Chapter 4 - VANESSA'S REAL NAMEWe found Vanessa three floors below.

Not in her room.

In the hospital records office.

She was standing over a computer.

Her ankle brace was hanging from one hand.

She looked perfectly healthy.

My father entered first.

“Step away from the terminal.”

Vanessa slowly turned.

She smiled.

“Arthur.”

Dad raised his gun.

“You know who I am.”

“I know exactly who you are.”

I stepped into the room.

“Who are you?”

Her smile disappeared.

“That's a complicated question.”

“Try me.”

She looked at me.

“My name isn't Vanessa Cole.”

I felt my throat tighten.

“What is it?”

She hesitated.

Then she said a name I didn't recognize.

“Evelyn Mercer.”

Dad reacted immediately.

His face became stone.

“You.”

Vanessa smiled again.

“So you remember.”

I looked between them.

“Dad?”

He didn't move.

“Who is she?”

Dad's voice was low.

“She was the daughter of Victor Mercer.”

“Who?”

“My father's former partner.”

Vanessa laughed.

“Former partner?”

She stepped closer.

“That's a polite way to describe a man who was blamed for a disaster he didn't cause.”

Dad's eyes hardened.

“You know nothing about it.”

“I know enough.”

She looked at me.

“Your grandfather investigated the Mercer explosion.”

“What explosion?”

Dad said nothing.

Vanessa answered for him.

“Twenty-two years ago, a chemical plant exploded outside Red Hollow.”

My pulse quickened.

“People died?”

“Forty-three.”

“Why have I never heard about it?”

“Because your family buried the truth.”

Dad stepped forward.

“That's enough.”

Vanessa laughed softly.

“No. You don't get to decide when it's enough.”

She looked at me.

“Your grandfather discovered that the explosion wasn't an accident.”

I stared at her.

“What happened?”

“He found evidence of illegal dumping. A company was poisoning the groundwater. When the investigation threatened to expose them, someone sabotaged the plant.”

My father remained silent.

Vanessa continued.

“Your grandfather had proof.”

“And?”

“He disappeared.”

My stomach dropped.

“He didn't disappear,” Dad said.

Vanessa looked at him.

“You still believe that story?”

“What story?”

Dad finally turned toward me.

“My father was murdered.”

The room seemed to stop.

I whispered, “You told me he died of a heart attack.”

Dad closed his eyes briefly.

“Your mother asked me to tell you that.”

I stared at him.

“Why?”

“Because whoever killed him was still looking for the evidence.”

Vanessa interrupted.

“And now they found it.”

I looked at her.

“What does that have to do with Mason?”

She hesitated.

Then she said the words that made my knees weaken.

“Your son carries the access key.”

“What?”

She pointed at the brass key Dad had shown me.

“That key opens your grandfather's archive.”

Dad immediately stepped between us.

“You don't know what you're talking about.”

Vanessa smiled.

“I know exactly what I'm talking about.”

Then she looked at me.

“Because I was there the night your grandfather hid it.”

My blood ran cold.

“You were there?”

“I was eight years old.”

“Who took you?”

“My father.”

“Why?”

Vanessa's eyes darkened.

“To make me watch.”

“Watch what?”

She swallowed.

“Your grandfather begged for his life.”

Dad's face tightened.

“And Victor let him?”

“No.”

Vanessa looked at me.

“Your grandfather handed Victor the archive key.”

I couldn't breathe.

“Then what happened?”

“He said one sentence.”

“What sentence?”

Vanessa whispered:

“If they come for my granddaughter, burn everything.”

My father suddenly looked at me.

I realized something.

“Granddaughter?”

Vanessa looked directly into my eyes.

“Yes.”

Silence.

I heard my own heartbeat.

“What are you saying?”

She smiled.

“I'm saying your family is bigger than you think.”

Dad raised his gun.

“Don't.”

Vanessa lifted both hands.

“You're too late.”

“What do you mean?”

She looked at the clock.

11:17 p.m.

Then she smiled.

“The people who want the archive are already inside this hospital.”

At that exact moment, the lights went out.

Complete darkness swallowed the room.

An alarm screamed.

Somewhere down the corridor, glass shattered.

Then gunfire erupted.

Dad shoved me to the floor.

“Stay down!”

Security officers shouted.

A red emergency light began flashing.

Vanessa vanished.

Dad cursed.

“She's gone.”

I looked toward the doorway.

A figure moved through the hallway.

Then another.

A man's voice echoed from the darkness.

“Find the mother.”

A second voice answered.

“Forget the father.”

A pause.

“The boy is the target.”

My blood froze.

Mason.

Dad grabbed my arm.

“We're going.”

“Where?”

“To your son.”

We ran.

Behind us, someone shouted:

“Don't let them reach the helicopter!”

I stopped.

“What helicopter?”

Dad looked at me.

The answer was written all over his face.

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