Chapter 6 - Rain began falling before they reached the cemetery.Clara hated the weather.
It felt like the world was trying too hard to look sinister.
Liam walked beside her.
Neither spoke.
They reached Miriam Higgins's grave at midnight.
The cemetery was empty.
Clara knelt.
Her mother's name was carved into stone.
MIRIAM HIGGINS.
Beloved Mother.
Clara touched the letters.
“I never understood why she chose this cemetery.”
Liam looked around.
“Maybe she didn't.”
Clara found a small metal plate beneath the flowers.
The key fit.
She turned it.
A section of the stone shifted.
Behind it was a narrow metal box.
Clara opened it.
Inside was a cassette tape.
A photograph.
And a letter.
The letter had her name written across the front.
CLARA.
She unfolded it.
Her mother's handwriting.
My daughter,
If you're reading this, then I'm already dead and Tommy has failed to keep you away from the truth.
Clara's eyes filled with tears.
Miriam continued.
I need you to know one thing.
You were never supposed to raise Lily.
Clara stopped.
Liam read silently over her shoulder.
The next line made Clara's hands tremble.
Lily is not your sister.
Clara dropped the letter.
“No.”
Liam caught it.
She backed away.
“No.”
“Clara.”
“No!”
She turned.
“She is my sister.”
Liam's voice remained calm.
“Read the rest.”
Clara picked it up.
Your father and I were hiding a child.
A child connected to Project Lily.
A child several powerful people wanted dead.
We had to give her a new identity.
We chose you because you were still young enough to believe the lie.
Clara's breathing became shallow.
Tommy knew.
He was supposed to protect both of you.
But he stole the Red Ledger instead.
He believed exposing the truth would save Lily.
He was wrong.
At the bottom was one final line.
Trust no one.
Not even the man who saved you at the diner.
Clara slowly looked at Liam.
He didn't move.
“What does that mean?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“You knew something.”
Liam looked away.
“I knew your mother was connected to my chapter.”
Clara's eyes widened.
“What?”
“Years ago, Miriam helped one of our members disappear.”
“Who?”
Liam didn't answer.
“Who?”
Finally, he said:
“My father.”
Clara froze.
Liam's father had supposedly died in prison.
But Miriam had helped him escape.
That meant Clara's family and Liam's family were connected long before they had met.
Before Clara could speak, headlights appeared behind them.
A black car stopped at the cemetery gate.
Liam moved in front of her.
The door opened.
Tommy stepped out.
Clara stared.
“Tommy?”
He looked directly at Liam.
“Don't let her trust him.”
Clara looked from one man to the other.
“What is happening?”
Tommy raised his hands.
“I came to take you home.”
Liam's eyes narrowed.
“You're not taking anyone.”
Tommy looked at Clara.
“I'm sorry.”
Then he fired.
The bullet struck Liam in the shoulder.
Clara screamed.
Liam staggered.
Tommy grabbed Clara and pulled her toward the car.
“Run!”
Clara fought him.
“You shot him!”
“He'll kill you!”
“He saved Lily!”
Tommy's voice cracked.
“You don't understand!”
They reached the car.
Clara looked back.
Liam had collapsed against a gravestone.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Tommy shoved her inside.
The car sped away.
Clara stared through the rear window.
Liam disappeared into the rain.
Then Tommy said something that terrified her more than the gunshot.
“You can't go back to him.”
“Why?”
Tommy stared at the road.
“Because Liam Henderson isn't saving you.”
Clara whispered.
“Then what is he doing?”
May you like
Tommy looked at her.
“He's protecting what your mother stole.”
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