A gasping, teary Steers glanced at Masuyo, “Mama, please.”
“You are no daughter of mine,” she snapped. “You are weak and have placed yourself into this situation through your own stupidity. And now you must pay the price for your incompetence.”
Lord looked down at the weapon and then was surprised when the same guard took the gun from him, demonstrated how to hold and aim it, and then handed it back. “Round’s already in the chamber, sir. Just aim and pull the trigger.”
He stepped back. Lord looked at Masuyo, who said, “We have wasted enough time. Do it.”
Lord squared his shoulders, gripped the weapon with both hands, took aim, and looked at Steers.
Her face was now one of stone. She used her shoulder to push Temple roughly away. “I have no need of yourassistance,” she said imperiously.
Steers pointed her shackled hands directly at her heart.
“Not even aweakman like yourself could fail in this endeavor,” she taunted, even as she looked down at Nash’s body. She closed her eyes and the tears drained from them.
“Goodbye, Walter.”
Lord aimed at her chest and pulled the trigger.
The gun fired and Steers flinched with the impact. Blood immediately spread across the front of her shirt where a hole had now appeared. She looked once at her mother, and then her eyes rolled up into her head and she fell next to Nash.
“And now, Mr. Temple, it is your turn,” said Masuyo, as she nodded at one of her men.
Temple moved to stand in front of her. “Take your best shot, lady. And I’ll see you in hell.”
A moment later every door in the warehouse exploded inward.
CHAPTER
84
FBI SPECIAL AGENT REED MORRISstrode down the long hallway, his heels clicking rhythmically on the cement floor. He turned left, then stopped at the cell door. The uniformed man next to the door nodded, unlocked the portal, and Morris went inside.
At the table Connor Lord was outfitted in a prison jumpsuit and shackled to a bolt in the floor.
Morris sat down, opened a file he was carrying, and noted the date, time, and people in the room into a recorder that sat on the tabletop.
Lord said, “I have already requested an attorney, so you can ask me nothing.” He could not have looked any more smug.
“I’m not here to ask questions, because I have no need to. You’ve been charged with murder.”
“I have no idea what you’re taking about,” said Lord. “I was in a warehouse when your agents burst in. We were taken there by Rhett Temple. Who, by the way, killed Walter Nash and Victoria Steers.”
“We’ve already talked to Temple. He’s agreed to a deal.”
“How was he able to make a deal?” said Lord. “He murdered Walter Nash right in front of us.”
Morris cleared his throat and looked grimly at him. “He’s going to prison for the rest of his life for that crime. And he’s cooperating with us to put you away for the rest of your life.”
“This is ridiculous. He killed Nash. And Steers.”
“Steers’s death is not something that will ever make me lose any sleep. But Walter Nash was a hero who ultimately sacrificed his life to do the right thing. And he was also my friend. I only wish we had arrived in time to save him. But you are going to pay for your crimes.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. What crimes? I was in a warehouse at the request of Mr. Temple. If there is something illicit going on there you must talk to him,” said Lord. “I know nothing whatsoever about it.”
“Before you bought her out, you had been working with the late Victoria Steers. But you weren’t alone in that. You had major backing from Beijing.”
“That is preposterous.”
