Chapter 12 - ADRIAN CROSSAdrian Cross looked exactly as Daniel remembered.
Elegant.
Calm.
Older, but still polished.
He didn't carry a weapon.
He didn't need one.
Armed guards surrounded the room.
Cross smiled at Lena.
“You've grown.”
Lena stared at him.
“You know me.”
“Of course.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You stole my daughters.”
Cross shook his head.
“No.”
“You paid to have them taken.”
“I protected them.”
Daniel nearly laughed.
“From whom?”
“From you.”
Daniel froze.
Cross's expression never changed.
“You were unstable.”
“I searched for my child.”
“You destroyed your life.”
“You destroyed my family.”
Cross shrugged.
“Families destroy themselves.”
Mara shouted:
“You killed people.”
Cross looked at her.
“No. I saved people from themselves.”
Daniel understood.
Cross didn't believe he was evil.
That made him more dangerous.
“What do you want?”
Cross looked at Lena.
“Her memory.”
“And if she doesn't remember?”
“Then we make her remember.”
Lena stepped backward.
Cross smiled.
“You already know where it is.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Cross pointed toward the floor.
“Your childhood memories were designed around one location.”
Daniel looked confused.
“What location?”
Cross smiled.
“Your father's house.”
Daniel's stomach turned.
“My house?”
“The basement.”
Daniel suddenly remembered.
His old home.
The one where Lily disappeared.
The police had searched it.
But there had been one room Daniel never entered again.
The basement.
Cross continued.
“Your wife hid the evidence there.”
Daniel's voice shook.
“Why didn't you take it?”
“Because Sarah moved it.”
“Where?”
Cross smiled.
“That is what Lily remembers.”
Mara stepped forward.
“You killed Sarah.”
Cross's eyes sharpened.
“I didn't kill Sarah.”
Daniel froze.
Cross continued.
“Your wife died because she trusted the wrong person.”
“Who?”
Cross looked at Vale's photograph on the wall.
“Marcus.”
Daniel's face changed.
Vale had been controlling the investigation.
Vale had protected Lily.
But perhaps there was another reason.
Cross continued.
“Marcus betrayed all of us.”
Daniel asked:
“Where is he?”
Cross smiled.
“Behind you.”
Daniel turned.
Marcus Vale stood in the doorway.
He was holding a gun.
Daniel stared at him.
Vale's face was unreadable.
Then he raised the gun.
And pointed it directly at Lena.
May you like
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
A shot exploded.
