Chapter 6 - THE FALL OF VANESSA REED
The rain had softened into a dreary grey drizzle over Teterboro Airport. Inside a private aviation lounge, Vanessa Reed paced back and forth, holding a sleek leather tote bag containing two million dollars in bearer bonds and forged foreign passports.
She adjusted her dark sunglasses, her heart beating fast. She checked her phone—no word from 'G'. She knew something had gone wrong at the Greylock estate, but it didn't matter. Once her jet took off, she would disappear into Switzerland, enjoying the tens of millions she had quietly skimmed from Cole Development over the last three years.
"Boarding for Flight 402 to Zurich," the lounge receptionist announced.
Vanessa smiled, picking up her bag. She walked down the jet bridge toward the private Gulfstream aircraft.
Just as her foot touched the steps of the plane, a fleet of black SUVs and police cruisers screeched onto the tarmac, surrounding the aircraft with sirens blaring!
"Vanessa Reed! Stand down!" a megaphone boomed.
Vanessa froze, her blood running cold.
Dozens of armed Federal Marshals and FBI agents poured out of the vehicles, guns drawn. But stepping out from behind the lead vehicle was Ethan Cole.
He looked battered—a dark bruise covered his cheek, his arm was bound in a medical sling, and his shirt was still stained with dried blood—but his eyes held a terrifying, unwavering authority.
"Ethan?" Vanessa gasped, backing up against the plane steps. "What is this?! Tell them to put their weapons down! I was fleeing for us! Nora tried to set us up!"
Ethan walked slowly toward her, stopping just behind the line of federal agents. He looked at her not with anger, but with profound disgust, as if looking at a poisonous spider.
"Save it, Vanessa," Ethan said calmly. "The police found your hitman at the Greylock mill. He’s already facing attempted murder charges, and he gave up your name, your wire transfer routing numbers, and the phone contract for the burner phone."
Vanessa’s face went ghastly pale. The cool, aristocratic composure she had maintained for years melted away, replaced by ugly, animalistic panic.
"You can't do this to me!" she shrieked, clutching her designer bag. "I built your company! You were nothing without me! You loved me, Ethan!"
"I never loved you," Ethan said, his tone cold enough to freeze fire. "I was a fool who fell for your lies because I took my real wife for granted. But today, your game is over."
An FBI agent stepped forward, pulling Vanessa’s hands behind her back and snapping heavy steel handcuffs around her wrists.
May you like
"Vanessa Reed, you are under arrest for attempted murder, grand larceny, corporate fraud, and conspiracy," the agent read her rights.
As she was dragged toward the police cruiser, screaming curses and weeping hysterically, Ethan turned his back on her, refusing to give her another second of his attention. He got into his car and drove straight back to the hospital.
