Chapter 9 - Ramon laughed.Not because it was funny.

Because he knew.

The accusation was impossible.

He had been a baby when his supposed father died.

Evelyn's smile widened.

“You're beginning to remember.”

“I killed no one.”

“You did.”

“How?”

“Not with your hands.”

She placed a tablet before him.

The screen showed a video.

A young Ramon.

Age twelve.

Standing in a room with Arturo.

Across from him was an injured man.

Ramon watched as the younger version of himself approached.

Then the screen went black.

Audio continued.

Arturo's voice:

“If you press the button, he dies.”

Young Ramon whispered:

“Is he dangerous?”

“Yes.”

“Then I'll do it.”

A machine beeped.

The video ended.

Ramon stared.

“What is that?”

“A memory.”

“You edited it.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“Ask your mother.”

The door opened.

Ramon's mother walked in.

She looked devastated.

“Mom?”

She couldn't meet his eyes.

“You were there.”

Ramon's voice cracked.

“What did I do?”

“You saved us.”

“By killing someone?”

She shook her head.

“You didn't kill him.”

Ramon stared.

“Then who did?”

His mother looked at Evelyn.

“She did.”

Evelyn smiled.

“Now we're getting somewhere.”

Ramon broke free by using the restraints against the chair.

He attacked Evelyn.

Two guards rushed him.

He took them down.

His mother grabbed a firearm.

They ran.

“Where is Emma?”

“Below the cathedral.”

“What does that mean?”

“The old crypt.”

They reached the lower level.

Emma was there.

But so was Mateo.

He stood over the child.

Ramon aimed.

“Move away.”

Mateo turned.

“You think I hurt her?”

Emma looked at Ramon.

“Dad.”

Ramon froze.

Mateo's eyes narrowed.

“She knows.”

“Knows what?”

Mateo handed Ramon a small object.

A cassette recorder.

“Play it.”

Ramon pressed the button.

A child's voice.

His own.

From decades earlier.

“Mommy, why does Mateo have to leave?”

Then his mother's voice:

“Because if they find out there are three heirs, they'll kill all of you.”

Ramon looked at Mateo.

“Three heirs.”

Mateo nodded.

“The third is not a person.”

Ramon looked confused.

Mateo continued.

“It is a title.”

“For who?”

“Whoever controls the Vault.”

Ramon's mother stepped forward.

“Your father made the mistake of believing the Circle could be controlled.”

“And you?”

“I believed I could destroy it.”

“Then why didn't you?”

She stared at Emma.

“Because she was born.”

Ramon turned.

Emma looked terrified.

His mother explained that Emma could remember hidden information encoded through sound and pattern.

Her brain recognized things adults couldn't.

The Circle wanted her because she could decode the Black Vault.

“But why does she call me Dad?”

Ramon's mother looked at him.

“Because she believes it.”

“That's not an answer.”

“It is the only one I have.”

Ramon looked at Emma.

“What did you see?”

Emma whispered:

“The man in the red room.”

“What man?”

“The one who killed Mommy.”

Ramon's blood froze.

“Who?”

Emma looked directly at him.

“Uncle Victor.”

Ramon's face hardened.

Victor.

His dead uncle.

He was alive.

And apparently responsible for everything.

Then the cathedral doors exploded.

Victor walked inside.

He smiled.

“Finally.”

Ramon raised his gun.

Victor laughed.

“Go ahead.”

He opened his arms.

“Shoot.”

Ramon hesitated.

Victor continued:

“Because the moment you kill me, every file in the Black Vault is released.”

A phone rang.

Victor answered.

“Hello?”

He listened.

Then smiled.

“It's done.”

Ramon stared.

“What is?”

Victor looked at him.

“The city.”

Outside, sirens began screaming.

Then explosions echoed across Chicago.

One.

Two.

Three.

The city lights went black.

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Victor smiled.

“The Circle just took Chicago.”