Chapter 8 - I stood frozen.My father's voice echoed through the corridor.
“Welcome to Room Three.”
Sarah immediately drew her weapon.
“Identify yourself!”
A laugh came through the speakers.
Not mocking.
Almost affectionate.
“Still trying to protect my son, I see.”
I stared at the cameras.
“Dad?”
The speakers crackled.
“Yes.”
“You're dead.”
“I was never in the coffin.”
My knees nearly buckled.
Sarah signaled the officers behind us.
The voice continued.
“You've spent your whole life believing the Mercer family was wealthy because of business.”
I said nothing.
“Wealth was only the cover.”
A monitor showed old photographs.
Underground corridors.
Boxes.
Documents.
People being escorted through metal doors.
I felt sick.
“What did you do?”
“What our family had always done.”
“Which was?”
“Protect the inheritance.”
“What inheritance?”
The monitor changed.
A newborn baby.
Lily.
Hospital bracelet visible.
My heart stopped.
“Why do you have pictures of my daughter?”
“Because she belongs to the family.”
“No.”
“You misunderstand.”
The screen showed Claire holding newborn Lily.
Beside her stood Vanessa.
Another man stood behind them.
Michael.
Alive.
My breath stopped.
“You said Michael…”
My father's voice interrupted.
“Michael made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“He fell in love with Claire.”
I stared.
“No.”
“Claire discovered the truth because Michael told her.”
“That doesn't explain why she disappeared.”
“It explains everything.”
A door opened at the end of the corridor.
A man stepped out.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
He looked older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
Michael.
My brother.
I couldn't move.
He stared at me.
“Dan.”
I wanted to hit him.
Hug him.
Scream at him.
Instead I whispered:
“You're alive.”
He nodded.
“I am.”
“You let me bury you.”
“I had no choice.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
“I was trying to keep you safe.”
“You left me alone.”
He looked down.
“I know.”
I took a step toward him.
“Where's Claire?”
His expression changed.
“She was moved.”
“Where?”
“Another location.”
“By who?”
He looked at the ceiling.
“Father.”
I felt rage rise.
“You're working with him?”
“No.”
“Then help me.”
Michael stepped closer.
“There isn't much time.”
“What date is this?”
He looked at me.
“Tomorrow.”
I pointed toward my name on the wall.
“Why is tomorrow written next to my name?”
Michael hesitated.
Then he said:
“Because tomorrow is the day they planned to erase you.”
Sarah raised her weapon.
“Explain.”
Michael looked at her.
“They built a system that makes people disappear.”
“How?”
“Money. Records. Identities. Accidents. Fake deaths.”
I felt cold.
“Claire was supposed to die?”
“Yes.”
“And Vanessa?”
“Was supposed to help.”
My jaw tightened.
“I knew it.”
Michael shook his head.
“No. Vanessa wasn't helping them.”
“Then why did Claire say…”
“She was blackmailed.”
“By whom?”
Michael looked at me.
“By the person who currently has Lily.”
I turned.
Lily was gone.
The officers spun around.
The corridor behind us was empty.
My daughter had disappeared.
I screamed her name.
“LILY!”
No answer.
I ran through every room.
Nothing.
Then a monitor flickered on.
Lily was sitting in a chair.
Her hands were tied.
A man stood behind her.
He turned toward the camera.
It was my father.
He smiled.
“You wanted the truth, Daniel.”
My heart broke.
“Now come get it.”
The monitor went black.
Michael grabbed my arm.
“Don't go.”
I ripped free.
“That's my daughter.”
“You'll be walking into a trap.”
“I don't care.”
Michael stared at me.
Then whispered:
“Neither does Father.”
A final message appeared on the screen.
BRING CLAIRE'S NECKLACE.
I looked at the silver chain still clutched in my hand.
May you like
Then the screen changed again.
OR LILY DIES.
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