Chapter 12 - The Last PartDaniel's video lasted only ninety seconds.
It contained no direct confession.
No obvious threat.
Only instructions.
"Everyone assumes the truth is a weapon."
Daniel looked almost amused.
"It's not."
He leaned closer to the camera.
"Truth is only useful when someone is willing to believe it."
Ava watched from behind Hale.
Daniel continued:
"Elena will choose her daughter."
"Law enforcement will choose evidence."
"Journalists will choose whatever gets attention."
"And Ava..."
His expression changed.
"...will choose survival."
The video ended.
No explanation.
No address.
No clue.
Only a timestamp.
One year in the future.
The detectives stared at the screen.
"That's impossible," Elena said.
Hale nodded.
"Or the video was prepared in advance."
Claire whispered:
"He always prepared."
Ava suddenly remembered something.
"His study."
Hale turned.
"What about it?"
"There was a clock."
"A clock?"
"He never let anyone touch it."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
The detectives searched Daniel's office with a warrant.
The clock was there.
An antique brass piece sitting on a shelf.
When they opened the back, they found a hidden compartment.
Inside:
A passport.
A second passport.
A third.
Cash.
A key.
And a photograph of Ava.
The photograph was recent.
Taken three days before everything began.
On the back:
TRANSFER DATE: SEPTEMBER 3
Elena stared at it.
"Transfer?"
Hale checked the calendar.
Less than two weeks away.
"Transfer where?"
The passports suggested several countries.
France.
Canada.
Argentina.
But the key had no label.
Rebecca recognized it.
"The lake house."
Ava felt cold.
"What's there?"
Rebecca didn't answer.
Claire did.
"A tunnel."
Everyone looked at her.
"What tunnel?"
Claire swallowed.
"Under the lake house."
"Where does it go?"
"An old service road."
"To where?"
Claire whispered:
"Daniel's private airstrip."
Hale stood.
"If he intends to leave, he'll need somewhere to go."
Elena asked:
"Can we stop him?"
Hale nodded.
"If we find him first."
The phone rang.
Ava's.
Unknown number.
She stared at the screen.
Then answered.
No voice.
Only breathing.
Ava whispered:
"Who is this?"
A distorted voice replied:
"You should have listened to your father."
She froze.
The voice continued.
"September third is not his escape date."
"What is it?"
A pause.
Then:
"Yours."
The call ended.
Ava looked at Hale.
May you like
He was already reaching for his coat.
"Nobody sleeps tonight."
