Chapter 46 - Terminal Shadows
The cabin doors popped open, admitting the cool, salted Mediterranean breeze.
Passengers in the forward cabin stood in unison, reaching into overhead bins and adjusting their coats. Vance was on his feet instantly, blocking the center of the aisle, his eyes fixed on me as I retrieved my trench coat and leather handbag from above.
"Right this way, Myrna," he murmured as I stepped out into the aisle. He fell in half a pace behind me, his hand resting with subtle menace against the small of my back—close enough to look like a polite gentleman escorting an elderly traveler, firm enough to let me know he was within striking distance.
"Don't touch me," I said through gritted teeth.
"Keep moving," he whispered. "Customs is straight ahead. My driver is parked outside Terminal 1. Let's make this simple."
We stepped out of the jet bridge into the gleaming, crowded concourse of Humberto Delgado. Hundreds of travelers from half a dozen incoming international flights were converging toward passport control. The noise was a cacophony of Portuguese, French, Spanish, and English; luggage wheels clattered over polished tiles, and flight information boards flipped with mechanical clicks.
Vance kept his grip steady, guiding me toward the non-EU passport queue, where two dozen travelers were already waiting behind stanchions and velvet ropes.
Suddenly, a tall, uniformed officer from the *Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras* (SEF) stepped out from a security alcove, flanked by two armed national police officers in dark tactical vests.
The lead officer scanned the approaching crowd, his eyes dropping to a photograph on his handheld terminal. He looked directly at Vance, then shifted his gaze to me.
"Senhor Julian Vance?" the officer called out in crisp, booming English.
Vance stiffened. His fingers gripped my arm with sudden, reflexive violence before he caught himself. "Yes? What is this?"
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"Passport control flag," the officer said, stepping forward with his hand resting near his sidearm. "Randomized customs audit regarding an outstanding civil notification from the Ministry of Justice. Please step this way, senhor. Immediately."
***
