Part 14
The paper trail began,
slowly,
with a single flight manifest.
Julian had bribed a contact,
at the aviation authority,
to get the records.
He laid the printed sheets,
on Eleanor's dining table,
spreading them out.
"Lang flew private,
under a false passport,
issued in Geneva."
Eleanor traced the route,
with her finger,
following the stops.
"Geneva,
then Paris,
then London."
"He is moving money,
liquidating assets," Julian observed,
crossing his arms.
"But why now,
after months of silence?" she pondered,
looking for the motive.
"Maybe the Director,
whoever he is,
ordered a cleanup."
There was a knock on the door,
sharp and sudden,
making them both jump.
Julian reached for his jacket,
where he kept a licensed firearm,
just in case.
Eleanor walked to the door,
checking the peephole,
cautiously.
It was Arthur Vance.
She unlocked the deadbolt,
pulling the door open,
letting him inside.
He looked terrible,
pale and shaken,
his coat soaked with rain.
"They found me," he gasped,
leaning against the wall,
catching his breath.
"Who?" Julian demanded,
stepping forward,
his hand near his holster.
"The shadow team,
the ones who handle the wet work," Arthur explained,
his voice trembling.
"I asked one too many questions,
about the London account,
and they sent a cleaner."
Eleanor guided him to a chair,
pouring him a glass of water,
trying to calm him down.
"Did they follow you here?" she asked,
checking the windows,
pulling the blinds tight.
"No,
I lost them in the subway,
but I can't go home."
He looked at Eleanor,
desperation in his eyes.
"You have to publish everything,
blow it wide open,
before they bury us all."
"We don't have enough proof,
not yet," she argued,
feeling the pressure mount.
"If we go public now,
they will spin it,
call us conspiracy theorists."
"Then we are dead," Arthur stated,
bluntly,
staring at his shaking hands.
Julian pulled out a map,
pointing to a location,
outside the city.
"I have a safe house,
up in the mountains,
off the grid."
"Take him there," Eleanor instructed,
making a quick decision.
"Stay out of sight,
until I signal you."
Julian looked at her,
worry etching his features.
"I am not leaving you alone,
not with them hunting us."
"I am safer in the public eye,
at the office," she reasoned,
forcing a confident tone.
"Just go,
keep him safe,
and let me work."
Reluctantly,
Julian agreed,
grabbing his keys.
As they left,
the apartment felt entirely too big,
and entirely too empty.
She locked the door,
double-checking the latch,
and returned to the papers.
The game was escalating,
May you like
and she was running out of time,
and allies.
