Chapter 10 - Elias Grant)
Roman did not accuse him immediately.
That frightened Elias more than shouting would have.
Grace moved her hand near her weapon.
Emma watched Elias carefully.
Roman held up the tailor number.
"Explain."
Elias stared at it.
"My coat was stolen."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"Why didn't you report it?"
"I thought I lost it."
Emma almost laughed.
"A five thousand dollar custom coat?"
Elias looked at her.
"I have more than one."
Roman's eyes hardened.
"Wrong answer."
Elias swallowed.
Then he reached slowly into his pocket.
Grace raised her weapon.
Elias stopped.
"Phone."
"Slowly."
He removed it and placed it on the desk.
"Open my messages."
Grace did.
There were dozens.
One thread had no contact name.
Photographs of Elias's wife.
His teenage son.
Their home.
Threats.
Do what you're told.
Give us access.
Leave the coat.
Disable camera 4 at 21:15.
Roman looked up.
"You've been helping them."
Elias's voice broke.
"For six days."
Emma stared at him.
"The clinic?"
"No."
He shook his head.
"I swear."
"Then why your coat?"
"They told me to leave it in a locker at South Station. I thought it was to frame me."
Roman's face was expressionless.
"You didn't tell me."
"They had my family."
"You didn't tell Grace."
"I didn't know who was compromised."
Emma stepped closer.
"Titan is gone because someone used your coat."
Elias closed his eyes.
"I know."
Roman turned away.
Betrayal had become almost ordinary.
That frightened Emma.
When too many trusted people failed you, distrust could begin feeling like wisdom.
She did not want Roman to become a man who trusted nobody.
Grace verified the threats.
Elias's family was moved under protection.
Then he gave them everything.
Victor had contacted him shortly after Titan escaped.
He demanded access codes.
Schedule changes.
Internal routes.
Elias had complied twice.
But he had secretly copied the messages.
"Why didn't you run?"
Roman asked.
Elias looked at him.
"Because Victor said if I disappeared, he'd hurt them."
Roman's anger remained.
But something else entered it.
Understanding.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
Grace asked the important question.
"Did Victor tell you where Titan is?"
Elias nodded slowly.
"He sent one location this morning."
Emma moved closer.
"Where?"
"Old Calder shipyard."
Roman looked at Grace.
The shipyard was scheduled for demolition.
No active staff.
No cameras after the main gate.
Perfect.
Grace called tactical units.
Roman started toward the door.
Emma caught his sleeve.
He looked at her.
"What?"
She lowered her voice.
"Remember Nora's recording."
Roman said nothing.
"Find the truth. Don't destroy yourself punishing the first person you blame."
His jaw tightened.
"You think I'm going there to kill Victor."
"I think part of you wants to."
Roman stared at her.
"And if he killed my sister?"
"Then make him answer for it."
"That's what I intend to do."
"No. Make him answer."
Emma held his gaze.
"Dead men don't answer."
Roman looked away.
At the shipyard, they found Titan tied inside an old administrative building.
No Victor.
No Malcolm.
Titan recognized Emma's voice before he saw her.
He began whining.
Emma knelt as Grace cut the restraint.
Titan pressed his entire body into her.
Roman remained several feet away.
Emma whispered to the dog.
"Your choice."
Titan looked at Roman.
Then walked slowly across the room.
He sat beside him.
Roman lowered one hand.
Titan placed his head beneath it.
Roman looked down.
"Hello, old man."
Emma smiled despite herself.
Titan was alive.
That should have been enough for one moment.
Then the building speakers turned on.
Victor's voice filled the room.
"Beautiful."
Roman looked upward.
Victor continued.
"The loyal dog returns."
Grace ordered everyone outside.
The doors locked automatically.
Metal shutters dropped across the windows.
Emma's heart pounded.
Victor laughed through the speakers.
"Relax. If I wanted you dead, Roman, you would already be dead."
Roman shouted.
"Where are you?"
"Close enough."
Emma looked around.
Elias spotted an old control panel.
Victor continued.
"You found Nora's room."
Roman went still.
"Yes."
"Then you know Malcolm followed us that night."
Roman looked toward the speaker.
"What happened?"
Victor did not answer immediately.
When he did, his voice had changed.
"Your sister was stubborn."
Emma felt Roman tense.
"She called me and said she had proof. She wanted me to help her."
Roman stared at the ceiling.
"Did you?"
"I met her."
"Did you kill her?"
Silence.
Then Victor laughed sadly.
"No."
Roman's expression changed.
"Malcolm did."
Emma looked at Grace.
Victor continued.
"Not with his hands. He cut the brake line himself two days earlier? No. He wasn't that stupid. He paid a contractor."
Roman whispered, "And you knew."
"Afterward."
"You protected him."
"I protected myself."
Roman's voice rose.
"For three years?"
"You think you were the only one trapped by Malcolm?"
The speakers crackled.
"I kept evidence."
Roman looked at Grace.
"Where?"
Victor answered.
"With me."
"Give it to Grace."
Victor laughed.
"You still think this is about court."
Emma looked at Titan.
The dog had begun staring toward the back wall.
Not afraid.
Listening.
Victor's voice came again.
"It's about ownership."
A section of wall slid open.
Behind it stood Victor.
He held no weapon.
Only a folder.
And the black remote.
Titan growled.
Victor looked at him.
"Still remember me, boy?"
Emma stepped in front of Titan.
Victor smiled.
"Of course you do."
Roman moved forward.
"Put the remote down."
Victor looked at him.
"Make me."
Roman stopped.
Victor pressed the button.
The device chirped.
Titan flinched.
But he did not collapse.
Victor's smile disappeared.
He pressed it again.
Titan stayed beside Emma.
Emma rested a hand against his shoulder.
"Good boy."
Victor stared.
"What did you do?"
Emma looked at him.
"Nothing."
May you like
She smiled slightly.
"He learned the sound doesn't own him anymore."
