Chapter 8 - Victoria’s Chosen Heir
Victoria had spent decades perfecting the appearance of control. Even on a grainy screen in an unknown room, she looked composed.
“You were never supposed to become emotional about the child,” she told Julian. “That was your weakness.”
Julian turned toward her. “Put down the syringe.”
Eleanor realized the kidnapping was not controlled by one person. The alliance between Julian and Victoria was breaking in real time.
“What is in it?” Eleanor demanded.
Victoria ignored her.
“The R-17 sample is the last verified genetic material from Sebastian’s direct line,” she said. “The vial in your case is a decoy.”
Gabriel looked at the round key in his hand. “My father gave it to my mother.”
“Your father gave many things to many women.”
Julian stood. “Mother.”
“Sit down.”
He did not.
Victoria pressed the syringe closer to Maya’s arm.
Maya began to cry.
Eleanor felt something primal rise inside her.
“Victoria, listen to me. Whatever you want, you will not get it by hurting her.”
“I already have what I want. Public recognition activated the trust. A verified Rook sample can challenge Gabriel’s claim. And Maya’s blood can confirm the line.”
“You planned to use her as evidence.”
“I planned to secure her future.”
“You allowed Genevieve to hit her.”
“That was unfortunate.”
The casual answer made Julian flinch.
Eleanor saw it and understood that beneath every crime, Julian had preserved one fantasy: that his mother acted for the family. Now he was beginning to see that he too was an instrument.
“Where is Sebastian?” Alistair asked.
Victoria smiled. “Closer than you think.”
A door opened behind the camera.
Dr. Simon Vale entered.
He looked older than Eleanor remembered, but his hands were steady. He took the syringe from Victoria and placed it on a tray.
“Enough theater,” he said. “The child’s oxygen is stable. The monitor is false.”
Maya breathed normally.
Eleanor almost collapsed with relief.
Dr. Vale looked into the camera. “Bring the ledger to Meridian Station before sunrise. You will receive Maya in exchange.”
“Where is Meridian Station?” Claire asked.
“You have the map in the second case.”
The call ended.
The screen went black.
Eleanor immediately told Marcus to trace the last signal. He reported that it originated from a mobile relay moving along the coast.
Alistair opened the second case.
Inside were property maps, train schedules, and photographs of an abandoned private railway terminal beneath the old Meridian estate. One map marked a tunnel extending three miles to the river.
Gabriel studied the pages. “I was held there.”
“You said you were detained in Prague,” Eleanor said.
“I was moved between facilities. Meridian Station was the first.”
“You should have told us.”
“I did not know it still existed.”
Genevieve’s voice came from the doorway.
“It exists.”
Marcus tried to stop her, but she entered carrying a tablet.
“I found photographs in Julian’s cloud account,” she said. “He took me there once. I thought it was a private club.”
Eleanor looked at the images. Stone platforms, antique railcars, medical rooms disguised behind wood-paneled doors.
One photograph showed Julian beside Dr. Vale and Victoria.
Another showed a man in a wheelchair facing away from the camera.
Alistair stared at it.
“Sebastian.”
“You cannot see his face,” Naomi said.
“I recognize the ring.”
On the man’s hand was a black signet engraved with the original B and R emblem.
Federal agents prepared an assault plan. The kidnappers demanded no police, but no one intended to comply. Eleanor would carry a copy of the ledger while the original remained secured. Gabriel would accompany her because the station doors required his blood authorization.
Alistair insisted on going.
“No,” Eleanor said.
“This began with me.”
“It reached Maya through me.”
“She is my granddaughter.”
“And I am your daughter. For once, protect me by trusting my decision.”
He looked at her for a long moment, then handed her the triangular key.
“Bring her home.”
Before leaving, Eleanor went upstairs to Maya’s room. The empty bed had been remade. A blue ribbon lay on the dresser beside a drawing Maya had made of her family.
There were four figures.
Mommy, Maya, Grandpa, and Daddy.
Julian’s figure had been drawn far from the others beneath a dark cloud.
Eleanor folded the picture and placed it inside her jacket.
At three in the morning, Eleanor, Gabriel, Genevieve, and a covert team approached Meridian Station through the forest. Rain turned the path to mud. The ruined estate rose ahead, black against the sky.
Genevieve led them to a concealed stairwell beneath the burned foundation.
At the bottom stood a steel door.
Gabriel pressed his thumb to the reader. Eleanor inserted the triangular key.
The door opened.
A train whistle sounded deep underground.
They entered a tiled tunnel lit by yellow lamps. Old tracks disappeared into darkness. On the nearest platform, Maya’s stuffed rabbit sat alone.
Eleanor picked it up.
A speaker clicked on.
“Leave the agents behind,” Dr. Vale instructed. “The child is aboard the train.”
A vintage black railcar rolled slowly into the station.
Its windows were covered.
The door opened.
Julian stood inside with blood on his shirt.
“Eleanor,” he said, breathing hard, “do not give Victoria the ledger.”
May you like
Then he fell forward onto the platform.
Behind him, the railcar was empty.
