Chapter 9 - THE BROTHER AT THE TRAIN STATION
Z
Julian contacted Roman again six days later.
This time, he gave an address.
A small train station outside Philadelphia.
He asked Roman to come alone.
Roman refused to hide the request from investigators.
A discreet safety plan was arranged.
Narelli accompanied him as far as the nearby parking area.
Roman stepped onto the platform alone.
The afternoon was cold.
Commuters moved past him.
A train arrived.
Passengers stepped out.
Then Roman saw him.
A man in a dark jacket standing beside a vending machine.
Thirty-five years old.
Thin.
A scar beneath his chin.
Julian.
Roman stopped.
His brother looked at him.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Julian whispered, “You got old.”
Roman laughed.
It came out broken.
“So did you.”
They approached slowly.
Roman wanted to embrace him.
Instead, he waited.
Julian studied his face.
“You look like Dad.”
Roman swallowed.
“I know.”
Julian's eyes filled.
“I hated that when we were kids.”
Roman laughed through tears.
“Me too.”
Then Julian stepped forward.
Roman opened his arms.
They embraced.
Eleven years disappeared and remained between them at the same time.
Roman held his brother carefully.
Julian trembled.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
Roman shook his head.
“No.”
“I should have called.”
“You did.”
“Not soon enough.”
Roman pulled back.
“Listen to me.”
Julian looked up.
“You don't owe me an apology for surviving.”
They sat on a bench.
Julian explained what he remembered.
The night of the crash.
A meeting with Elliot Vane.
An argument.
Someone striking him.
Then waking in a medical facility.
His memories had returned slowly.
He had been told Roman believed him dead.
Later, he had been warned that contacting his brother would put them both in danger.
For years, he lived under supervision and false information.
When he finally left the facility, he struggled to distinguish truth from manipulation.
He had been moving between temporary jobs and borrowed rooms.
Then Peter Doss found him.
“He said he could arrange a meeting,” Julian explained.
“With me?”
Julian nodded.
“But he wanted information first.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“What information?”
“Your office schedule.”
Roman closed his eyes.
The pieces finally fit.
Julian looked frightened.
“I didn't know he was threatening anyone.”
“I know.”
Roman reached for his brother's hand.
“You're safe now.”
Julian looked toward the end of the platform.
“I don't know if that's true.”
May you like
Roman squeezed his hand.
“Then we'll work toward making it true.”
