The Beggar’s Throne

Chapter Nine

Vivian stood her ground. “ She's Busy.”

Holt’s eyes widened “She texted me.”

“Did she?” Jake said, stepping forward.

Holt turned slowly to face the unfamiliar voice.

“Who the hell are you?” Holt asked.

Vivian’s voice was calm. “Michael’s son.”

Holt froze in silence and shock ran through his veins.

The wind moved between them. 

He laughed once. Cold.

“So this is the Kane brat? You’ve been hiding him?”

Jake stared at him. “You expected Diane. Sorry to disappoint.”

Holt looked amused. “You thought this was smart? Luring me here? You think I’d come without backup?”

Vivian’s eyes widened. “You didn’t.”

Holt’s hand slipped beneath his coat. The glint of steel flashed before the gun raised.

He fired.

Vivian cried out, the shot grazed her shoulder, cutting her flesh slightly.

“I'll send you right where I sent your boss” Holt said in laughter.

Jake moved forward as she staggered.

Vivian threw her gun.

Jake caught it mid air as he dropped to the floor, and shot.

One shot.

He pulled the trigger.

The bullet ripped into Holt’s leg.

Holt collapsed with a growl, his weapon fell from his hand.

Vivian dropped to one knee, pressing her hand against her shoulder.

Jake rose slowly, walking toward Holt.

“You little bastard” Holt groaned

Jake knelt beside him.

“That’s for my father.”

Holt snarled. “You think this ends here? The Carters—”

Jake cut him off. “The Carters are next.”

Vivian stood, wincing, supporting herself with Jake’s arm.

Jake looked down at Holt. “You won’t die today, and not in my hands, I'm not a murderer. But you’ll talk.”

Vivian kicked Holt’s weapon further away. “You’re done, Holt.”

The rain began to fall in earnest now.

Jake turned to Vivian. “Call the police. I want him alive.”

Vivian gave a short nod and pulled out her phone.

Jake looked down one last time.

“Now you’ve seen my face,” he said to Holt. “You’ll remember it. From prison.”

Rain fell harder as the sirens arrived. Blue and red lights shining over the field. Jake stepped back from Holt, hands raised. Officers rushed to them, and seized Jake gun, shouting commands.

Vivian held her wounded shoulder, nodding quickly to the nearest officer. "He's the shooter. I'm hit. He's still alive."

Jake pointed to Holt. " His leg is wounded and his weapon's over there."

Two officers cuffed Holt as he growled in pain. "This isn’t over."

Jake ignored him and turned to Vivian. "You okay?"

Vivian nodded. "We need to get him talking."

Minutes later, an ambulance arrived, Paramedics treated Holt's leg, stabilizing him then Vivian's shoulder was wrapped in a field bandage. She refused transport. "I’ll go with Jake."

The officers ushered them to a squad car. Jake climbed in, wet and cold.

At the station, Holt was rushed into a secure medical wing. Jake and Vivian were led to a private observation room. 

Behind one-way glass, Holt sat restrained. Two detectives paced the room.

"We found a burner phone on him," one officer told Jake. "No contacts saved. Nothing helpful yet."

Jake watched as the detectives tried to break open Holt's silence. He smirked, silent.

Vivian leaned close. "He won’t talk. Not like this."

Jake looked at the glass. "Then let me in."

The officers hesitated, but finally agreed. "Two minutes. We’re recording."

Jake stepped into the room.

"You," Holt spat.

Jake sat across from him. "You finally saw my face."

Holt sneered. "I don’t talk to nobodies."

Jake leaned forward. "X742-A. Port shipment logs. The bar. The Kane server backups. I have everything."

For the first time, Holt's face expression twitched.

Jake didn't blink. "Michael Kane Sullivan was my father."

Vivian entered the room then, arm in a sling. Holt's smirk cracked. "Vivian. Alive?"

"Unfortunately for you," she replied coldly.

Jake stood his ground. "You can stay quiet. But the cops will break you. The media will find this field, the gun, the comms logs. The Carters won't protect you anymore."

Holt laughed dryly. "You think the Carters were protecting me?"

Vivian stepped forward. "Tell the truth, Holt. Why was Diane at the bar?"

Holt was silent. Then, finally, Holt exhaled.

"She wanted her hands clean. Your father had files and yndicate data. She thought handing it over would make her safe, and we were chasing you, who happen to be the heir."

Jake froze. "She helped you?"

Holt chuckled. "She led me to him. Thought I’d just steal the data. Maybe scare him. But things got messy."

Vivian's face was pale. "You killed him."

"And she let it happen," Holt said, staring at Jake. "Now what, Sullivan?"

Jake stared, his temper flaring. "Now you rot. And the Carters? They'll join you next."

He turned and walked out and Vivian walked out.

"We have the confession. We’ll move on to the hospital and wait for the police to do their job immediately."

The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beep of machines. Diane still laid unconscious, pale and still, hooked up to a ventilator. 

The police stood outside the door, speaking quietly with the attending nurse and doctor.

“We need to inform you that Diane Carter is under arrest for her association with the murder of Michael Sullivan Kane,” one of the officers said calmly.

The nurse blinked in surprise but nodded. “Understood. She’ll remain here in the ICU. She’s not stable enough for transfer. We will comply with any legal procedures.”

The officer pulled out paperwork, sliding it across the desk. “We will place official custody documentation here. No one is to remove her without police authorization.”

Meanwhile, in the hospital lobby, the Carter family began to arrive, Amanda, Greg, Richard, and Ethan. 

A second group of officers approached the family, standing firmly but respectfully.

“We have important information for you,” one said.

Amanda stepped forward, her voice shaky. “Is Mom going to be okay?”

The officer shook his head. “She is in a coma and won’t be discharged soon. But there’s more. Diane Carter is now officially under arrest for her role in the murder of Michael Sullivan Kane.”

The words sent a shock through their spines.

Richard’s jaw tightened. “That’s absurd. My wife—”

The officer raised a hand. “Evidence has been provided. The investigation led us here, thanks to cooperation from Michael Sullivan Kane’s son.”

Their heads turned as Jake Sullivan stepped from a side corridor.

The officer continued, “This is Jake Sullivan. He provided crucial information and evidence leading to Mrs. Carter’s arrest and the unraveling of this case.”

Amanda’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Jake... Michael Sullivan’s son? That can’t be.”

Jake stared at Amanda and chuckled. “It’s true. There’s a lot you don’t know.”

Greg sneered, in disbelief. “So the pizza delivery guy was lying this whole time?”

Jake’s face hardened. “I’m exactly who I said I was. And now the truth is coming out.”

Ethan looked from Jake to the officer. “What happens now?”

The officer answered firmly, “Diane Carter will remain in hospital custody until she is medically cleared. After that, she will be formally charged and face trial. We will also be questioning other family members as part of the ongoing investigation.”

Amanda swallowed hard, her thoughts racing. “How could this happen? How could she be involved?”

Jake’s said in a low. “Because sometimes those closest to you hide the darkest secrets.”

Diane’s eyes fluttered open slightly, her sight blurry at first. The machines beeped softly around her, which reminded her of what had happened and where she is.

Just then, Amanda stepped quietly to Jake’s side, pulling him gently into a corner away from the others.

“Please, Jake,” Amanda whispered, her voice trembling. “Don’t tell my Mom anything yet, about the arrest, or what we just found out. She’s too weak. It’ll kill her.”

Jake stared at her, remembering all the years of pain and betrayal her and her family had inflicted upon him. For the first time, he fired up against Amanda.

He looked Amanda straight in the eyes and raised his voice, startling her.

“So this is it? Now you’re begging?” he snapped. “After treating me like dirt, like I was some nobody? I loved you. I gave everything I had.”

He took a breath, shaking off the hurt. “You want me to hold back on the truth? Why? So you can keep living the lie?”

“I’ve signed a new divorce papers, as the one you sent was lost. My lawyer will send them to you. All you have to do is sign.

Amanda’s eyes widened, her face pale under the hospital’s lights. “New divorce papers?” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Jake, you can’t be serious. Not now.”

Jake’s jaw tightened as he leaned closer, his voice low but firm. “Why not, Amanda? You made it clear I’m nothing to you. Why should I care what you want?”

She stepped back, her hands trembling. “I’m not saying I don’t deserve it. But Mom’s dying, you're not a wicked man, don't force yourself to be one, You heard the nurse. She might not wake up. Can’t you wait?”

Jake’s chest burned with years of her insults, loser, pizza boy, embarrassment. He wanted to walk away, let her drown in her family’s mess. 

But he had to play the pitiful son in law role and act like he had forgotten it all.

“Wait for what?” he said, softer now. “For you to keep pretending I’m nobody? Or for your mom to wake up and lie to my face again?”

Amanda flinched. “I’m not pretending anymore, Jake. I heard you on that call at the boutique. I know you’re not just… you. Who are you really?”

Jake froze. Her suspicion was dangerous. If she dug too deep, his Syndicate cover could blow. He forced a laugh, playing it off. “I told you, just a guy with pawn shop friends.”

She shook her head, stepping closer. “No. That call wasn’t some buddy. You sounded like… like you run something. Like you’re somebody.”

Jake’s pulse raced. He needed to redirect her, fast. “You’re imagining things, Amanda. Stress is messing with you. Focus on your mom, not me.”

Amanda’s eyes narrowed, searching his face. “Don’t lie to me, Jake. Not now. I know something’s up.”

Before he could respond, Greg stormed over, his face red. “What’s this, Amanda? Begging the pizza boy? He’s the reason Mom’s in cuffs!”

Jake stayed calm, hands in his pockets, hiding the Syndicate card. “I just told the truth, Greg. Your mom’s tied to a serious case, Deal with it.”

Greg lunged forward, but Ethan grabbed his arm. “Not here,” Ethan hissed. “Cops might be watching, there's CCTV cameras that can capture your voice everywhere.”

Amanda’s voice cut through. “Enough! Greg, back off. Jake… just don’t tell Mom yet. Please. I’ll figure this out.”

Jake stared at her, torn. Helping her meant risking his plan—exposing the Carters’ corruption, seizing their assets for the Syndicate. But her plea hit a nerve. He wasn’t heartless. Not yet.

“Fine,” he said finally. “I won’t tell her. For now. But don’t think this changes anything.”

Amanda exhaled, relief mixing with doubt. “Thank you, Jake.”

He turned to leave, but Ethan’s voice stopped him. “You’re not as slick as you think, Sullivan. We’re watching you.”

Jake didn’t look back. He walked to his battered Honda, with his mind racing.