Chapter 11 - THE HOUSE OF LIARSRichard had entered without triggering a single alarm.

That alone terrified Gabriel.

"Put the gun down," Gabriel said.

Richard laughed.

"You're still giving orders."

He aimed at Harper.

"She comes with me."

Gabriel stepped in front of her.

Richard cocked the gun.

"Move."

"No."

Then Victoria pulled her own gun.

Richard smiled.

"I was wondering when you'd betray me."

"You killed my husband."

"No."

"I saw you."

"You saw what I wanted you to see."

Victoria's hands trembled.

Harper looked between them.

"Who are you really working for?"

Richard answered.

"No one."

Gabriel frowned.

Richard continued:

"I built the entire network myself."

"So Derek works for you?"

"Sometimes."

"Victoria?"

"Once."

"Then who killed Michael?"

Richard looked at Gabriel.

"Your mother."

Gabriel's face went blank.

"No."

"She discovered your father was involved in the operation."

Richard smiled.

"So she killed Michael to protect him."

Gabriel stared at him.

"You're lying."

Richard raised a remote.

The fireplace opened.

Behind it was a hidden room.

Inside were boxes.

Files.

Weapons.

Photographs.

And one wall covered with photographs of Harper.

Hundreds of them.

Every stage of her life.

School.

College.

Marriage.

Derek.

Work.

Ashford residence.

Harper felt sick.

"He watched me."

Richard nodded.

"Every year."

"Why?"

"Because you were the only loose end."

"What happened the night Emma disappeared?"

Richard's smile faded.

"Emma saw me."

"And the body?"

"Not Emma."

"Where was she?"

"With me."

Harper stepped forward.

"Why?"

Richard stared at her.

"Because she remembered."

"Remembered what?"

Richard looked at Gabriel.

"Who killed your father."

Gabriel whispered:

"Who?"

Richard smiled.

"Your brother."

Silence.

Michael.

Alive?

No.

Richard shook his head.

"Michael didn't die."

Gabriel's breathing stopped.

"He betrayed me."

"Where is he?"

Richard looked at the wall clock.

"Five minutes."

Then the front doors exploded inward.

Gunmen stormed the mansion.

Richard disappeared through the hidden room.

Gabriel fired.

Victoria shouted.

Emma dragged Harper behind a table.

Noah's face appeared on one of the monitors.

He was awake.

"Harper!"

She looked up.

Derek was standing beside him.

But this time, Derek looked terrified.

"Harper, don't trust Richard!"

A gunshot exploded.

The screen shattered.

Harper stared in horror.

Derek had been shot.

Then the monitor went black.

Gabriel looked at Harper.

"We need to move."

"No."

Harper stood.

"I need to find Noah."

"We don't know where he is."

"I do."

She pointed toward the hidden room.

"Richard left a door open."

Gabriel understood.

They ran.

Behind the hidden room was a staircase.

It led underground.

At the bottom was a medical laboratory.

And inside was Noah.

Alive.

A doctor stood over him.

Harper rushed forward.

"NOAH!"

The doctor turned.

He smiled.

Then removed his mask.

Gabriel froze.

Harper stared.

It was Michael Ashford.

Gabriel's supposedly dead brother.

Michael looked at Gabriel.

"I'm sorry it took so long."

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Then he looked at Harper.

"We have less than an hour."