Chapter 16 - Rachel Carter Doesn't ExistI stared at the phone.
“What is my real name?”
Richard laughed softly.
“That's the first question you should have asked.”
“Answer me.”
“You were born under another name.”
“What?”
“Your mother changed it when you were six.”
“Why?”
“Because your biological father was wanted.”
“Who?”
Richard paused.
Then said:
“Mark Harris.”
I felt the floor shift.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“But Mark was my mother's associate.”
“He was your father.”
“No.”
“You've seen the DNA.”
“Yes.”
“And the records.”
“Yes.”
“So now you understand why your mother ran.”
I couldn't speak.
Richard continued.
“Mark wasn't a criminal when you were born.”
“What happened?”
“He discovered the network.”
“Your network?”
“My family's.”
“Then why did my mother steal my identity?”
“To protect you.”
“From whom?”
“Me.”
The call ended.
I looked at Daniel.
He appeared destroyed.
“Tell me everything you know.”
He shook his head.
“I don't know enough.”
“Then find Mark.”
“I don't know where he is.”
Melissa stepped forward.
“I do.”
We followed her.
She led us to an old farmhouse outside the city.
The place was abandoned.
Windows covered.
Door hanging open.
Inside was a single room with a metal chair.
Mark Harris sat there.
Older.
Thinner.
Alive.
I stopped in the doorway.
He looked at me.
And cried.
“Rachel.”
My throat tightened.
“You know me.”
He smiled sadly.
“I held you when you were six months old.”
I stepped closer.
“You're my father.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you leave?”
“I didn't.”
“What happened?”
“Richard made me disappear.”
“How?”
“He framed me.”
“For what?”
“Murder.”
I stared.
“Whose murder?”
“Your mother's.”
My heart stopped.
“He said I killed Eleanor.”
“But she was alive.”
Mark's expression changed.
“Eleanor wasn't your mother.”
I froze.
“Who was?”
He looked at Melissa.
Then at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“Her name was Anna.”
I felt numb.
“My mother was Anna?”
“Yes.”
“Then who was Eleanor Carter?”
“A woman she trusted.”
“Why did she give me that name?”
“Because Anna was one of Richard's greatest enemies.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Why?”
“She stole evidence from him.”
“What evidence?”
“Names.”
“What names?”
“Politicians. Judges. Officers. Businessmen.”
I stared.
“Everyone involved.”
“Yes.”
Mark reached beneath his chair.
He pulled out a small notebook.
“Your mother left this for you.”
I took it.
Inside were names.
Thousands of them.
Some were crossed out.
Some highlighted.
Then I saw one familiar name.
Daniel Carter.
I looked at my husband.
Next to his name was a note.
Potential asset. Not fully controlled.
I stared.
“What does this mean?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I was working undercover.”
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe that now?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because if Richard knew…”
He stopped.
I looked at the notebook again.
Then I noticed the final page.
One sentence.
The person closest to Rachel is the one who will betray her last.
My eyes lifted.
I looked at Daniel.
May you like
And he was holding a gun.
Pointed at Mark.
