Chapter 12: The Embrace

Astrid stood in her father's arms and did not move.

Every camera in the room was pointed at them, and a hundred phones were recording.

She smiled.

It was the same smile she had given the guards at Devil's Isle.

"Say it again," she said very softly, against his collar.

"I put you in that cell," Everard Swinton whispered.

His voice was warm and fond, and he was still holding her as a father would.

"A donation to the right man at Interpol, and a quiet word with the warden."

"Six months in the dark while I waited for you to grow bored."

"The note," she said.

"I let your mother's note through. She thought she was bringing you home. I knew what you would do with it."

The room blurred at the edges.

"Every man who ever tried that gate is dead or back in his cell," he said.

"I thought one bullet from the guard at the gate would settle it."

"Garrow."

"I had him called in two hours early. The most honest man in the world, and he never asked who signed it."

"He didn't know he was my executioner."

Her hands had gone cold.

She had been sure it was Celia.

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