Chapter 12 - The Infiltration
Vincent kept Leo concealed behind an industrial transformer station near the primary catwalk supports. The air smelled of diesel fuel, sea brine, and ozone. Rain continued to fall, deadening the sound of their movements against the steel decking.
Vincent pulled out a pair of high-resolution digital binoculars, focusing on the elevated observation room inside Dry Dock Four. Through the reinforced plate glass, he saw her.
Clara was strapped to an industrial steel chair under the glare of an overhead halogen lamp. Her face was bruised and pale, her pink dress from the photograph torn and covered in grime, but her head was held high. A medical technician was standing beside her, holding an automated biometric syringe, clearly preparing to extract whatever biological samples were necessary for the morning's financial verification.
""Is that her?"" Leo whispered, his breath catching in his throat. ""Grandfather... is that mom?""
""Yes, Leo,"" Vincent murmured, his grip tightening on the receiver of his rifle until his knuckles turned ivory. ""That is your mother.""
Julian’s voice echoed down from the catwalk above, his phone conversation winding down. ""I don't care about the collateral damage in Paris! The police found the burning town car on the quayside. Vincent is dead or pinned in the sewers. Prepare the Geneva transfer now. I'll have Clara's signatures confirmed within twenty minutes.""
Julian snapped his phone shut, turning to his head of security, a hulking mercenary with a jagged scar running across his temple. ""Is the vessel ready to receive the cargo?""
""The freighter departs for international waters at 0500 hours, sir,"" the scarred mercenary replied in a low gravel voice. ""Once we are outside French maritime jurisdiction, the woman will be disposed of overboard.""
""Good,"" Julian said casually, walking toward the catwalk stairs. ""Make sure she signs the transfer documents before you inject the sedative. If her heart rate is irregular, the biometric sensors will reject the authentication.""
Vincent did not wait. The window of opportunity was razor-thin.
He leaned close to Leo. ""Stay beneath this transformer until you hear my whistle. The moment the catwalk is clear, you run straight for the glass office door. Do you understand?""
""Yes, Grandfather,"" Leo whispered.
Vincent moved with terrifying speed. He slipped around the support column, stepping onto the metal stairs behind the trailing mercenary. Before the scarred man could turn, Vincent drove the butt of his rifle into the base of the man's skull. The mercenary crumpled without a sound.
Julian heard the heavy thud and spun around, reaching into his coat for a pistol.
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Vincent was faster. He closed the distance in two strides, his rifle leveled directly between Julian's eyes.
""Don't move, nephew,"" Vincent whispered, the cold rain dripping from the barrel of the weapon. ""Or your inheritance ends right here on this rusty deck.""
