Chapter 7 - What Evelyn DidArthur shoved the door closed.
David couldn't move.
The screen kept showing Evelyn.
His wife.
Alive.
Holding baby Benjamin.
But the image was timestamped eight years before her supposed death.
David watched another frame.
Evelyn was crying.
A man stood behind her.
David recognized him.
His own father.
The image cut.
Another appeared.
Evelyn signing a document.
Then another.
A close-up of her handwriting.
I agree to conceal the child until the threat is removed.
David whispered, “She knew.”
Arthur nodded.
“She knew everything.”
“Then why didn't she tell me?”
“Because she believed you were being watched.”
“By whom?”
Arthur didn't answer.
David grabbed him.
“Who?”
“My son.”
David froze.
“Your father?”
Arthur nodded.
“He became obsessed with controlling the trust. After Benjamin was born, he believed the boy was the key to everything.”
“And Evelyn?”
“She tried to protect him.”
“What about Lily?”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“Lily was never supposed to survive.”
David stared.
“What?”
“Your father planned to eliminate both twins. Evelyn stopped him.”
Karen began crying.
“I helped her.”
David looked at Karen.
“How?”
“I was working at St. Orlan.”
“You worked there?”
“Yes.”
“I was ordered to take Benjamin away.”
“By whom?”
“Your father.”
David stepped toward her.
“You helped kidnap my son.”
“I helped save him.”
David shook his head.
“Then where is he?”
Karen looked at the monitor.
“Still alive.”
Another message appeared.
COME ALONE, DAVID.
Arthur said, “It's a trap.”
“I don't care.”
“If you go, you may not return.”
David stared at Benjamin's face.
He looked frightened.
Not evil.
Not dangerous.
Just a child.
His child.
“I am going.”
Karen grabbed his arm.
“No.”
David pulled free.
“She is my daughter.”
“And Benjamin is your son.”
“Yes.”
Karen stared at him.
“Then don't walk into a room where someone has spent thirty years preparing to kill him.”
David looked at the screen.
“Tell me where he is.”
Karen hesitated.
“Under the east chapel.”
Arthur looked at her.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell us?”
“Because the boy doesn't trust adults.”
David frowned.
“He was raised down there.”
“No.”
Karen shook her head.
“He escaped.”
“From where?”
“The family.”
The lights flickered.
A gunshot echoed through the tunnel.
Arthur fell.
David caught him.
“Grandpa!”
Blood spread across Arthur's shirt.
Karen screamed.
A second shot struck the wall.
David pulled Lily behind him.
Arthur gasped.
“The seventh name…”
David bent close.
“What?”
Arthur whispered four words.
“It's not your name.”
Then he died.
David looked down.
Arthur's hand slowly opened.
Inside was a folded photograph.
David unfolded it.
A picture of a woman.
Karen.
Standing beside Benjamin.
May you like
And written beneath them:
THE LAST WITNESS.
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