Chapter 11 - The Night the River Rose
Heavy rain began melting the snowpack, filling the hydroelectric channel faster than engineers expected.
Torres learned that a service gate had been opened remotely, creating a sudden surge downstream.
The call from Sarah's phone had been routed through a relay near an abandoned riverside warehouse.
A search warrant was secured, and officers approached while emergency workers monitored flood conditions.
Inside the warehouse, Sarah was found conscious but weak, secured in a locked office above the loading floor.
Marcus stood nearby with a bag of cash and passports, insisting they were leaving the country.
Sarah had refused.
She told him she would rather face whatever he threatened than lose another day with her children.
Torres negotiated from outside while colleagues evacuated workers from the rising water.
Nathan waited in the police command vehicle, listening to every update.
A crash came through the radio.
Then silence.
When communication resumed, investigators reported Marcus had fled through a maintenance passage and Sarah had been rescued through a rear stairwell.
Nathan ran toward the ambulance before anyone could stop him.
He saw his sister lying on the stretcher, pale and bandaged, but unmistakably alive.
Her eyes opened when she heard his voice.
'Nate?'
He took her hand.
'I'm here.'
Sarah began crying.
'I thought you didn't want me.'
Nathan leaned closer.
'I was wrong.'
She shook her head and whispered, 'You don't know what they made me sign.'
Then she said something that stopped his heart.
'Whitcomb didn't steal one child, Nathan.'
Her grip tightened.
May you like
'He planned to take all three.'
