Chapter 10 - The Father Who Never DiedMy family had been lying to me for thirteen yearsI wanted to hate my father.

It would have been easier.

Instead, I stood beside his bed holding the hand of a man I had mourned for twelve years.

"Tell me everything."

His breathing was weak.

But his eyes were clear.

"Your mother and I were Keystone."

I stared.

"What division?"

"Founding division."

Mara had never mentioned it.

Rook had never mentioned it.

Arthur had.

But only once.

He had called my parents "architects."

I had thought it was a joke.

My father continued.

"Keystone was created to protect witnesses and strategic assets."

"And Harborlight?"

"Arthur designed Harborlight with us."

I turned toward Elizabeth.

She stood in the shadows.

"Then why did it become a trafficking network?"

My father shook his head.

"It didn't."

"What?"

"The network was hijacked."

"By Rook?"

"Partly."

"Who else?"

My father looked at me.

"You."

I felt the world stop.

"What?"

"You became the final key."

I looked at Julian.

He smiled.

"Now you understand."

I ignored him.

"My credentials?"

My father nodded.

"Your identity was embedded into the system when you were nineteen."

"Why?"

"Because you were the only child of two Keystone founders who survived the purification."

"What purification?"

His expression changed.

"The night your mother disappeared."

My heart hammered.

"I was told she died."

"No."

"Where is she?"

My father looked toward Elizabeth.

Elizabeth closed her eyes.

"Dead," she whispered.

My father shook his head.

"Not when I last saw her."

My breath caught.

"When?"

"Eight years ago."

"Where?"

"Croft estate."

I turned toward Elizabeth.

"You knew."

She didn't answer.

My father gripped my hand.

"Listen to me."

"I am."

"Your mother uncovered the truth."

"What truth?"

"Harborlight wasn't just moving witnesses."

"What then?"

"It was moving identities."

I frowned.

He continued.

"People weren't disappearing."

"They were being replaced."

The room felt colder.

"By whom?"

"By people willing to pay."

Julian stepped forward.

"And that's what makes Harborlight valuable."

My father looked at him with disgust.

"You never understood."

"I understand perfectly."

Julian pointed at the drive.

"Identity is more valuable than money."

My father closed his eyes.

"That's why we must destroy it."

A siren sounded outside.

Marcus rushed in.

"Rook's attacking."

Elizabeth stood.

"How many?"

"At least twenty."

She looked at me.

"The vault can be sealed."

"Then seal it."

"No."

She pointed at the drive.

"You need to take the archive."

"I thought we were destroying it."

"We are."

"Then why?"

"Because the only way to destroy Harborlight is from inside the system."

My father whispered:

"Kalin."

I looked at him.

"Your mother designed the failsafe."

"What failsafe?"

He reached beneath his pillow.

Pulled out a photograph.

A young woman.

My mother.

Standing beside another woman.

I looked at the second person.

Clara.

No.

Not Clara.

Her sister.

Older than the airport photo.

Standing beside my mother.

Alive.

I looked at Clara.

She stared at the photograph.

"That's her."

My father nodded.

"Your mother's final operation was rescuing Elena's family."

Clara's face crumpled.

"Then what happened?"

My father looked at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth whispered:

"Rook found them."

Gunfire erupted above.

Marcus shouted:

"We need to move."

My father grabbed my wrist.

"There's one more thing."

"What?"

He whispered:

"Your mother left something for you."

"What?"

"Her last message."

"Where?"

He pointed toward the floor.

"Beneath the bed."

I pulled the bed aside.

A small metal box was hidden underneath.

Inside was an old cassette recorder.

I pressed play.

Static.

Then my mother's voice.

My hands began shaking.

"Kalin."

Her voice was softer than I remembered.

"If you're hearing this, I failed to protect you."

I closed my eyes.

"I need you to know one thing."

A pause.

"Trust no one who tells you Harborlight can be controlled."

The recording crackled.

Then she whispered:

"Not even me."

The tape stopped.

The vault door shook.

Rook's men had reached the entrance.

Marcus raised his weapon.

Elizabeth looked at me.

"It's time."

I held the drive.

My father's hand tightened around mine.

Then the lights went out.

A voice came through the vault speaker.

My mother's voice.

Live.

"Kalin."

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