Chapter 12 - The Woman Behind the LieMy mother had spent seventeen years hiding the truth. Now she was walking straight into the lion's den.
We escaped Northstar through an emergency tunnel.
By the time we reached the surface, the building was burning.
Claire's team arrived too late.
Most of the records were destroyed.
But I had copied the critical files.
My father was taken to a safe location.
Thomas met us there.
I confronted him.
“You recruited me three years ago.”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
“You knew my life was being manipulated.”
“Yes.”
“You knew my mother was alive.”
“Yes.”
I pushed him.
“You lied.”
Thomas didn't defend himself.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor had people everywhere.”
“You could have told me.”
“And then what?”
I had no answer.
Thomas looked exhausted.
“I watched you lose everything.”
His voice cracked.
“Every rejection. Every job. Every night you sat alone in that apartment.”
“You were watching?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn't make me feel better.”
“It shouldn't.”
Then he gave me a folder.
Inside was the complete Blackwell file.
Thomas explained the truth.
Blackwell wasn't an operation.
It was a contingency.
A dead man's switch.
My mother, father, Edward, and Thomas had built it together.
If any of them were killed, the evidence would automatically go to multiple federal agencies.
But they needed someone outside their circle to trigger it.
Someone Victor could not predict.
Me.
“You used me as the trigger.”
Thomas nodded.
“I used the person I knew would understand the numbers.”
I stared at him.
“And the BMW?”
“Edward chose it.”
“Why me?”
“Because he knew you'd buy it.”
I almost laughed.
“You knew I'd be at that auction?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Thomas smiled sadly.
“Because I sold you the fifty-dollar BMW.”
I stared.
“You?”
“I arranged the transfer.”
Everything came together.
The county auction.
The false vehicle records.
The low price.
The envelope.
The entire thing had been waiting for me.
But there was one missing piece.
“Where's my mother?”
Thomas looked at my father.
My father answered.
“With Victor.”
I closed my eyes.
We located Victor at the Kane headquarters.
He had taken over the building.
Richard was gone.
Derek was missing.
My mother was inside.
Claire wanted to wait for federal agents.
I refused.
“I have evidence.”
“You have enough to destroy him.”
“Not enough to save my mother.”
Claire stared at me.
Then gave me her badge.
“Then don't go in alone.”
We entered through the underground garage.
Inside, the building was almost completely empty.
The elevators still worked.
We reached the executive floor.
My mother's voice came from Richard's office.
“Victor, you don't understand what you've done.”
Victor answered.
“No, Grace. You don't understand what your son has become.”
I stepped inside.
Victor looked at me.
My mother turned.
For one second, she looked like the woman from my childhood photographs.
Then she smiled.
Not at me.
Behind me.
I turned.
Richard Kane stood in the doorway.
His gun pointed at Victor.
Derek stood beside him.
And Thomas whispered:
“Don't move.”
Richard's finger tightened.
“You've all made one mistake.”
Victor smiled.
“What is that?”
Richard looked at me.
“You thought I was trying to protect my company.”
He raised the gun.
“I've been trying to protect my son.”
The first shot rang out.
Victor fell.
But he wasn't dead.
He smiled from the floor.
May you like
Because the bullet had hit someone else.
Derek.
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