outside, Dominic's vehicles arrived without headlights.
Daniel stepped out beside him.
Police officers had already surrounded the building.
Maya remained inside the command vehicle with Thomas, who had promised to keep her away from the immediate confrontation.
But when she learned Ellen was still inside, she refused to remain seated.
"She's the woman who raised me."
Thomas shook his head.
"Your safety comes first."
"She's in there because of me."
Daniel approached.
He looked at Maya for several seconds.
Then he made a decision.
"Stay behind me. Do exactly what I say."
She nodded.
They entered through a side corridor with the officers.
Raymond heard the movement.
He grabbed Ellen's arm.
"Tell them to leave."
Ellen shook her head.
"Don't listen to him."
Raymond raised his weapon.
Dominic stepped into the doorway.
"Raymond."
The older man turned.
"Dominic Moretti. I wondered when you'd arrive."
"Let her go."
Raymond smiled.
"You've become sentimental."
Dominic looked toward Ellen.
"She's not part of this."
"Neither was Richard's daughter. Yet here we are."
Maya stepped forward.
"Let her go."
Raymond's expression changed.
"Ah. The missing girl."
Maya stared at him.
"You destroyed my family."
"I created opportunities. Your father chose to become an obstacle."
"You tried to erase me."
Raymond shrugged.
"Your father should have understood the cost of challenging powerful people."
Daniel moved slightly toward the side of the room.
Raymond noticed.
"Don't."
He tightened his grip on Ellen.
Maya raised both hands.
"Look at me. You wanted me here. I'm here."
Raymond smiled.
"You're exactly like your mother."
Maya's eyes filled with anger.
"Don't you dare talk about her."
He pointed his weapon toward her.
Then Ellen did something unexpected.
She knocked the chair backward.
Raymond stumbled as the chair struck his legs.
Daniel rushed forward.
The officers moved in.
A shot rang out.
Dominic pulled Maya behind a concrete pillar.
The bullet struck a metal cabinet.
Within seconds, Raymond was disarmed and restrained.
Ellen lay on the floor, shaken but conscious.
Maya rushed to her.
"Are you hurt?"
Ellen shook her head.
"I'm all right."
Maya embraced her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Raymond laughed from the floor.
"You think this is over?"
Dominic approached.
"It is."
Raymond looked at him.
"You don't know what your uncle has done."
"Anthony is already facing charges."
Raymond smiled.
"Anthony isn't the only one who signed the papers."
Dominic's expression hardened.
Raymond continued.
"Your grandfather knew about the money. Your father knew about the transfers. Every generation of your family took something from mine."
Daniel stepped forward.
"That's a lie."
Raymond turned toward him.
"Ask your father about the original partnership."
Daniel looked confused.
Raymond leaned closer.
"Ask him why Richard Reed received the controlling shares of the company."
Dominic looked at Daniel.
For the first time, he realized Raymond might be trying to create another conflict between their families.
But the evidence had already been recovered.
And the prosecutors had everything they needed.
Raymond Cross was taken away.
Victor Hail was arrested shortly afterward at a private residence.
Adrian Moretti was already in custody, cooperating with investigators.
Anthony was transferred from his holding facility to face additional charges.
The conspiracy was finally collapsing.
Outside the terminal, Maya stood beside Daniel beneath the cold night sky.
"Is it over?"
Daniel took her hand.
"The people who hurt your family are going to answer for what they did."
She looked toward the police vehicles.
"And us?"
Daniel smiled faintly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Whether you'll finally let me take you somewhere that doesn't involve criminals, detectives, or broken windows."
Maya laughed for the first time that evening.
"Where?"
"Anywhere you want."
She looked at him.
"Somewhere quiet. Somewhere nobody knows our names."
Daniel squeezed her hand.
"I think I can arrange that."
But before they could leave, Dominic approached with a document.
"Maya, there's something you should see."
It was the original company agreement.
Her father had left her a controlling ownership interest in the legitimate Reed shipping business.
The company was worth more than forty million dollars.
Maya stared at the paper.
"I don't want it."
Dominic nodded.
"Then you don't have to take it."
She looked at him.
"What would you do?"
He smiled.
"Whatever makes you happy."
Maya considered the document.
Then she looked toward the old terminal.
"I want to use it to help families who have lost everything."
Daniel smiled.
May you like
For the first time, Maya wasn't being asked to survive someone else's decisions.
She could finally make her own.
