“Where is he?”
Ellis answered honestly.
“I don’t know.”
Before I could respond, alarms suddenly blared throughout the safe house.
Every monitor flashed red.
An agent shouted from the operations room.
“They found us!”
Another voice yelled,
“Incoming vehicles!”
Ellis drew her weapon again.
Frank Donnelly burst through the office door, breathing hard.
“They’re here.”
“How many?”
Frank looked out toward the security cameras.
His face turned pale.
“Too many.”
Then he looked directly at me.
“There was only one person outside this room who knew this location.”
I already knew the answer before he spoke her name.
“Celeste.”
Part 5 (Ending)
Frank’s words echoed through the bunker.
“There was only one person outside this room who knew this location.”
“Celeste.”
I felt something inside me break.
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Too desperately.
Frank didn’t argue.
He simply handed me a tablet connected to the exterior security cameras.
A silver SUV rolled to a stop outside the barn.
The driver’s door opened.
My wife stepped out.
Celeste.
She wasn’t tied up.
She wasn’t being dragged.
She walked under her own power.
My knees nearly gave out.
“No…”
Behind her came four black SUVs.
Armed men poured out.
Some wore tactical gear.
Others wore expensive suits.
None of them looked surprised to see her.
Ellis whispered, “Everyone stay in defensive positions.”
Celeste approached the barn doors alone.
One of the men handed her a phone.
A loudspeaker crackled.
Then I heard my wife’s voice.
“Julian.”
It sounded calm.
Almost gentle.
“If you’re inside…”
“…please come out.”
My hands were shaking.
Ellis reached for the microphone connected to the bunker.
“Negative.”
“You’ll stay where you are.”
Celeste closed her eyes.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
She was talking to me.
“Julian…”
“I know you’re scared.”
“I’m scared too.”
“Please.”
“Just let me explain.”
I looked toward Ellis.
She said nothing.
