Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO PROTECTED THE MONSTER
The journey to Mercer Terminal took forty minutes.
Celia sat in the back of Stellan's armored SUV, her notebook open on her knees.
Stellan sat opposite her.
Archer occupied the front passenger seat.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Celia broke the silence.
"Who was Nadia talking about?"
Stellan looked out the window.
"She didn't say."
"She said someone has been protecting you."
"That doesn't narrow it down."
"Archer?"
The older man glanced back.
"I have protected Mr. Varo's life. That doesn't mean I know everything about his father's death."
Celia studied him.
"You're very good at avoiding questions."
"Occupational necessity."
She turned to Stellan.
"Did you ever know your brother was alive?"
"No."
"Did you look for him?"
"For years."
"What happened?"
Stellan's expression hardened.
"At twenty-seven, I stopped searching."
"Why?"
"Because the person who claimed to have seen him was found dead."
Celia closed her notebook.
"And you think Grekov has him?"
"I think Grekov knows more than he's admitting."
The vehicle slowed.
Mercer Terminal appeared through the fog.
An enormous industrial structure stood beside the water, its windows dark and its loading cranes rusted.
Two vehicles were parked outside.
Stellan's men moved into position.
Celia looked toward the building.
"Something's wrong."
Stellan followed her gaze.
"What?"
"There's no security."
"That could be deliberate."
"No. Grekov has my mother. He wants the agreement. He knows you're coming. He wouldn't leave the entrance unguarded."
Stellan considered her words.
Then he looked at Archer.
"Check the rear perimeter."
Archer stepped out.
Thirty seconds later, his voice came through the radio.
"Clear."
Celia frowned.
"That's not possible."
Stellan looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because whoever arranged this wanted us to think the building was empty."
A light flickered in an upper window.
Then another.
The building was not empty.
It was occupied.
Stellan ordered everyone to hold position.
A voice came through the loudspeaker.
"Stellan."
The voice was unmistakable.
Stellan went rigid.
"Julian?"
A laugh echoed from inside.
"Hello, brother."
The main doors opened.
A man stepped into the light.
He looked remarkably like Stellan, though his hair was lighter and his face carried a thin scar across the cheek.
Celia felt the resemblance immediately.
Julian Varo.
Alive.
He looked at Celia.
"Daniel's daughter. You've grown up."
"You knew my father?"
"Better than your employer did."
Stellan took one step forward.
"Where's my mother?"
Julian smiled.
"Still asking questions like a child."
"Where is she?"
"Inside. With Grekov."
Celia raised her voice.
"Let her go."
Julian's gaze returned to her.
"You're very much like your father."
"Did you kill him?"
For a moment, Julian said nothing.
Then he smiled.
"Your father made a mistake. He believed the truth was more valuable than the people protecting it."
Celia felt sick.
"That's not an answer."
"It is the only answer you're getting."
Stellan stepped between them.
"Let her go."
Julian laughed.
"You're still pretending to be the man who makes the rules."
He raised one hand.
A door opened behind him.
Grekov appeared, holding Celia's mother by the arm.
Her mother looked exhausted but unharmed.
"Mom!"
Her mother tried to move toward her.
Grekov tightened his grip.
"One step closer and she falls."
Celia stopped.
Julian held out his hand.
"The agreement."
Stellan looked at Celia.
She understood.
He didn't have the original document.
But she did.
Her father's handwritten copy was inside the folder in her bag.
She pulled it out.
Julian's eyes fixed on it.
"Give it to me."
Celia didn't move.
"First, my mother."
Julian smiled.
"Your father negotiated with me once. It didn't end well."
"Then perhaps you should have learned from the experience."
Stellan's eyes flicked toward her.
Julian's smile vanished.
He gestured to Grekov.
"Bring her forward."
Grekov pushed Celia's mother toward the entrance.
The moment she crossed the threshold, a gunshot rang out.
Everyone dropped.
Celia felt Stellan pull her behind a concrete barrier.
A second shot struck the vehicle.
Archer shouted over the radio.
"Ambush! West side!"
The terminal erupted into chaos.
Celia's mother was dragged back inside.
Julian disappeared through the doorway.
Stellan reached for his weapon.
Celia grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait!"
He turned.
She pointed toward the upper windows.
A shadow moved behind the glass.
Then a light flashed twice.
It was a signal.
Her father had used the same pattern when she was little.
Two short flashes.
One long.
It meant danger.
But there was another meaning.
Don't trust the person beside you.
Celia slowly turned toward Archer.
The older man was standing behind them.
His weapon was aimed at Stellan.
"Archer?" Stellan said.
Archer's face was filled with grief.
"I'm sorry."
May you like
The gun fired.
And Stellan fell.
