Chapter 6 - Rafe couldn't move.His entire world had become a locked room, and every answer seemed to open another door.
Lena wasn't Lena.
His father wasn't dead.
His mother wasn't dead.
Victor Hale wasn't just a corrupt businessman.
And the little girl he had mourned his entire life might never have been his sister.
Daniel grabbed his shoulders.
"You need to move."
"Tell me now."
"No."
"Tell me!"
Another gunshot.
Concrete dust fell from the ceiling.
Daniel pointed toward a narrow corridor.
"Locker 17."
Rafe ran.
Anna followed.
Daniel stayed behind.
Rafe reached the underground storage hall.
Rows of rusted metal doors stretched into darkness.
Numbers.
...
He stood before the locker.
There was no keyhole.
Only a black metal plate.
Daniel had been right.
Rafe placed his palm against it.
Nothing happened.
He pressed harder.
The plate lit up.
A faint green light traveled across his hand.
Then the lock clicked.
Rafe's breath caught.
The door opened.
Inside sat a metal case.
He pulled it out.
Anna stood behind him.
"Open it."
Rafe lifted the lid.
Inside were photographs.
Hundreds.
Children.
Names.
Dates.
Addresses.
Payments.
Rafe's stomach turned.
At the bottom was a folder bearing one name.
VICTOR HALE.
Rafe opened it.
Bank transfers.
Police files.
Hospital records.
Then he found something that made his hands go numb.
A birth certificate.
His.
The name on it wasn't Elias Mercer.
It was Elias Vance.
Father:
Thomas Vance.
Mother:
Evelyn Vance.
Rafe stared.
"Evelyn."
Anna nodded.
"Your mother."
He looked at the photograph.
A young woman.
Dark hair.
Same eyes.
Same cheekbones.
And beside her stood a man Rafe didn't recognize.
Thomas Vance.
His biological father.
Rafe's eyes moved to the final page.
Cause of death:
Gunshot.
Authorized by:
Victor Hale.
Rafe clenched the paper.
"What about the girl?"
Anna pointed to another folder.
LENA VANCE.
Rafe opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a little girl.
Same brown eyes.
Same scar near her eyebrow.
But beneath the photograph was a note.
Subject successfully relocated.
Rafe's throat tightened.
"She's alive."
Anna nodded.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"That's the problem."
"What problem?"
Anna's face became pale.
"The girl in this photograph isn't Lena."
Rafe stared.
"What?"
Anna pointed to the date.
The photograph had been taken three months after Lena supposedly died.
Rafe stared at the little girl's face.
"Then who is she?"
Anna whispered:
"The child Victor Hale took."
Rafe's eyes hardened.
"Where's Lena?"
Anna hesitated.
"Rafe..."
"Where?"
"Your mother took Lena."
"Where?"
"To protect her."
"FROM WHO?"
Anna looked toward the tunnel.
A voice echoed from the hallway.
"From me."
Rafe spun around.
Victor Hale stepped into view.
Older.
Elegant.
Dry despite the rain.
Two armed men stood behind him.
The mayor smiled.
"Hello, Elias."
Rafe stared at him.
"You killed my father."
Victor shook his head.
"Which one?"
Rafe went still.
Victor smiled wider.
"That's the question, isn't it?"
Anna whispered:
"Run."
Victor raised his gun.
"No one is running."
Rafe stepped forward.
"Where's my mother?"
Victor's smile disappeared.
"You really don't remember her?"
Rafe's jaw tightened.
"I'll find her."
Victor tilted his head.
"She has been beside you for years."
Rafe froze.
"What?"
Victor looked at Anna.
Then laughed.
"Ask her."
Rafe slowly turned toward Anna.
The woman who had washed his wounds.
The woman who had known his childhood.
The woman who had saved him tonight.
Her expression told him the truth before she spoke.
"I lied to you."
Rafe stared.
"About what?"
Anna whispered:
"I'm not your mother's friend."
Victor smiled.
May you like
"She's your mother."
Rafe's world stopped.
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