Chapter 11 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be DeadDaniel searched the room.
“There has to be another exit.”
Charles pointed toward the floor.
A metal hatch.
They opened it.
A narrow passage led underground.
They crawled through as the voice followed through hidden speakers.
“You should have listened, Victoria.”
She recognized her father.
But that was impossible.
He had died after a stroke.
She had attended the funeral.
Seen the coffin.
Seen the burial.
Or had she?
Victoria's stomach tightened.
“Charles.”
“What?”
“Did you see my father’s body?”
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Another empty coffin.”
Victoria whispered:
“Another false death.”
Charles stared.
“Your father planned everything.”
“No.”
Victoria shook her head.
“He didn't plan this.”
“Why?”
“Because he would not have left himself a trail.”
She stopped.
“They want me to think he's alive.”
Daniel nodded.
“A recording.”
“Exactly.”
They emerged into an abandoned office.
Inside were dozens of old tape machines.
One was still running.
Daniel pulled the plug.
A final recording played.
This one was newer.
A man spoke.
Not Victoria’s father.
A different voice.
“You wanted my father dead.”
Charles stiffened.
Victoria turned.
“Who?”
The voice continued.
“You thought taking the girls would destroy us.”
Charles whispered:
“Evan.”
Victoria looked at him.
“Who is Evan?”
“Your father's son.”
Victoria froze.
“My father's son?”
“Your half-brother.”
She stared.
“How many people did my father hide?”
Charles didn't answer.
The voice continued.
“My father built an empire.”
Static.
“He taught me that fear is worth more than money.”
A door opened somewhere in the building.
Footsteps approached.
Daniel raised his gun.
A man entered.
Tall.
Grey suit.
Older than Charles.
He had Victoria's father's eyes.
“Hello, sister.”
Victoria stared.
“You're Evan.”
He smiled.
“I see Dad never told you about me.”
Charles stepped forward.
“Stay back.”
Evan laughed.
“You still play hero.”
Victoria stared at Charles.
“You knew him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Evan was the one who helped your father.”
Evan's smile disappeared.
“That isn't entirely true.”
He looked toward the girls.
“I helped him move the children.”
Victoria's blood ran cold.
“How many?”
“Thirty-seven.”
Silence.
Daniel stared.
“Thirty-seven children?”
“Over twelve years.”
Victoria looked at the old records.
The ledgers.
The hidden rooms.
The graves.
“My father sold them.”
Evan shrugged.
“He sold information.”
“What does that mean?”
“Families paid to disappear children. Other families paid to find them.”
Victoria's stomach turned.
“And Rosalind?”
“Special case.”
“Why?”
Evan smiled.
“Because she was the key to everything.”
“To the trust?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“To the names.”
Victoria felt a chill.
“What names?”
“The parents.”
“What parents?”
Evan pointed toward the girls.
“Every child carried proof.”
Rosie stared at him.
“What proof?”
Evan looked at her.
“Your mother left something inside your necklace.”
Victoria touched the pendant.
Rosie took it off.
Daniel examined it.
“There’s a seam.”
He opened it.
Inside was a microfilm strip.
Victoria stared.
“What is it?”
“A list.”
Evan smiled.
“The list your father killed for.”
Charles stepped forward.
“Give me the necklace.”
“No.”
“Victoria.”
She backed away.
Evan drew a gun.
“Give it to me.”
Daniel aimed his weapon.
“Put yours down.”
Evan laughed.
“You don't understand.”
He looked at the girls.
“The list is only half of it.”
Victoria stared.
“What is the other half?”
Evan smiled.
“Your father kept the originals.”
“Where?”
“In the Hale cemetery.”
Victoria frowned.
Evan continued:
“Under the grave of Rosalind Hale.”
Victoria's heart stopped.
“The coffin.”
“Yes.”
“The empty coffin?”
Evan nodded.
“It was never empty.”
Victoria felt cold.
“What is inside?”
Evan smiled.
“The proof that your daughter was sold.”
Before anyone could react, the lights went out.
A gunshot exploded.
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When the lights returned, Evan was gone.
And so was Rosie.
