Chương 8 - MIDNIGHT AT THE COURTHOUSE
The old Eastport courthouse had been abandoned for nine years.
At 11:57 p.m., Nikolai and Lena entered through the front doors.
No weapons.
Viktor had demanded it.
Gabriel remained outside with federal agents who had finally agreed to act on the evidence Evelyn transmitted.
But nobody knew where Evelyn and Elena were inside the building.
The courtroom lights came on.
Viktor stood before the judge's bench.
Marcus was beside him, his wounded arm in a sling.
Anton stood near the prisoners.
Evelyn and Elena were tied to chairs.
Lena moved forward.
“Mom.”
Elena looked terrified but unharmed.
Viktor smiled.
“Family reunions everywhere.”
Nikolai said, “Let them go.”
“Soon.”
Viktor placed documents on a table.
“Sign.”
Nikolai approached.
Lena grabbed his arm.
Viktor laughed.
“She really does control you now.”
Nikolai looked at him.
“No. That's something you never understood.”
“What?”
“She doesn't control me.”
He looked at Lena.
“I listen to her.”
Anton lowered his eyes.
Viktor's smile vanished.
“Sign.”
Nikolai picked up the pen.
Then Lena noticed Anton's hand.
Two fingers tapped against his leg.
Three times.
Pause.
Two times.
A pattern.
She remembered the security code Anton had used at the safe house.
Three-two.
Thirty-two seconds?
Then she saw the clock.
11:59:28.
Lena understood.
She looked at Nikolai.
“Wait.”
Viktor raised his weapon.
“Sign!”
The courthouse doors exploded open.
Federal agents entered.
Chaos erupted.
Marcus reached for Lena.
Anton turned his gun on Marcus instead.
“Don't.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You little traitor.”
“Yeah.”
Anton almost smiled.
“Apparently it runs in the family.”
Marcus fired.
Anton went down.
Nikolai tackled Marcus.
Lena rushed to her mother.
Viktor fled through the judge's chambers.
Gabriel entered with agents.
“Go!” he shouted.
Nikolai chased Viktor.
Lena followed despite everyone yelling at her not to.
They reached the courthouse roof.
Rain had begun falling.
Viktor stood near the edge.
Nikolai approached slowly.
“It’s over.”
Viktor laughed.
“You think paperwork ends men like us?”
“No.”
Nikolai stopped.
“Choices do.”
Viktor aimed his gun.
Lena appeared behind Nikolai.
Viktor smiled.
“Perfect.”
He moved the weapon toward her.
Nikolai stepped in front of Lena.
Viktor fired.
Nothing happened.
The gun clicked empty.
Viktor stared at it.
Anton appeared in the doorway, clutching his bleeding side.
“I switched the magazine.”
Viktor stared at his son.
“You.”
Anton looked devastated.
“I spent my whole life trying to earn your respect.”
“You failed.”
Anton nodded.
“Maybe that's the first good thing I've done.”
Agents rushed onto the roof.
Viktor backed toward the edge.
For one terrifying moment Lena thought he might jump.
Instead, he looked at Nikolai.
“You think you're different from me?”
Nikolai did not answer immediately.
Then he said, “I'm trying to be.”
Agents arrested Viktor.
No dramatic death.
No final gunfight.
Just handcuffs.
Lena realized that somehow this was better.
Viktor had spent decades making people believe he was untouchable.
Now he looked small beneath the courthouse lights.
Downstairs, paramedics treated Anton.
Marcus was arrested.
Evelyn and Elena were freed.
Gabriel embraced his wife.
Lena stood beside Nikolai in the hallway.
“It’s over,” she whispered.
“Not yet.”
She looked at him.
“What now?”
He glanced toward the agents.
“I have things to answer for too.”
Lena understood.
Nikolai had provided evidence against Viktor.
That did not erase his own past.
“You could leave.”
“Yes.”
“Will you?”
“No.”
Lena studied him.
“Why?”
“Because you were right.”
“That must be painful.”
“Extremely.”
Despite everything, she smiled.
Nikolai took her hand.
“I spent my life believing power meant never answering to anyone.”
“And now?”
“Now I think it means being strong enough to answer for yourself.”
Agents approached him.
Nikolai squeezed Lena's hand once.
Then released it.
“What happens to us?” she asked.
He looked at her.
“I don't know.”
It was not the answer she wanted.
But after a lifetime surrounded by lies, Lena had learned to value honest uncertainty.
Nikolai walked toward the agents.
Then stopped.
He turned back.
“Lena.”
“Yes?”
“That night at the bar.”
“What about it?”
“Why did you warn me?”
She thought about it.
“I was tired of looking away.”
Nikolai nodded.
“So was I.”
May you like
Then he surrendered.
And Lena watched the Wolf of Eastport walk away without running.
