Chapter 9 - THE FATHER WHO NEVER DIED
Celia took the phone from Stellan.
"Dad?"
There was silence.
Then a shaky breath.
"Celia."
She closed her eyes.
For eleven years, she had imagined this moment.
Sometimes she imagined anger.
Sometimes she imagined forgiveness.
Sometimes she imagined simply hearing his voice again.
But she had never imagined standing inside an abandoned shipping terminal, surrounded by armed men, with a crime lord bleeding beside her.
"Where are you?"
"Somewhere safe."
"That's not an answer."
A faint laugh came through the phone.
"You sound like your mother."
Celia began crying.
"You let me believe you were dead."
"I know."
"You let Mom go through everything alone."
"I know."
"You let me work three jobs while she was sick. I almost lost our apartment. I couldn't afford her treatment."
His voice broke.
"I know, sweetheart."
"Then why?"
A long silence followed.
"Because I thought staying away would keep you alive."
Celia looked at the metal case.
"Was it worth it?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
"No, it wasn't."
Stellan took a step closer.
"Daniel. This is Stellan Varo."
"I know."
"Where is Julian?"
"Probably heading for the northern road."
Stellan looked toward Archer.
"Send the cars."
Daniel continued.
"Don't chase him. He's not the one you need to worry about."
"Who is?"
"The person who gave him the recording."
Stellan's expression hardened.
"Who?"
"Someone in your inner circle."
Celia looked toward Archer.
Archer was standing near the door.
He had lowered his weapon.
But he wasn't looking at Stellan.
He was looking at the floor.
"Archer?" Celia whispered.
The older man looked up.
Daniel's voice came through the phone.
"Archer."
The room went silent.
"Is that you?"
Archer closed his eyes.
"Yes."
Daniel's voice became quiet.
"You promised me."
"I know."
"You promised you'd keep her safe."
"I tried."
"By bringing her into that house?"
Archer had no answer.
Celia stepped between them.
"Stop. Both of you. I want the truth."
Daniel exhaled.
"Your father and Anton Varo created the trust together. The plan was to keep the legitimate business separate from the criminal organization. Anton intended to leave Stellan the legal company and remove the criminal network from his inheritance."
"Then why was he killed?"
"Because Julian found out."
"And your role?"
"I translated the documents. I also recorded the meeting where Anton confronted his wife."
Stellan looked at the recording device.
"Did my mother order the murder?"
"She ordered the removal of both sons. She wanted the trust and the criminal operation. Julian agreed to help her."
"Why didn't you give this to the police?"
"Because the police officer assigned to the case was on her payroll."
Stellan's jaw tightened.
Daniel continued.
"After the attack, I escaped with the evidence. But I was injured. I went into hiding. I thought the safest thing was to make everyone believe I was dead."
Celia wiped her face.
"And Nadia?"
"I asked her to protect the original recording."
"Why did she disappear?"
"Because Julian found her."
"Then why was she in Stellan's house?"
"Because Archer brought her there."
Celia turned toward Archer.
"Why?"
Archer finally spoke.
"Because I believed Mr. Varo deserved to know what happened to his father. And I believed you were the only person who could expose the people responsible."
Stellan looked at him.
"You should have told me."
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
Archer hesitated.
Then he looked at Celia.
"Because the woman who ordered Anton's murder was not working alone."
Daniel's voice returned.
"Archer. Tell them."
The older man swallowed.
"There's another name on the original trust."
Stellan frowned.
"What name?"
Archer looked toward the metal case.
"Your mother's."
Celia blinked.
"She's dead."
Archer shook his head.
"No. Her death was staged."
Stellan stepped backward.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he looked at the documents.
"Where is she?"
Daniel answered.
"At the place where she has been hiding for eleven years."
"Where?"
A pause.
Then Daniel said the name of a town in northern Maine.
Stellan stared at the wall.
His mother had supposedly died in a private hospital outside Boston.
The funeral had been closed-casket.
He had been twenty-three.
He had watched them lower the coffin.
He had never questioned it.
Until now.
Celia's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
A photograph.
An elderly woman standing beside a black limousine.
The caption contained four words.
Tell my son hello.
Celia showed Stellan.
He looked at the photograph.
His face became unreadable.
Then his phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name.
ELEANOR VARO.
He answered.
A woman's voice spoke with perfect calm.
"Hello, darling."
Stellan closed his eyes.
"Mother."
She laughed softly.
"I see you've finally found Daniel's little girl."
May you like
Then she said something that made Celia's blood turn cold.
"Ask her what happened to the seventh interpreter."
