Chapter 5 - The Woman in the Red Coat
The old station stood abandoned outside Alexandria.
Roman didn't trust it.
Victor trusted it even less.
Naomi didn't care.
If there was even a one-percent chance her mother was alive, she had to go.
Roman insisted on coming.
"You said alone."
"I don't care."
"Roman—"
"I've spent my entire life believing my mother was dead."
His voice softened.
"I'm not letting you walk into the same trap."
They entered the station at midnight.
The triplets remained with Victor in the armored vehicle.
Naomi heard footsteps.
A woman appeared beneath the broken station clock.
Red coat.
Gray hair.
Walking slowly.
Naomi stopped breathing.
"Mom?"
The woman lifted her face.
It was Marianne Bell.
Older.
Paler.
But unmistakable.
Naomi's knees nearly gave out.
"Mom?"
Marianne whispered:
"Naomi."
They ran toward each other.
For one moment, twenty-nine years disappeared.
Then Roman stepped forward.
Marianne looked at him.
Her expression changed.
"You have his eyes."
Roman froze.
"My father?"
Marianne nodded.
"Your father was not the man you were told he was."
Roman's face hardened.
"What happened to my family?"
Marianne looked toward the entrance.
"We don't have time."
"You've had twenty-nine years."
"I spent twenty-nine years keeping you alive."
Roman's jaw tightened.
"Who is Kincaid?"
Marianne's eyes filled with fear.
"Your father's brother."
Roman went still.
"My uncle died before I was born."
"No."
Marianne shook her head.
"He faked his death."
Then she looked at Naomi.
"And he has been waiting for you."
A gunshot cracked outside.
Marianne collapsed.
Naomi screamed.
Roman caught her.
Victor rushed inside.
"Move!"
Marianne grabbed Naomi's wrist.
With her last strength, she whispered:
"The babies aren't sick."
Naomi stared.
"What?"
Marianne looked at Roman.
"They're being poisoned."
Roman's eyes widened.
"By whom?"
Marianne's lips moved.
But no sound came.
Then she fainted.
Roman looked toward the entrance.
His face became cold.
May you like
"Nobody leaves this station alive."
And somewhere in the darkness outside, a man laughed.
