Chapter 6 - My Father's LieMy father did not deny it.
That was worse.
We sat across from each other in his private study.
The same room where I had spent childhood summers reading books beside the window.
The same room where my mother used to play piano.
I placed the photograph on his desk.
“Tell me.”
He looked at it for a long time.
Then he sighed.
“Your mother discovered something.”
“What?”
“A theft.”
“From Mercer?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you in the photograph?”
“Because I helped her investigate.”
“And Jonathan Vale?”
“He helped us.”
“Vanessa says he was murdered.”
My father didn't respond.
I stood.
“Dad.”
He finally looked at me.
“I couldn't save him.”
My throat tightened.
“What happened?”
“Richard Mercer had developed a technology capable of changing the way industrial energy systems stored and distributed power.”
I listened.
“Your mother discovered that parts of the technology had been copied from research funded through an Ellison foundation.”
“So Mercer stole it.”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
My father looked exhausted.
“The research belonged jointly to several parties.”
“And then?”
“Someone altered the ownership records.”
“Who?”
He stared at the photograph.
“Jonathan believed Richard did it.”
“Did he?”
My father was silent.
“Dad.”
“Yes.”
The answer was barely audible.
“Richard altered the records.”
I sat down.
“And Jonathan?”
“He found proof.”
“What happened?”
My father closed his eyes.
“Three days before he was going to testify, he disappeared.”
“You said you couldn't save him.”
“I arrived too late.”
I stared at him.
“You found him?”
“Yes.”
“Dead?”
“Yes.”
The room felt smaller.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your mother made me promise.”
“Why?”
“She knew whoever killed Jonathan would eventually come for the rest of us.”
I looked down.
“And now they're coming for me.”
“Yes.”
A terrible silence settled between us.
“Why did Vanessa say you destroyed her family?”
“Because Jonathan Vale's death was blamed on me.”
“Did you kill him?”
My father looked directly into my eyes.
“No.”
I believed him.
But belief was no longer enough.
“What else aren't you telling me?”
He reached into a drawer and removed a small black box.
“Your mother left this for you.”
I stared.
“Why are you giving it to me now?”
“Because the people who wanted it are moving.”
He opened the box.
Inside was a key.
Old.
Brass.
Engraved with the number 17.
“What does it open?”
“A storage vault beneath the original Ellison research center.”
I frowned.
“I've never heard of it.”
“Most people haven't.”
“What's inside?”
“My wife spent the final year of her life collecting evidence.”
“Against Mercer?”
“Against everyone.”
I looked at him.
“Everyone?”
He nodded.
“She discovered the corruption went deeper than the Mercer family.”
“How deep?”
My father hesitated.
“Into Ellison Holdings.”
My heart sank.
“You have a traitor inside the family company.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Then he added quietly:
“But I know they've been there for years.”
I stared at the key.
“Why give it to me?”
“Because you're the only person they don't know how to control.”
I almost laughed.
“Adrian controlled me.”
“No.”
My father looked at the bruises on my wrist.
“You let yourself believe love required silence.”
I looked away.
He continued.
“That ends now.”
Before I could answer, every light in the study went out.
The security alarm screamed.
A guard shouted from the hallway.
“Sir!”
My father stood.
“What happened?”
“Perimeter breach!”
We moved toward the hidden security monitor.
One camera after another went black.
My father's private system was being shut down.
Not remotely.
From inside.
Someone had entered the building.
The monitor flickered.
A figure appeared on the stairwell camera.
Black coat.
Gloves.
Face hidden.
He stopped outside the study.
Then looked directly into the camera.
And raised one hand.
He was holding a photograph.
My photograph.
From my wedding.
The figure slowly tore it in half.
The screen went black.
My father whispered:
“They know you're here.”
A second later, something slammed into the study door.
And beneath the noise, I heard a voice.
“Claire.”
May you like
I recognized it.
Adrian.
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