Chapter 18 - THE LAST MODULE
Celeste struck the lower deck hard.
The waterproof case remained secured to her vest.
Amelia landed beside a steel support.
Mercer disappeared beneath a pile of burning debris.
Water rushed through the damaged warehouse foundation.
The explosions had opened the terminal to the harbor.
Celeste helped Amelia stand.
They moved through the flooded loading level as fire consumed the structure above.
A section of wall collapsed behind them.
The impact freed Mercer from the debris.
He followed with a knife in his uninjured hand.
Celeste heard him approaching.
She turned as he lunged.
The blade struck the armor near her ribs.
Celeste trapped his wrist and drove him into the rising water.
Mercer fought with desperate strength.
He reached for the case attached to her vest.
Amelia struck his arm with a metal pipe.
The knife fell.
Mercer pulled Amelia into the water.
Celeste seized him from behind.
She forced his head beneath the surface until his grip loosened.
Then she pulled him back up.
He coughed and gasped.
“Why save him?” Amelia asked.
“Because dead men avoid trials.”
Celeste secured Mercer’s wrists with a plastic restraint.
Federal agents reached the lower deck and removed him.
Outside, Julian’s cargo vessel accelerated away from the burning pier.
Reed contacted the Coast Guard.
“They’re blocking the harbor.”
Celeste and Amelia boarded a rescue boat.
Two patrol vessels moved into Julian’s path.
Julian turned toward the narrow eastern channel.
He did not know the module aboard his vessel was fake.
He also did not know Vivian had boarded before his departure.
A live transmission appeared on Celeste’s tablet.
Vivian stood inside the ship’s control room.
Julian held a gun against her back.
“You wanted your audience,” Julian said.
“Now watch.”
He forced Vivian toward the outer deck.
The vessel accelerated toward a fuel tanker.
“He’s going to ram it,” Reed said.
The collision could ignite half the harbor.
Celeste opened a secure channel.
“Julian, the module is not on your ship.”
She held up the waterproof case.
“You have nothing left.”
Julian stared through the screen.
His control finally vanished.
He turned the gun toward the navigation panel.
“If I have nothing, neither do you.”
Before he could fire, Vivian drove her heel into his knee.
May you like
The gun discharged into the ceiling.
The vessel began turning sharply toward the tanker.
