Chapter 8 - The Last WhitmoreThey escaped through the tunnel just before the church exploded.
Claire watched flames rise behind them.
Her mother's body had not been found.
That was the only reason Claire allowed herself to believe she was alive.
Adrian drove through the rain.
Neither spoke.
Finally Claire said, “Victor is the key.”
Adrian nodded.
“If he controls the Meridian Network…”
“He controls everything your father built.”
“Then why does he want me dead?”
“Because the network isn't legally his.”
Claire stared out the window.
“So he needs me to die.”
“Exactly.”
“Then why didn't he kill me already?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Because he needs your signature.”
Claire's stomach tightened.
“What kind?”
“Transfer documents.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“That’s why Mason proposed.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why they tried to make me look like a criminal.”
“Yes.”
“And the acid?”
Adrian's expression darkened.
“Punishment.”
Claire looked at him.
“Or intimidation.”
“Both.”
They returned to the safe house.
But it had been abandoned.
Every computer was destroyed.
Every file removed.
On the kitchen table was a single envelope.
Adrian opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Claire and Adrian leaving the church.
On the back:
YOU HAVE FORTY-EIGHT HOURS.
Under the message was another photograph.
Her mother.
Alive.
Hands tied.
A bruise on her cheek.
Claire's breath stopped.
“She’s alive.”
Adrian nodded.
A phone rang.
Neither moved.
It rang again.
Claire answered.
Victor's voice came through.
“You want your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Then bring Adrian.”
“Why?”
“Because this has always been about him.”
Claire looked at Adrian.
Victor continued.
“Your father trusted the wrong man.”
“What did Adrian do?”
Silence.
Then Victor said:
“He knows.”
The call ended.
Claire turned toward Adrian.
“What happened to my father?”
Adrian looked away.
“I couldn't stop him.”
“Stop what?”
“Meeting your father the night before the crash.”
Claire froze.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“We argued.”
“About what?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Your father wanted me to help him destroy Halcyon.”
“And you refused?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I told him the only way to destroy Halcyon was to destroy the Meridian Network.”
Claire stared.
“What did he say?”
“He told me he'd rather die.”
Claire felt the blood leave her face.
“And the next day he died.”
Adrian nodded.
“You think I killed him.”
Claire couldn't answer.
Adrian stepped closer.
“I didn't.”
Then the house's security alarm screamed.
A window shattered.
Someone fired.
Adrian pushed Claire down.
Three men stormed the room.
The firefight lasted less than a minute.
When it ended, one attacker lay dead.
Another was unconscious.
The third had escaped.
Adrian searched the unconscious man's jacket.
He found a metal badge.
A black wolf.
Claire recognized it.
It belonged to her father.
Adrian stared at the badge.
“That's impossible.”
“What?”
“This was buried with Jonathan.”
Claire looked at him.
“Then someone dug him up.”
A phone fell from the attacker's pocket.
It began ringing.
Adrian answered.
A man's voice said:
“Stop searching for the truth.”
Adrian replied, “Who are you?”
A pause.
Then:
“The man your father buried.”
The line went dead.
Claire looked at Adrian.
“Who?”
May you like
His face had gone pale.
“My father.”
