Chapter 9 - The Croft Family FuneralThe woman who built Harborlight wanted me to inherit itWe had ninety seconds to reach the surface.
Elizabeth moved with terrifying efficiency.
Julian followed.
Clara stayed beside me.
Marcus took rear security.
As we ran, I asked Elizabeth:
"Why save me?"
"Because Arthur chose you."
"Why?"
"Because you were the only person he trusted more than himself."
"What did he leave me?"
"Control."
I stopped.
"Of what?"
"The original Harborlight network."
My chest tightened.
"I don't want it."
"You don't get to choose."
We reached the upper tunnel.
Rook's men were already inside.
Gunfire.
Marcus fired.
We moved.
The facility became chaos.
Then Rook appeared at the far end of the corridor.
He looked exactly as I remembered.
Gray hair.
Straight posture.
Calm eyes.
For a moment, I was twenty-three again.
Standing in a training room.
Listening to him tell me:
"Trust your instincts."
Now he pointed a gun at me.
"Kalin."
My hand tightened around my weapon.
"You trained me."
"Yes."
"You betrayed me."
"No."
He smiled.
"I prepared you."
"For this?"
"For today."
Elizabeth stepped between us.
"Enough."
Rook looked at her.
"You should have stayed dead."
Elizabeth smiled.
"You should have retired."
Rook raised his weapon.
Everything happened at once.
Marcus tackled me.
Gunfire.
Glass shattered.
Clara screamed.
Elizabeth vanished behind a wall.
When I looked up, Rook was gone.
But Julian was on his knees.
Blood on his shoulder.
I ran toward him.
"Who shot you?"
He looked at me.
"Rook."
"Why?"
"Because he knows I have the key."
"The key to what?"
Julian laughed weakly.
"The vault."
I stared at him.
"The vault is destroyed."
"No."
He looked at Elizabeth.
"It's beneath the family cemetery."
She turned.
"Julian."
He smiled.
"I know everything."
For the first time, Elizabeth looked afraid.
"What did you do?"
Julian reached into his jacket.
Pulled out a small drive.
"This."
Elizabeth froze.
"That's impossible."
"I copied it before Arthur died."
I looked at the drive.
"What is it?"
Julian handed it to me.
"Every name."
I stared.
"Every Harborlight client."
"No."
His voice dropped.
"Every person who paid to disappear."
Clara stepped closer.
"What does that mean?"
Julian looked at her.
"Your mother wasn't the only witness."
He looked at me.
"Your father is on the list."
I stopped breathing.
My father.
Dead for twelve years.
At least, that was what I believed.
"That's impossible."
Julian smiled.
"That's what they wanted you to believe."
I turned toward Elizabeth.
"Is my father alive?"
She said nothing.
I grabbed her arm.
"Is he alive?"
Elizabeth finally answered.
"Yes."
My vision blurred.
"Where?"
She looked toward the cemetery.
"Below us."
We reached the private Croft cemetery at midnight.
Rain had started.
Rows of stone monuments stood between the trees.
Arthur's grave.
Elizabeth's empty grave.
And at the far end, a mausoleum.
Julian walked toward it.
"This is where your father is."
I raised my weapon.
"Open it."
He smiled.
"Gladly."
The vault beneath the mausoleum required two fingerprints.
Julian's.
And mine.
The door opened.
Inside was a hospital bed.
An oxygen monitor.
A man lying beneath a blanket.
Older.
Thinner.
Gray hair.
But alive.
My father opened his eyes.
He looked directly at me.
"Kalin."
My knees almost gave out.
"You died."
He smiled faintly.
"No."
He looked past me.
"Arthur saved me."
"Why?"
"Because your mother wasn't the only person inside Keystone."
I froze.
My father reached for my hand.
Then whispered:
"Your mother is the one who started all of this."
May you like
Behind me, Clara gasped.
And Elizabeth quietly locked the vault door.
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