Chapter 10 - The Woman at the HarborThe Aurelia was supposed to be a ghost.
Instead, it was waiting.
At four in the morning, the ship appeared on radar twenty miles offshore.
Old.
Massive.
Silent.
Julian, Meredith, Genevieve, Richard, and Frank boarded from a small tender.
The interior smelled of salt and machinery.
Their father led them to the bridge.
“The archive is below deck.”
“Then let's get it.”
He stopped.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because someone else is already aboard.”
Julian drew his weapon.
Meredith scanned the corridor.
Nothing.
Then a woman stepped into the light.
Helena Vance.
Genevieve gasped.
“Mother?”
Helena smiled.
“I was beginning to wonder how long it would take you.”
Frank stared at her.
“Helena.”
She looked at him.
“You always were difficult to kill.”
Julian aimed his weapon.
“What do you want?”
“The archive.”
Meredith stepped forward.
“You nearly killed me.”
Helena smiled.
“Nearly?”
She looked at Genevieve.
“You still haven't told them everything.”
Genevieve's face crumbled.
“Mother, stop.”
Helena continued.
“Tell them why Julian's father trusted you.”
Genevieve said nothing.
Helena laughed.
“Tell them why you were chosen.”
Meredith looked at Genevieve.
Genevieve finally spoke.
“Because I was born into this.”
She pulled out an old photograph.
“My father and Julian's father created Meridian together.”
Julian stared.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Genevieve looked at Meredith.
“They built it to control markets.”
Frank cut in.
“Then I discovered what they became.”
Helena glared at him.
“You were weak.”
“You murdered the senator.”
“You think I did?”
Her voice cracked.
“I tried to stop him.”
Meredith looked between them.
“Then who did?”
Helena smiled.
“You really want to know?”
The lights died.
A gunshot rang out.
Genevieve screamed.
When the emergency lights came back, Frank was bleeding.
And the archive was gone.
Meredith looked toward the open hatch.
Someone had escaped.
She ran to the railing.
Far below, a speedboat disappeared into the darkness.
Julian rushed beside her.
“Who took it?”
Meredith saw the figure standing at the stern.
She recognized the silhouette.
Her breath caught.
“It was Richard.”
Julian stared.
“No.”
May you like
Meredith turned.
“He took the archive.”
