Chapter 12 - Traces in the Rust
By evening, the persistent coastal rain had turned into a thick, clinging fog that smothered the roads leading north from the estate. Julian sat in the back of his armored SUV, the laptop on his knee streaming data feeds from Marcus's private investigators. Leo was secured in the nursery at the Vance secondary residence under round-the-clock private security, guarded by men Julian had vetted personally for over a decade.
""We got a hit on a debit transaction,"" Marcus said from the front passenger seat, turning around with a tablet in hand. ""A small pharmacy outside of New Haven, Connecticut. Twelve hours ago. A purchase of pediatric asthma inhalers and baby formula under an assumed alias: Elena Brooks.""
Julian’s head jerked up. ""She’s using Elena’s name?""
""It’s not just an alias, Julian,"" Marcus said, his voice laced with growing alarm. ""When Sarah fled New York, she didn't leave alone. The hospital intake reports from the clinic were altered twice. Arthur Harrington didn't just hide the surrogate's identity.""
Julian felt the temperature in the vehicle plummet. ""Marcus. Say it plainly.""
""The pregnancy was a twin gestation,"" Marcus revealed, handing the updated medical chart across the console. ""Arthur’s clinic reported one infant survived the delivery—Leo. But according to the pharmacy registry in Connecticut, Sarah Linwood discharged from that facility with a second child. A girl.""
Julian stared at the medical chart, the clinical black-and-white print blurring before his eyes. A daughter. A twin sister to the infant boy he had just pulled from the brink of tragedy on his staircase. Elena had known. Elena had tried to save both, but Arthur’s syndicate had intercepted the delivery records, taking Leo to place him in Julian’s hands while casting the mother and the second child into the wind to maintain leverage.
""Turn the car around,"" Julian ordered the driver, his voice dangerously low. ""Head toward Interstate 95 North.""
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""Julian, we don't have local clearance,"" Marcus warned. ""If Arthur’s remaining associates are tracking that pharmacy transaction, New Haven is already a kill zone.""
""Then we get there before they do,"" Julian said, checking the slide on his personal sidearm before locking it back into his shoulder holster. ""Nobody touches my blood again.""
