Chapter 9 - The Pilot's Return
Daniel instantly accepted the video call.
The screen flickered before revealing the face of a bruised but smiling police officer.
"Mr. Carter?" the officer asked.
"Yes, is my daughter safe?" Daniel begged.
The officer stepped aside, revealing Emma and Megan wrapped in warm blankets.
"Daddy!" Emma cried, her face lighting up.
Daniel sobbed loudly, pressing the phone to his chest.
"How?" Daniel asked the officer, completely overwhelmed.
"Captain Reynolds called in a massive favor with the Columbus police chief," the officer explained.
"We breached your house five minutes before the deadline."
"The suspect is in custody, and your family is completely unharmed."
Daniel looked up toward the control tower.
Captain Reynolds gave him a crisp, distant salute from the window.
The good deed Daniel had done on that freezing January night had saved his universe.
Victoria knelt beside him, wiping the rain from her face.
She smiled brighter than he had ever seen.
"You did it, Daniel."
"You saved everyone."
The next few days passed in a whirlwind of federal investigations.
Richard Vance was charged with treason, corporate espionage, and kidnapping.
The cartel’s American accounts were frozen by the FBI using the evidence on the flash drive.
Bennett Technologies was completely safe.
Daniel flew back to Columbus, this time sitting next to Victoria in first class.
He ran through the airport terminal and scooped Emma into a massive hug.
Megan hugged them both, crying tears of sheer relief.
Daniel finally felt that the dark cloud over his life had lifted.
He had a future, and his daughter was safe.
But Victoria had one last piece of business to discuss.
May you like
She pulled a pristine, sealed envelope from her designer bag.
"I need to finalize your job interview, Mr. Carter."
