Chapter 8 - THE FATHER IN THE SHADOWSThomas spent the next hour convincing himself Sarah was dreaming.
Children dreamed.
Children imagined people.
Children invented memories.
It had to be that.
But then Sarah described the man.
Dark coat.
Silver watch.
Small scar beneath his left eye.
Always standing behind a red door.
Thomas looked at the photograph.
Exactly.
His father.
David Miller.
The man Thomas had been told died in a factory fire.
Evelyn studied Sarah.
"Did he tell you his name?"
Sarah shook her head.
"He said not to tell Daddy."
Thomas's stomach tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Sarah began crying.
"Because he said bad men would take you."
Thomas pulled her close.
Evelyn turned away.
Thomas whispered:
"It's my fault."
"No."
Evelyn shook her head.
"It's not."
"They reached her."
"They reached all of us."
Thomas looked at the photograph.
"We're going to the mansion."
Evelyn stared.
"That's what he wants."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"Because Rebecca is there."
He looked at Sarah.
"And my father."
The Croft mansion stood outside the city on a private estate.
Nobody had lived there officially for years.
But lights were visible in several windows.
They arrived at midnight.
Thomas carried the silver button.
The drawing was inside his coat.
Evelyn carried a weapon.
Sarah stayed inside the vehicle with a guard.
Thomas approached the front door.
It opened before he knocked.
Julian stood inside.
"Welcome."
Thomas entered.
The mansion smelled like dust and old wood.
Julian gestured toward a large room.
Rebecca was there.
So was Daniel.
Both were alive.
Both were restrained.
Thomas rushed toward Rebecca.
A guard blocked him.
"Don't."
Julian smiled.
"One step closer and she dies."
Thomas stopped.
Rebecca looked at him.
"Thomas."
He could barely speak.
"You lied to me."
"I know."
"You let me bury you."
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted you alive."
Thomas shook his head.
"I would have chosen you."
Rebecca cried.
"I know."
Julian walked toward them.
"Enough."
He pointed toward the drawing.
"The map."
Thomas handed it over.
Julian unfolded it.
He smiled.
"Perfect."
Daniel laughed weakly.
"You still don't understand."
Julian's smile faded.
"What?"
"The drawing was never the key."
Julian looked at Thomas.
Thomas froze.
Rebecca whispered:
"Thomas, don't give him the button."
Julian's face hardened.
"The button."
Thomas didn't move.
"You know what this is?"
Julian nodded.
"The last access token."
"For what?"
"The original Black Crown vault."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Where?"
Julian looked at her.
"Under the mansion."
Thomas said:
"You want me to open it."
"Yes."
"And then?"
"You'll see what your family protected."
They descended into a tunnel beneath the mansion.
At the bottom stood a circular steel vault door.
Black crown engraved in the center.
Julian inserted the map.
A mechanism clicked.
The door remained locked.
He looked at Thomas.
"Button."
Thomas handed it over.
Julian placed it against the crown.
The door opened.
Inside was a room filled with servers and sealed boxes.
Julian walked to the center.
"This is the beginning."
Thomas looked around.
"What is?"
"Black Crown."
Julian opened a steel cabinet.
Inside were original records.
Richard Croft's handwriting.
Thomas took one.
He read.
Subject: Miller Family
Objective: Controlled inheritance.
Thomas's heart pounded.
Evelyn found another.
Subject: Croft Family
She went still.
Thomas looked at her.
"What?"
She handed him the document.
His eyes widened.
Richard Croft had planned to unite the Miller and Croft bloodlines.
Not for marriage.
For genetic succession.
Thomas stared.
"Rebecca."
She nodded.
"That was the plan."
"You and me?"
"Yes."
"Sarah?"
"Part of it."
Thomas looked at Evelyn.
"And you?"
"You were supposed to marry me."
Silence.
Thomas blinked.
"What?"
Julian smiled.
"Richard wanted a Miller-Croft heir."
Evelyn looked sick.
"He wanted control of both families."
Daniel's voice came from behind them.
"That's not the worst part."
Everyone turned.
Daniel was free.
He had somehow escaped his restraints.
He held an old photograph.
"The project failed."
He looked at Thomas.
"Because the original heir wasn't Sarah."
Thomas frowned.
"Then who?"
Daniel held up the photograph.
A newborn.
A hospital bracelet.
Emily Croft.
Evelyn went pale.
"She's alive?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"Where?"
Daniel looked toward Thomas.
"With your father."
The room fell silent.
Thomas heard footsteps above.
Dozens.
Julian looked irritated.
"You're late."
A man entered.
Thomas couldn't move.
Silver watch.
Scar beneath the left eye.
His father's face.
David Miller.
Alive.
His father looked at him.
"Hello, son."
Thomas's entire body shook.
"You."
David smiled.
"I knew you'd find your way here."
Thomas stepped forward.
"Why did you let me think you were dead?"
David looked toward Sarah.
"Because I needed you to become the man you are."
Thomas stared.
"You destroyed my life."
"No."
David smiled.
"I built it."
Then he looked at Rebecca.
"And she helped me."
Rebecca lowered her head.
Thomas felt betrayed by everyone.
But then David said something that changed everything.
"Evelyn is not the enemy."
He pointed toward Julian.
"Julian is."
Julian's face changed.
David continued.
"He's been controlling Black Crown for years."
Julian pulled a gun.
David moved faster.
A shot exploded.
Then the vault lights went red.
Alarms screamed.
The steel door slammed shut.
Thomas looked around.
They were trapped underground.
Julian was holding Rebecca at gunpoint.
David had disappeared.
And Sarah's voice came through the intercom.
"Daddy?"
Thomas turned toward the speaker.
May you like
Her voice was shaking.
"I think someone took me."
