Chapter 13 - THE MAN AT THE GATE
Frank Danner had spent eleven years pretending he was a small part of a large mistake.
That was how Brooks described his first interview.
Celeste understood the language.
A small part.
A bad day.
An unfortunate incident.
Words people used when they wanted the damage to sound ownerless.
Danner admitted he had entered Station Nine to remove disputed equipment and delivery records.
He said Julian ordered it.
He said he thought the units would be replaced later.
He said he opened the service gate for a company truck.
Then the attack began.
The gate stayed open.
The equipment was already disconnected.
The people inside were left with smoke, darkness, and fewer working exits than their plans showed.
“He says he didn’t know an attack was coming,” Brooks told Celeste. “We’re testing his account against the records.”
“Does he know what happened to Mara’s report?”
“He says he handed a folder to Julian.”
“And walked away?”
Brooks didn’t soften it.
“Yes.”
Celeste went outside.
The hotel had a narrow courtyard with two trees and a bench that looked more comfortable than it was.
Ben joined her.
For a while, they watched a maintenance worker clear leaves from a drain.
Ordinary work.
Water finding a way through.
“I used to think there would be one answer,” Celeste said.
“To what?”
“Why we couldn’t get everybody out.”
Ben rested his forearms on his knees.
“And now?”
“Now it’s a hundred little things people decided didn’t matter.”
A cheap unit.
A false signature.
A locked file.
A father intercepting a letter.
Ben nodded.
“Those things mattered.”
She looked at him.
“So did the things you did,” he said.
Before she could answer, her phone vibrated.
Vivian.
“They’re still holding the award dinner,” she said.
“Who?”
“The foundation. Dad says canceling would look like an admission. Pierce is coming.”
Celeste closed her eyes.
Of course Arthur would return to a room full of people trained to applaud him.
“Don’t go,” she told Vivian.
“I’m already here.”
“Where’s your security contact?”
“In the lobby. I just went upstairs for my coat.”
Something scraped.
Vivian stopped breathing.
Then, very quietly:
“Julian’s here.”
Celeste stood.
“Leave.”
“He’s between me and the door.”
A man spoke in the background.
May you like
“Put the phone down, Viv.”
Then the call ended.
