Chapter 5 - The voice belonged to Daniel Mercer.Rafe knew it instantly.
It shouldn't have been possible.
Daniel had been dead for twenty-two years.
Yet the voice sounded exactly as Rafe remembered it.
Deep.
Calm.
Almost gentle.
Rafe stepped in front of Anna.
A man emerged from the darkness.
Older now.
Gray hair.
A scar along his jaw.
But unmistakable.
Daniel Mercer.
Rafe's hands began to shake.
"You died."
Daniel smiled.
"That's what we wanted everyone to believe."
Rafe felt anger rise through his chest.
"You left us."
"No."
"You let me think you abandoned me."
"I saved your life."
"By disappearing?"
"By becoming a ghost."
Rafe moved closer.
Anna grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
Daniel's eyes remained on Rafe.
"You have your mother's temper."
"Where is she?"
Silence.
"Where is my mother?"
Daniel looked at Anna.
Then back at Rafe.
"She's alive."
Rafe's heart kicked.
"Where?"
"You can't see her yet."
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't know who to trust."
Rafe laughed bitterly.
"Neither do I."
Daniel nodded.
"Good."
"What happened the night of the fire?"
Daniel's expression changed.
"The fire was staged."
"I know."
"No. You don't."
Daniel stepped closer.
"Your mother didn't set that fire."
"I know."
"I did."
Rafe stared.
"You?"
"I needed everyone to believe we were dead."
"Why?"
"Because Victor Hale had found you."
Rafe's jaw tightened.
"You said he wanted me."
"He wanted what was inside you."
Rafe frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel looked at Anna.
She lowered her eyes.
Daniel sighed.
"Your biological father left something behind."
"What?"
"A ledger."
Rafe waited.
"Names."
"Names of what?"
"Children. Judges. doctors. politicians. businessmen."
Rafe felt sick.
"And my father kept it?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because he was building a case."
"Against Hale?"
"Against everyone."
Daniel's eyes hardened.
"The ledger could have destroyed the city."
Rafe whispered:
"Where is it?"
Daniel smiled.
"Locker 17."
Rafe looked at the key.
Then at Anna.
Then at Daniel.
"You could have opened it yourself."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it responds to your fingerprint."
Rafe frowned.
Daniel reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed a young Rafe standing beside the locker.
His palm was pressed against its surface.
Written underneath was one sentence:
Only Elias can open it.
Rafe stared at the photograph.
"When was this taken?"
"The week before the fire."
"But I don't remember."
"You weren't supposed to."
Daniel looked at Anna.
"She gave you the sedative."
Rafe turned sharply.
"What?"
Anna's face collapsed.
"I had no choice."
"You drugged me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you saw something you shouldn't have."
Rafe's voice dropped.
"What did I see?"
Anna whispered:
"Victor Hale killing your sister."
Everything went silent.
Rafe stared at her.
"No."
"I saw you watching."
"No."
"You were standing behind the door."
Rafe shook his head.
"I would've remembered."
"You were eight."
"I would've remembered!"
Daniel suddenly slammed his fist onto the table.
"That's why you don't."
Rafe looked at him.
"What did you do to my memory?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Anna did.
"We made you forget."
Rafe stepped backward.
"You erased my memory."
"We protected you."
"You destroyed my childhood."
"We saved your life."
Rafe looked between them.
"Then why did I become a biker?"
Daniel's eyes softened.
"Because you remembered how to survive."
A siren sounded above them.
Then another.
Daniel's face changed.
"They're here."
Rafe's body tensed.
"Who?"
Daniel whispered:
"Victor Hale."
A gunshot exploded upstairs.
Anna screamed.
Daniel grabbed Rafe's shoulder.
"Get to Locker 17."
"What about you?"
Daniel pulled a second key from his pocket.
"This opens the truth."
He placed it in Rafe's palm.
Then he whispered:
"Your biological father wasn't the victim."
Rafe stared at him.
"Then who was?"
May you like
Daniel turned toward the stairs.
"The person you thought was your sister."
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