Chapter 13 - The Silver RingStone replayed the tape.
Everyone listened.
The voice beneath the static became clearer.
“Samuel Mercer must disappear tonight.”
Jax looked around the room.
“Who said it?”
Stone didn't answer.
He stared at Daniel.
Daniel stared back.
Then Noah pointed.
“It's him.”
Everyone turned.
Noah was pointing toward Sheriff Crowe.
But Crowe was gone.
Jax cursed.
“He slipped out.”
Stone looked down at the blue box.
Another compartment.
Hidden beneath the lining.
Inside was a small metal ring.
Silver.
A black stone in the center.
Daniel recognized it.
“That's Crowe's.”
Stone looked at him.
“How do you know?”
“Because I saw him wearing it the night Samuel disappeared.”
Mara started crying.
“You never told me.”
“I was afraid.”
Stone looked toward the tunnel.
“Then he was the man.”
Daniel nodded.
“He ordered Samuel's death.”
“But you thought you did it.”
“Yes.”
A second later, an explosion shook the estate.
The archive door collapsed.
Fire rushed through the corridor.
Jax shouted:
“MOVE!”
Stone grabbed Clara.
Daniel grabbed Noah.
Mara ran behind them.
Evelyn stayed.
Stone looked back.
“Come on!”
She stared at the burning archive.
“My family's evidence.”
“Your life first.”
She hesitated.
Then followed.
They escaped through the tunnel.
Outside, police sirens filled the estate.
Crowe had called them.
But when the police arrived, he was nowhere.
One deputy lowered his weapon.
“We have orders to arrest Mercer.”
Stone stared.
“From who?”
“The sheriff.”
Stone laughed once.
“He's running.”
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Crowe.
“You have the blue box.”
Stone said nothing.
“You think the box saves you.”
“What do you want?”
“I want Clara.”
“You're not getting her.”
Crowe's tone softened.
“Then ask Daniel who Clara's real father is.”
The line went dead.
Daniel looked at Stone.
“He's trying to divide us.”
Stone walked toward him.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Clara's biological father was Samuel.”
Stone froze.
“But you said she wasn't.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because Samuel wasn't supposed to have children.”
Mara stepped forward.
“He was poisoned.”
“What?”
“Elias believed Samuel's bloodline had to end.”
Daniel nodded.
“But he survived long enough to meet Clara.”
Stone looked at Clara.
She was standing silently beside him.
A child who had spent the entire day running through danger.
A child everyone wanted.
Not because she was powerful.
Because she remembered.
Stone crouched.
“Clara.”
She looked at him.
“Do you remember the night your father disappeared?”
She nodded.
“Do you remember the man with the silver ring?”
Her eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Was it Sheriff Crowe?”
Clara shook her head.
Stone frowned.
“Then who?”
She looked past him.
Toward Evelyn.
And whispered:
“It was Grandma.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Stone turned.
Evelyn spoke through tears.
“I was trying to save Samuel.”
Clara shook her head.
“No.”
Everyone went silent.
May you like
Clara's voice trembled.
“You pushed him.”
