Three booths away, an older man read a newspaper. Doc. Both perfectly positioned. Eva folded her hands on the table. You wanted to discuss terms.
Simple terms. You shut down the center, you've already announced that publicly, well done. You leave Arizona within 1 week. You never speak publicly about trafficking operations again. Ashlin sipped his coffee.
Follow these rules, you and your friends live long, peaceful lives. And if we don't, then people start dying, starting with the seven you rescued. They're very easy to find, you know. Public records, social media, family addresses. He pulled out his phone, showed her a photo.
Helen walking to her car. See? We've been watching. Eva kept her expression neutral, but inside rage burned. You're threatening innocent people.
I'm protecting a business interest. Those seven people cost me $3 million in lost revenue when your little rescue shut down Maddox's operation. Ashlin leaned forward. I want compensation. Since you can't pay in money, you'll pay by disappearing, by not interfering anymore.
What if I go to the FBI? Please do. I have people inside the bureau. I'll know about it before you leave the parking lot. He smiled.
Mrs. Hartwell, you're 73 years old. You had a nice run playing hero, saving people, feeling important. But this is the big leagues. You're out of your depth.
Eva met his eyes. You know what my husband used to say? Never underestimate someone with nothing to lose. Is that a threat? It's a fact.
You think you can scare me? I'm 73. I've buried a husband. I've lived through wars, recessions, heartbreak. Death doesn't scare me anymore.
Eva leaned forward. What scares me is living without purpose. And helping people, stopping men like you, that's my purpose now. Ashlin's smile faded. Then you're making a fatal mistake.
Maybe, but I'll die knowing I fought for something that mattered. Can you say the same? His hand moved under the table. Eva knew he was reaching for a weapon, but she was faster. The Colt was in her hand, pressed against his ribs under the table, hidden from view.
I wouldn't, she said quietly. At this range, I don't miss, and that suit won't stop a.45 caliber bullet. Ashlin froze. Marcus and Doc were already moving, sliding out of their positions, hands on their concealed weapons. Here's what's going to happen, Eva said, her her voice deadly calm.
You're going to sit very still. You're going to tell me everything about your operation. And you're going to do it knowing that every word is being recorded. You're wearing a wire. Not a question, a statement.
Smart man. This won't hold up in court. Entrapment, coercion. Maybe, but it'll be enough for the FBI to get a warrant, search your properties, freeze your accounts. And once they start digging, they'll find everything.
Eva pressed the gun harder. You can't bribe every agent. You can't kill every witness. Your empire is done. Ashlin's jaw clenched.
You have no idea who you're dealing with. Neither do you. For 10 long seconds, they sat in tense silence. Then Ashlin made his move. He grabbed Eva's gun hand, tried to twist the weapon away.
Eva pulled the trigger. The shot was muffled by their bodies, the sound barely audible over the diner's ambient noise, but the impact was real. Ashlin gasped, released her hand, clutched his side. "You shot me. " he said, disbelief in his voice. "You grabbed my gun.
That's self-defense. " Eva stood keeping the weapon trained on him. Marcus, call 911. But before Marcus could respond, the diner's door burst open. Three men rushed in, Ashlin's security team who'd been waiting outside. They saw Eva with the gun, saw Ashlin bleeding, drew their own weapons.
The diner erupted into chaos. "Gun! " someone screamed. The family dove under their table. Truckers scattered. Eva dropped behind the booth as bullets shattered the window above her head.
Marcus and Doc returned fire, their weapons barking in the enclosed space. One of Ashlin's men went down immediately, Marcus's shot catching him in the shoulder. The other two took cover behind the counter firing blindly. Boone and his bikers burst through the front door, weapons drawn. "Federal agents! " Boone shouted, a lie but an effective one.
"Drop your weapons. " The firefight intensified. Eva stayed low checking Ashlin. He was slumped in the booth, hand pressed to his side, blood seeping between his fingers. "Stupid old woman. " he gasped. "You just started a war you can't win. " "Wars are won by who's still standing at the end. " Eva replied.
"I plan to be standing. " A bullet punched through the booth's vinyl missing Eva's head by inches. She returned fire careful not to hit civilians. Her shot hit one of the security men in the leg. He went down screaming. The last security man, seeing he was outmatched, tried to run.
Doc stepped into his path, pistol raised. "Don't. " Doc said simply. The man dropped his weapon, raised his hands. Suddenly it was over. The diner went quiet except for the ringing of ears and the sobbing of the terrified family.
Eva stood, slowly surveyed the damage. Broken glass, bullet holes, blood on the floor. But no civilian casualties. They'd been lucky. Sirens wailed in the distance getting closer.
Boone had his phone out. "FBI's on route. Morrison says to secure the scene. " Eva looked down at Ashlin. He was conscious, coherent, but clearly in pain. "It's over. " she told him.
"Your operation is finished. " Ashlin laughed, a wet, painful sound. "You think I'm the top? I'm middle management, just like Maddox. You shut me down, someone else takes over. " "The demand doesn't disappear just because you caught the supplier. " "Maybe, but we'll catch them, too. And the next one after that, and the one after that. " Eva knelt beside him.
"You asked if this was worth dying for. The answer is yes. Absolutely yes. " FBI vehicles pulled into the parking lot. Agent Morrison came through the door first, weapon drawn, then lowered it when he saw the situation was contained. "Mrs.
Hartwell, should have known you'd be in the middle of this. " "I had help. " Eva gestured to Marcus, Doc, and Boone. Morrison surveyed the scene. "Anyone hurt? Civilians? " "Everyone's shaken, but okay. Ashlin needs an ambulance. " "Already called. " Morrison looked at the men in custody.
"Victor Ashlin, we've been trying to nail you for 5 years. " Ashlin said nothing, just glared. Morrison read him his rights while paramedics loaded him onto a stretcher. As they wheeled him past Eva, Ashlin spoke quietly, just loud enough for her to hear. "This isn't over. " "Yes. " Eva said firmly. "It is. " The investigation took 6 weeks.