Chapter 11 - The detective's name was Samuel Hart.For three years, he had visited me every anniversary of Elena's death.
He had brought flowers.
He had offered condolences.
He had always said one sentence.
“Some accidents don't have explanations.”
Now he stood in an underground facility with a rifle.
I looked at my father.
“Is he yours?”
“No.”
Victor shook his head.
“Not mine either.”
Samuel's voice came through the speakers.
“Adrian, step away from your family.”
I laughed.
“You buried my wife.”
“No.”
He pressed a control.
A screen displayed Elena's original death certificate.
Then another version.
Then another.
Five copies.
Five different signatures.
Five different causes of death.
The official one was only one of them.
Samuel continued.
“The woman who died in that vehicle was not Elena.”
I looked at my wife.
She nodded.
“I couldn't risk letting them know I survived.”
“Then who died?”
Samuel smiled.
“That's the question your family never wanted answered.”
He opened another file.
A photograph appeared.
The victim's face was burned beyond recognition.
But a medical scan showed a distinct fracture.
A surgical pin.
I looked at Elena.
Her left knee had surgery ten years ago.
The victim had the same hardware.
Elena whispered:
“They used a scan from my old records.”
Samuel continued.
“Someone altered the medical history.”
My father frowned.
“Who?”
Samuel looked directly at him.
“Your wife.”
My mother stepped forward.
Everyone turned.
She shook her head.
“They threatened your father.”
“I did what I had to.”
My father stared at her.
“You helped Elena fake her death.”
“Yes.”
“You betrayed me.”
“Yes.”
His expression became cold.
“You knew what would happen.”
My mother didn't answer.
Samuel interrupted.
“That's enough history.”
The black-shirted men entered the facility.
A gunfight erupted.
We scattered.
Bullets shattered glass.
Victor dragged Sophie behind a concrete pillar.
Elena pulled Lily through a side door.
I followed.
We reached a narrow stairway.
Samuel was behind us.
“Adrian!”
I fired over my shoulder.
He ducked.
We reached the top.
A warehouse opened around us.
I recognized it.
My father's old shipping company.
It had been abandoned for twenty years.
A helicopter waited on the roof.
Victor arrived with Sophie.
Elena came from another corridor.
Claire was missing.
“Where is Claire?”
Nobody answered.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A whisper.
“Don't get on the helicopter.”
Claire.
“Where are you?”
“In the warehouse.”
“What happened?”
“She took me.”
“Who?”
Claire began crying.
“The woman who has been controlling everyone.”
I looked at Elena.
“Who?”
Claire whispered one name.
“Your mother.”
I turned.
My mother stood ten feet away.
May you like
She was holding a gun.
And pointing it at Elena.
