Chapter 11: Dock Seventeen
The murder warrant against Elena was suspended.
By 11:35 p.m., Alejandro, Elena, Mateo, and a tactical police team approached Dock Seventeen.
The port was nearly empty.
Rain swept across rows of shipping containers.
The real flash drives remained inside a lead-lined case attached to Alejandro’s wrist.
Elena carried no weapon.
Vivian had been taken into federal custody.
Keller’s vehicle was parked beside an abandoned warehouse.
Alejandro entered alone at first.
Sofia stood beneath a hanging industrial light.
She wore a dark coat over her hospital gown.
No restraints.
No bruises beyond those she had apparently created herself.
Dr. Keller stood beside her.
Alejandro stopped ten feet away.
“You were never kidnapped.”
Sofia’s eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t know Victor would threaten you with me.”
“But you continued the plan.”
“I needed the drives.”
“You visited Elena in the nursery.”
Sofia’s face tightened.
“She found documents that would destroy all of us.”
“She was your sister.”
“No.”
The word came fast.
“She was your wife.”
Elena stepped from the shadows.
Sofia stared at her.
For a moment, guilt appeared.
Then resentment replaced it.
“You always came first.”
Elena’s voice remained quiet.
“I never competed with you.”
“You didn’t have to. Alejandro changed after he married you. Every decision went through you.”
Alejandro looked at his sister with disbelief.
“You helped imprison her because you were jealous?”
“I helped hide her because Victor promised to divide the foundation equally.”
Keller laughed softly.
“She still thinks this was about equality.”
Sofia turned toward him.
“What does that mean?”
Keller drew a pistol and aimed it at her.
“It means Victor never intended you to inherit anything.”
Alejandro moved.
Keller raised the gun toward Elena.
“Stay where you are.”
Sofia stared at Keller.
“You worked for me.”
“I worked for whoever paid.”
“Victor is dead.”
“Victor transferred the network before entering the chapel.”
“To whom?”
Keller smiled.
“To me.”
Gunfire erupted outside.
Mateo’s team had encountered armed men among the containers.
Keller backed toward a cargo vessel.
“Give me the drives.”
Alejandro lifted the case.
“Release them.”
“I only need Elena.”
Sofia looked at him.
“You said Elena would be protected.”
Keller’s smile widened.
“You really are Rafael’s daughter. Always believing the promise you need most.”
Sofia lunged for the gun.
Keller fired.
The bullet struck her abdomen.
Alejandro caught her as she fell.
Keller grabbed Elena and pressed the weapon beneath her chin.
“Drives. Now.”
Alejandro looked down at Sofia.
Blood soaked through his hands.
She gripped his sleeve.
“I’m sorry.”
He looked at the sister he had spent his life protecting.
Then at the wife he had already failed once.
Elena met his eyes.
Do not surrender.
Alejandro rose slowly.
He held out the case.
Keller reached for it.
The moment his fingers closed around the handle, Elena drove her heel down onto his foot and twisted away.
Alejandro struck him.
The case fell.
Keller fired wildly.
A bullet hit the overhead chain.
A suspended cargo container dropped between them with a deafening crash.
Keller disappeared on the opposite side.
Then the cargo vessel’s horn sounded.
It was leaving.
May you like
Keller had escaped aboard it.
And he had taken the real drives with him.
