Chapter 12 - The Father Waiting in the DarkThomas Pendleton Was AliveArthur spent ten minutes saying nothing.
Then he ordered everyone out of the room.
Except me.
And my mother.
“What if it's really him?” I asked.
Arthur looked at the photograph.
“Thomas wouldn't ask for Noah through a burner phone.”
Mom whispered:
“Unless he's being watched.”
Arthur looked at her.
“Or controlled.”
We studied the photograph again.
I noticed something.
“There.”
Arthur leaned over.
“What?”
Behind Thomas was a street sign.
I had seen it before.
“That's near the old church.”
Arthur stared.
“Saint Agnes.”
Mom nodded.
“Thomas used to hide there.”
We left through the rear entrance.
Arthur brought only one man.
His name was Marcus Cole.
He had been Arthur's driver for twelve years.
The church was abandoned.
The doors hung open.
We entered.
Cold air moved through the empty nave.
“Thomas?” Arthur called.
Nothing.
Then a light turned on beneath the altar.
A projector.
A figure appeared on the screen.
Thomas.
Older.
Thin.
Scarred.
Alive.
Arthur stopped.
“Thomas.”
The image looked directly toward the camera.
His voice came through the speakers.
“Arthur, I'm sorry.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“Where are you?”
“You can't save me.”
“I already know that.”
Thomas smiled faintly.
“You always thought you were stronger than everyone.”
“You're still alive.”
“Barely.”
I stepped closer.
Thomas's eyes moved.
Then his expression changed.
“Ivy.”
I froze.
“You know me?”
“I've known you your whole life.”
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
Arthur clenched his fists.
“Why?”
“Because Julian has someone I can't lose.”
“Who?”
Thomas looked down.
Then said:
“Elena.”
Mom gasped.
“What?”
“Julian took her three weeks ago.”
Arthur turned toward my mother.
I stared at her.
She was right beside me.
The blood drained from Arthur's face.
“Then who is this?”
The woman standing beside us smiled.
Her voice changed.
“Hello, Arthur.”
I screamed.
Arthur's gun came up.
The woman stepped backward.
It wasn't my mother.
It was a stranger.
A perfect disguise.
The real Elena had been missing all along.
The stranger laughed.
“Julian sends his regards.”
Doors slammed shut.
Men appeared from the shadows.
Arthur fired.
Marcus went down.
I grabbed Noah.
Owen cried.
The projector kept playing.
Thomas appeared again.
But now he looked directly at me.
“Ivy, listen.”
I stared at the screen.
“Don't trust Arthur.”
Arthur turned.
“What?”
Thomas continued:
“He killed my father.”
Arthur looked stunned.
“I did not.”
The projector flickered.
Then Thomas added:
“Ask him about the night I disappeared.”
The screen went black.
A gunshot echoed.
The false Elena was gone.
And Arthur slowly lowered his weapon.
I looked at him.
“Did you kill Thomas's father?”
Arthur said nothing.
“Did you?”
Finally, he whispered:
“Yes.”
My heart shattered.
The man who had saved me had been hiding a murder.
Then Arthur looked me directly in the eyes.
“But I didn't kill him.”
“Then who did?”
May you like
Arthur's answer was barely audible.
“My father.”
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