Chapter 4 - Adrian ran.He tore up the staircase two steps at a time.
Clara followed.
Olivia was right behind them.
Vanessa screamed:
"Don't!"
Adrian reached Emma's nursery.
The door was open.
The crib was empty.
For one terrible second Adrian couldn't breathe.
"Emma!"
Clara rushed inside.
"She's here!"
Adrian turned.
Emma was in Clara's arms.
She had found the baby beneath a blanket beside the rocking chair.
But Clara wasn't alone.
Someone else was inside.
A man stood near the window.
Adrian shouted:
"Hey!"
The man turned.
Then jumped through the window.
Adrian reached the glass.
"Stop!"
The stranger disappeared into the darkness.
Olivia ran to the window.
"Dad!"
Adrian looked down.
The man had landed on the grass.
He looked up.
For one second their eyes met.
Then the man smiled.
Adrian felt a strange recognition.
He had seen him before.
At the hospital.
At the funeral.
At his father's office.
Always in the background.
Never close enough to notice.
Now he understood.
Someone had been watching his family for years.
Adrian ran outside.
The man disappeared between two houses.
By the time Adrian reached the street, there was nothing.
He returned to the house.
Clara was holding Emma tightly.
"She's okay."
Adrian pulled his daughter into his arms.
"What happened?"
"I heard the window."
Clara's face was pale.
"I came in and he was already here."
"Did he touch her?"
"No."
"Did he say anything?"
Clara hesitated.
"He said one thing."
"What?"
"He asked where Olivia was."
Adrian looked toward his daughter.
Olivia was standing by the doorway.
Her face had gone white.
"He knows me."
Adrian shook his head.
"Why?"
Olivia didn't answer.
Then she pulled something from her pocket.
A small silver key.
Clara stared.
"Where did you get that?"
Olivia looked at Vanessa.
"From Mom's room."
Vanessa immediately moved toward her.
"Give it to me."
Olivia stepped back.
"No."
"Olivia, please."
"What does it open?"
Vanessa's face changed.
"Nothing."
"Then why were you hiding it?"
Vanessa said nothing.
Adrian took the key.
There was a number engraved on it.
He looked at Olivia.
"Where was this?"
"Inside her jewelry box."
Adrian turned toward Vanessa.
"What is 17?"
Vanessa whispered:
"Project E-17."
The same designation from the underground lab.
Adrian felt sick.
"Why do you have the key?"
"I don't."
"You just said nothing."
"I didn't know what it was."
Adrian stared.
"You're lying again."
Vanessa broke down.
"I was given it!"
"By who?"
"The man who came to me."
"Victor?"
Vanessa nodded.
"He told me if I ever needed to protect Emma, I should use the key."
"Protect her how?"
"I don't know."
Adrian looked at the key.
"Where's the lock?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know."
Olivia suddenly spoke.
"I do."
Everyone looked at her.
"There is a room in the west wing."
Adrian frowned.
"We don't have a room there."
"We do."
"What room?"
"Grandfather's study."
Adrian stared.
"My father sealed it after he died."
"I found the keyhole last week."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Olivia swallowed.
"Because I found something inside."
She pulled out her phone.
A photograph appeared.
It showed a hidden wall compartment.
Inside were dozens of files.
All labeled with names.
Adrian recognized several.
Employees.
Executives.
Doctors.
Lawyers.
And finally:
ADRIAN MERCER.
VANESSA MERCER.
OLIVIA MERCER.
CLARA REYES.
EMMA MERCER.
Adrian stared at Clara's name.
"Why is your name here?"
Clara looked genuinely confused.
"I don't know."
Then Olivia scrolled down.
There was another folder.
One word.
WITNESS.
Inside was a photograph of Clara.
Taken fifteen years earlier.
Adrian looked at her.
"That's impossible."
Clara stared at the photo.
Her hands began shaking.
"I've never seen that."
Olivia zoomed in.
Behind young Clara stood a man.
Adrian recognized him instantly.
Daniel Voss.
But the photograph was dated fifteen years before Adrian had ever met him.
Vanessa whispered:
"Daniel is not dead."
Adrian turned.
"What?"
Vanessa backed away.
"I thought he was."
"Then why did you say his face?"
"Because I saw him once."
"When?"
"Last year."
"Where?"
Vanessa looked toward the hallway.
"Outside the hospital."
Adrian's stomach turned.
"Emma had just been born."
Vanessa nodded.
"And Daniel told me something."
"What?"
"He said Emma would change everything."
Adrian stared at his wife.
"Why?"
Vanessa whispered:
"Because she was the first Mercer child born with the genetic marker."
The room went silent.
Adrian looked at Emma.
Then at the hidden files.
Then at Clara.
Suddenly Olivia's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One message.
STOP DIGGING.
A second message arrived immediately.
YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
Then a photograph.
It showed Olivia walking to school that morning.
Taken from across the street.
She was wearing the exact clothes she had on now.
Adrian felt rage explode inside him.
He grabbed his coat.
"What are you doing?"
Clara asked.
"I'm finding Daniel."
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
"Adrian."
He turned.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"If Daniel knows the truth about Emma, you don't want to find him."
"Why?"
"Because he isn't the man you think he is."
Adrian stared.
"Who is he?"
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Vanessa whispered:
"He's your father's son."
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