Chapter 4:
The plan was almost ready. At the moment, it wasn't important if the painting was at the castle or not, if the thief was an employee or not, if the Board was going to know all about this mess or not. The most important thing was that the thief wasn't just a thief. He was insane. He wanted Mr. Shaw's wife. And stealing the painting was only a trick to get to his prize.
At last, Mrs. Shaw knew the situation and agreed to continue with the plan. Mrs. Shaw would be at the meeting place at the right hour. They would have to catch the criminal in the scene of the crime, but before he could cause her any harm. The painting was not the subject to work for anymore. Mrs. Shaw's safety was.
After Laura and Mr. Steele explained it to the couple, the Board agreed too to go on with the operation's execution. The artwork wasn't relevant enough to put any lives in danger. And if it wasn't recovered, at least there was an insurance policy to be collected.
Just about 8:00pm, a limousine arrived, with Mr. and Mrs. Shaw inside. Mr. Steele and Miss Holt had gone to the Police Station to alert them about what was going to happen that night. They'd had to maintain their distance because the author of the messages didn't want anything to do with the detectives near the exchange. At the end of the day, they would meet with Mr. Shaw to arrange the last details for the transaction.
A very secret operation was on, with the anti-kidnapping squad ready to get into action. The beach was monitored from the sea by divers prepared to jump from their boats in the case the sea was the criminal's planned escape route. And the roads were closed because the authorities didn't want to risk people moving around the meeting place.
Everything was ready. The clock was ticking. The limo approached the deal's zone, and then Mr. Shaw got out of the car. After a heartrending sight, he put his hand on the roof and taped it. The car began its march. He remained hidden in the dark beside Mr. Steele and some police officers.
The car followed its way. Then, in the correct place, stopped, turned off the lights, and started the wait. A couple of minutes after, a motorbike arrived. Without stopping the engine, the driver descended, a cylinder hanging on his back. He walked towards the limo. He was carrying the painting, as he promised. The helmet didn't allow the security forces to see his face. But something was wrong in this scene. Why was he carrying the painting with him? He had to know that with that recovered; the only thing left was being arrested before he could get near Mrs. Shaw. But maybe he didn't want anything else. Perhaps the only thing he wanted was a flash encounter and to run away with her as a hostage.
He made a gesture for her to get out of the car. She did it. He continued his approach, took off the helmet, and after taking a look at her, he shouted, "You are not Alex! Who are you?"
Laura, who had her face in the dark, took off her hat, and told him, "Give up, Norton, you are surrounded."
Mr. Shaw, who was hidden behind some cars beside Mr. Steele yelled, "Norton!"
Realizing they weren't alone, and that the woman in front of him was not Patty, Norton jumped over Laura, putting his arm around her neck, and pointing a gun at her temple. Then, he started his way back to his vehicle dragging her with him. Steele and Shaw couldn't believe why the police didn't open fire when they had the chance. Norton was ready to leave with Miss Holt as his hostage when the limo door opened again, and Mrs. Shaw got out of it, shouting to Norton.
"No, Rudy. Please, don't hurt her. You don't want to do that. Let her go."
Just when Norton heard Alex's voice, he stopped. At that very moment, and taking advantage of him neglecting his hold on Miss Holt, a hidden sniper fired a shot. The man fell down on the ground. The show was over.