Chapter 14 - THE AIRFIELD
The private airfield stood outside the city near abandoned grain warehouses.
Police arrived at 4:20 a.m.
The reserved aircraft remained inside a hangar.
Its pilot had not seen Celeste.
The passport submitted for the flight carried Rachel’s maiden name and Celeste’s photograph.
Desmond waited inside a police vehicle.
Vance had permitted him to come only because Celeste might contact him.
Linda and Toby remained at the safe apartment with Prescott.
At 4:47, Desmond’s phone rang.
Celeste.
Vance signaled for him to answer.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“You sound tired.”
“You tried to kill me.”
“You always preferred dramatic language.”
“You cut my brakes.”
“Owen cut them.”
“You ordered him.”
Silence.
Then Celeste said, “You would have destroyed the company over a dirty market.”
“It was never yours to sell.”
“Everything became mine when I married you.”
Desmond closed his eyes.
“Did you know Rachel?”
Celeste did not answer immediately.
That pause was recorded.
“She was weak,” Celeste finally said.
“What did you do?”
“I offered her a deal. She refused.”
“Did you damage her car?”
“You should be careful what you ask when you cannot survive the answer.”
The call ended.
Vance traced it to a service road behind the airfield.
Officers found an abandoned car.
Inside were Celeste’s jewelry and a second passport.
She had created the appearance that she planned to fly.
In reality, she had left on foot through nearby freight yards.
The aircraft was a distraction.
A security camera captured her entering a delivery truck headed back toward the city.
“What is she returning for?” Desmond asked.
Vance studied the map.
The truck’s route passed Fairbridge Market.
Then Linda called.
Her voice was urgent.
“Toby is gone.”
Prescott had fallen asleep in a chair shortly before dawn.
The door officer received a false radio order directing him downstairs.
When Linda entered Toby’s room, the window was open.
Captain lay on the floor.
A note had been taped to the glass.
Bring the real ledger to the yellow stall. No police.
Celeste had never intended to flee without destroying the last evidence.
She had returned to the one place where everyone once ignored Toby.
Now she had taken him there.
Linda grabbed the real flash drive from Prescott’s evidence case before anyone could stop her.
“If I wait, she’ll hurt him.”
Vance ordered units toward Fairbridge.
Desmond followed.
Sunrise spread over the colored market tents.
The gates were still locked.
Inside the silent market, a single light burned beneath Linda’s yellow canopy.
May you like
And Toby’s voice could be heard crying behind it.
👉 Celeste had returned to the market for one final exchange—but this time, every person she had underestimated was coming for Toby.
