Chapter 10 - Daniel's Second Betrayal
Daniel knew the building.
“Cross Switching Depot.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You’ve been there?”
“Once.”
“With Helena?”
“With Victor.”
Adrian grabbed a map.
Entrances.
Service tunnels.
Old rail bays.
Daniel pointed to the north office.
“She’ll keep Ernesto upstairs.”
“How do you know?”
“That room has one access point and a panic exit.”
Mateo checked his weapon.
Adrian pushed it down.
“Police first.”
“They’ll move him.”
“Then Marcus coordinates both.”
Sofia grabbed Adrian’s arm.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“He’s my son.”
“That’s why you stay alive.”
She glared.
He did not move.
Finally she handed him Ernesto’s old red string bracelet.
“Bring him this.”
Adrian put it in his pocket.
At the depot, Daniel used an old maintenance code.
Door opened.
Too easy.
Marcus whispered, “She expects us.”
Adrian nodded.
They moved anyway.
Upstairs, Ernesto sat across from Helena.
She placed a glass of milk in front of him.
He did not touch it.
“You’re brave.”
“My mom says brave people can still be scared.”
Helena smiled.
“Your mother learned that from Eleanor.”
Ernesto stared.
“You knew my grandma?”
The word changed Helena’s face.
“Yes.”
“Did you kill her?”
Helena laughed softly.
“You sound like Adrian.”
“Is that bad?”
“For him.”
Footsteps downstairs.
Helena looked at the door.
“Right on time.”
Adrian entered alone.
His hands empty.
“Let him go.”
Helena touched Ernesto’s shoulder.
“He’s safer with me than with your family.”
“You tried to kill him.”
“You still don’t understand the bridge.”
“Then explain it.”
Helena smiled.
“Victor wanted you dead.”
Adrian’s pulse jumped.
“But Victor didn’t order the crash.”
“You did.”
“No.”
Adrian stared.
For the first time, she sounded truthful.
“Who?”
Helena’s eyes moved toward Daniel, who had just entered behind Adrian.
Daniel froze.
Helena said:
“Ask your security chief who gave him the final route change.”
Adrian turned slowly.
Daniel whispered, “I thought it came from Victor.”
Helena smiled.
“It came from Eleanor’s account.”
Sofia’s emergency system.
A dead woman’s credentials.
Adrian’s phone vibrated in his pocket.
An incoming file from Marcus.
Authentication log.
EC-SAFE route override.
User name:
SOFIA REYES.
Adrian looked at Daniel.
Then at Helena.
Helena whispered:
May you like
“Your sister sent you to the bridge.”
CUT.
