Chapter 12 - The Voice Behind the DoorI couldn't breathe.
Thomas's voice.
Impossible.
Yet unmistakable.
“Elena.”
My hand trembled over the doorknob.
Daniel grabbed my wrist.
“Don't.”
The voice came again.
“Please.”
Oliver woke.
“Dad?”
Every person in the room froze.
The voice outside said:
“Yes, buddy.”
Oliver ran toward the door.
I grabbed him.
“No!”
“Mom!”
“That isn't your father.”
“How do you know?”
I didn't.
That was the problem.
The door slowly opened.
A man stepped inside.
Dark coat.
Gray hair.
Burn scar along the side of his face.
He looked older.
Tired.
Broken.
But the eyes were Thomas's.
My husband.
My dead husband.
I couldn't move.
He looked at me.
“I'm sorry.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“You're dead.”
“I was supposed to be.”
Daniel raised his weapon.
Thomas didn't flinch.
“You lied to her.”
Daniel said quietly.
“I protected her.”
“You betrayed me.”
Thomas looked at him.
“You deserved it.”
Then he looked at Oliver.
“My boy.”
Oliver stared.
“Dad?”
Thomas fell to his knees.
Oliver ran into his arms.
I couldn't watch.
I couldn't breathe.
For three years, I had buried this man.
Grieved him.
Hated him.
Loved him.
Now he was standing in front of me.
Alive.
Thomas looked at me.
“I don't have long.”
“Why?”
“Because they're coming.”
“Who?”
He looked at Daniel.
“Everyone.”
A distant explosion shook the building.
Mara ran to the window.
Vehicles surrounded the property.
Thomas stood.
“There's a helicopter waiting.”
“For us?”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“For Oliver.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why him?”
“Because he's the only person who can shut Echo down permanently.”
I stared.
“Why didn't you?”
“Because I built it.”
He stepped closer.
“And because I made one unforgivable mistake.”
“What?”
“I used your memory to hide the master key.”
Silence.
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
“You endangered our son.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me for years.”
“Yes.”
I slapped him.
He accepted it.
Then he said:
“You're allowed to hate me.”
Outside, gunfire erupted.
Thomas pulled a small metal object from his pocket.
A wedding ring.
My wedding ring.
I looked at my hand.
I was still wearing it.
He smiled sadly.
“The real one.”
He twisted the ring.
A tiny compartment opened.
Inside was a microscopic data chip.
“This is the last piece.”
I stared.
“You expect me to take it?”
“I expect you to destroy it.”
“Why?”
“Because it contains the one thing Black Meridian is willing to kill everyone for.”
“What?”
Thomas looked toward Oliver.
“His original memory.”
Oliver stepped forward.
“Why is my memory important?”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“Because when you were three, you saw who ordered your mother's death.”
My blood went cold.
“My death?”
Thomas looked at me.
“Yes.”
“You said I'm alive.”
“You are.”
“Then who was supposed to die?”
Thomas looked toward the window.
And whispered:
“Me.”
Another explosion.
The floor shook.
Thomas grabbed my hand.
“We have seconds.”
“Where are we going?”
He looked at Oliver.
“To the place where it all began.”
Then he said a name.
May you like
A name that made Daniel step back in fear.
“Black Meridian headquarters.”
