Chapter 41 - The Reservoir Room
The transmitter led Rachel’s group to an unused filtration building beside the municipal reservoir.
Police surrounded the structure but found no visible entrance. The official plans showed only sealed water chambers.
Miriam remembered a maintenance tunnel constructed before the archives fire.
The entrance lay beneath a concrete platform at the water’s edge. Rachel’s brass key released the concealed lock.
Rachel, Tessa, Miriam and three officers entered.
They discovered Celia in the first chamber. Her security band had been attached to a pipe, but she was conscious.
“Victor has Evelyn below,” she said. “He also has Olivia and Marcus.”
“Why does he need Marcus?” Rachel asked.
“To complete the manufactured-marriage record. The trust system considers marriage a legal transfer path.”
Tessa freed Celia.
“Can he transfer Rachel’s status through a marriage that has already been invalidated?”
“Not without her signature.”
“He forged it before.”
“This system requires a live signature.”
They descended to a circular room beneath the reservoir.
Four chairs surrounded an old Northline terminal.
Evelyn sat in one.
Olivia sat in another.
Marcus stood beside Victor with his hands free.
Dr. Cole held the source cartridge near the terminal.
Rachel stepped into the room.
Marcus did not look at her.
Victor smiled.
“You finally brought Miriam.”
Miriam moved beside Rachel.
“Release them.”
“After the surviving beneficiary identifies herself.”
Evelyn raised her head.
For the first time in eleven years, Rachel stood only a few feet from her mother.
Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.
“Rachel, you must leave.”
Victor placed a document on the terminal.
It was a new marriage certificate carrying Rachel’s name.
The second name belonged to Marcus.
“The first marriage was part of an experiment,” Victor said. “This one will transfer everything.”
Rachel looked at Marcus.
May you like
He finally met her eyes.
Then he picked up a pen.
