Chapter 7 - The ChurchThe old church stood at the edge of town.
Abandoned.
Broken windows.
Overgrown grass.
Nick led the way.
He moved through the side entrance without hesitation.
Valerie followed Thomas.
Harris kept his hand near his weapon.
"How do you know this place?"
Nick shrugged.
"I slept here sometimes."
Valerie looked at him.
"You slept here?"
"Sometimes."
Her heart hurt.
A child should never have to know where abandoned churches are safe to sleep.
Nick stopped near the altar.
"There."
Behind a loose wooden panel was a small metal box.
Harris opened it.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
And a notebook.
Valerie picked it up.
The first page contained a name.
Daniel Mercer.
The second contained Claire Bennett.
The third contained hers.
She looked at Harris.
"What is this?"
"A surveillance log," he said.
Valerie flipped through it.
Dates.
Locations.
Thomas's school.
Her company.
Her home.
The entries went back six years.
Someone had been monitoring them.
Then she saw a sentence written in red ink.
PHASE THREE: REMOVE MICHAEL.
Valerie's hands trembled.
Harris took the notebook.
"There's more."
He turned another page.
PHASE FOUR: CONTROL THOMAS.
Valerie's heart broke.
"Why would they need to control him?"
Before Harris could answer, they heard footsteps.
Nick turned.
Someone was inside the church.
"Hide."
The four of them moved behind the old pews.
A figure entered.
Gray hair.
Black coat.
Valerie's heart stopped.
Michael.
He slowly approached the altar.
Harris stepped out.
"Michael Mercer."
Michael spun around.
His hand moved beneath his coat.
Harris raised his weapon.
"Don't."
Michael froze.
Then he slowly removed his hand.
No weapon.
Only a photograph.
A photograph of Thomas.
Valerie stepped forward.
"Michael."
He stared at her.
Twelve years disappeared in one second.
"I thought you were dead."
Michael's expression cracked.
"I wanted you to think that."
"Why?"
"Because Daniel was watching you."
Valerie stared.
"You abandoned us."
"I was trying to protect you."
"You let me believe you were dead."
Michael's voice broke.
"If I came back, Thomas would have been next."
Thomas stood behind Valerie.
"You're my father."
Michael looked at him.
Tears filled his eyes.
"Yes."
Thomas stared.
Then he asked the question that had haunted Valerie for years.
"Why didn't you come for me?"
Michael closed his eyes.
"Because I was afraid."
Nick looked away.
Valerie whispered,
"Afraid of Daniel?"
Michael shook his head.
"Daniel is dangerous."
"Then who?"
Michael looked directly at Valerie.
"Claire."
Valerie's face went pale.
Michael continued.
"Claire worked with Daniel."
Thomas stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because Claire was in love with him."
Valerie felt sick.
"No."
Michael nodded.
"She helped him forge records. She helped him move the money. And when I discovered the truth, she set me up."
"Set you up for what?"
"Arson."
Michael's eyes darkened.
"The night I disappeared, Claire made sure the police believed I had burned down a warehouse."
Harris's jaw tightened.
"Did you?"
"No."
"Then where were you?"
Michael looked at Nick.
"Running."
Nick swallowed.
"From Claire?"
"From both of them."
Valerie stepped closer.
"Why did Claire tell me Daniel was the father?"
Michael hesitated.
"Because she knew one day you would choose Daniel over the truth."
Valerie shook her head.
"She was my best friend."
Michael's expression was grim.
"She still is."
"What?"
"That's the problem."
He reached into his coat.
"I have proof."
Before he could reveal it, headlights swept across the church windows.
Cars.
Three of them.
Michael looked toward the entrance.
"They found us."
Harris drew his weapon.
"Everyone stay down."
Nick grabbed Thomas.
Valerie's heart raced.
Outside, a car door slammed.
Then another.
May you like
Michael whispered:
"It's Claire."
