Chapter 8 - THE TRAIN STATION
Union Station was nearly empty.
Mara walked alone.
No Luca.
No Rafe.
At least, that's what Victor believed.
She entered the underground platform.
A train waited in darkness.
Victor stepped from behind a column.
He was older than Luca by fifteen years.
Elegant.
Calm.
Smiling.
“You look exactly like her.”
Mara stared.
“You know my mother.”
“I knew her very well.”
“Where is she?”
“Alive.”
“Show me.”
Victor gestured.
A door opened.
Evelyn sat inside.
Mara nearly ran toward her.
Victor caught her arm.
“Slowly.”
Mara looked at her mother.
“Mom.”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Mara.”
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
Victor smiled.
“Everyone has a choice.”
Mara glared at him.
“You poisoned Luca.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Keller.”
“Why?”
“Because Luca was becoming inconvenient.”
Evelyn shouted, “Don't listen to him!”
Victor slapped her.
Mara moved forward.
“Don't touch her.”
Victor laughed.
“You have her courage.”
Then the lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Victor's men scattered.
Mara dropped to the floor.
A figure appeared from the darkness.
Luca.
He grabbed Mara and pulled her behind a pillar.
“You said you'd stay away.”
“I lied.”
She stared at him.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I know.”
Rafe and two guards exchanged fire with Victor's men.
Evelyn shouted.
“Mara! The necklace!”
Mara touched her throat.
She had forgotten she was wearing the brass key.
Evelyn yelled:
“It's not a key!”
Mara froze.
Victor heard her.
“What did you say?”
Evelyn continued.
“It's a cipher.”
Victor turned.
Luca looked at Mara.
“What does that mean?”
Evelyn shouted:
“The numbers are hidden in the teeth!”
Mara stared at the key.
She examined it.
Tiny marks covered the edge.
Not scratches.
Numbers.
Victor suddenly rushed toward her.
Luca stepped between them.
Victor pulled a gun.
“Move.”
Luca didn't.
“You've wanted me dead for twenty years.”
Victor smiled.
“No.”
He raised the gun.
“I wanted you obedient.”
A shot rang out.
Luca collapsed.
Mara screamed.
“LUCA!”
He fell into her arms.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Victor smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Mara held Luca tightly.
His eyes fluttered.
“Mara…”
“Stay with me.”
He tried to breathe.
“Don't…”
“What?”
“Don't let him…”
His eyes closed.
Victor walked toward them.
“Give me the key.”
Mara looked up.
Something inside her changed.
She tightened her grip around Luca.
“No.”
Victor's smile faded.
Mara whispered:
“You're going to have to kill me too.”
Then the station lights came back on.
And every security monitor showed the same image.
May you like
Victor's confession.
Live.
