Chapter 7 - The Mistress Breaks
The neon sign of the old diner flickered dimly in the heavy midnight rain.
The parking lot was completely deserted, except for my black SUV idling in the shadows.
Julian sat in the driver's seat, his hand resting casually on his holstered weapon.
I watched the street intently through the tinted passenger window.
Ten minutes passed in agonizing silence.
Finally, a yellow taxi pulled up to the curb, splashing muddy water onto the sidewalk.
Charlotte practically fell out of the back seat, clutching a thick leather briefcase to her chest.
She looked absolutely pathetic, her designer clothes soaked and her makeup running down her face.
I rolled down my window just an inch to speak to her.
"Get in," I commanded coldly.
Charlotte scrambled into the back seat, shivering violently from the cold and absolute terror.
"They are trying to kill me, Sabrina," Charlotte sobbed, hugging the briefcase.
"Gavin's men broke my door down right after I escaped through the fire escape."
I felt no sympathy for the woman who had helped destroy my marriage.
"Give me the evidence, Charlotte," I demanded, holding out my hand.
Charlotte hesitated, clutching the leather bag tighter.
"You have to guarantee me full legal immunity and a flight out of the country first," she bargained.
I let out a harsh, unforgiving laugh.
"You are not in a position to negotiate with me," I reminded her sharply.
"You can either give me the briefcase, or Julian will push you back out into the rain."
Charlotte looked at Julian's terrifying silhouette in the front seat and instantly surrendered.
She handed me the damp leather briefcase with trembling hands.
I popped the golden latches and opened it.
Inside were the original offshore bank transfers Gavin used to pay the assassin.
There were also printed emails between Gavin and the black-market chemist who supplied the poison.
It was enough physical evidence to put Gavin in federal prison for the rest of his miserable life.
"I have a private jet waiting at the regional airport," I told Charlotte dismissively.
"Julian will drive you there, and you will never return to Minneapolis again."
Charlotte wept with immense relief, nodding her head repeatedly.
"Thank you, Sabrina, thank you so much," she cried.
Before Julian could put the car into gear, a blinding set of high beams flooded the diner parking lot.
A massive, unmarked cargo van jumped the curb and smashed violently into the side of our SUV.
The explosive impact shattered the windows and sent glass flying everywhere.
The side door of the van slid open, revealing three masked men armed with assault rifles.
They reached through our broken window and grabbed Charlotte by her hair.
Charlotte screamed in pure agony as they dragged her violently out of the car.
They threw her into the back of the van and sped off into the darkness before Julian could draw his weapon.
I sat in the ruined SUV, bleeding slightly from a cut on my forehead.
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On the wet pavement outside, one of the kidnappers had dropped a cheap burner phone.
The phone began to ring loudly over the sound of the pouring rain.
