Chapter 14 - The Truth About Daniel ParkerThomas's face filled every screen.
Claire sat behind him.
Her hands were tied.
Blood ran from her forehead.
Ethan wanted to scream.
Thomas smiled.
“Your father isn't the hero you think he is.”
Ethan stared.
“Let her go.”
“Tell me where Daniel is.”
“I don't know.”
Thomas smiled.
“Then perhaps Adam can tell you.”
Adam stepped forward.
“No.”
Thomas laughed.
“He knows.”
Ethan looked at Adam.
“What happened?”
Adam's voice shook.
“Your father created the Heir Program.”
Ethan's stomach sank.
“What?”
“He helped them design it.”
Daniel's voice suddenly came through a speaker.
“Adam, stop.”
The screen changed.
Daniel appeared.
He was standing in an underground room.
Thomas looked at him.
“Tell him.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I was young.”
Claire whispered:
“You never told me.”
“I wanted to protect you.”
“You lied.”
“I was terrified.”
Daniel looked at Ethan.
“I helped Arthur Vale create the first genetic archive.”
“And Morrow?”
“Morrow stole it.”
Thomas laughed.
“You're making yourself sound innocent.”
Daniel continued.
“I discovered the program could identify biological heirs.”
“And?”
“I realized they could use it to manipulate families.”
“So you ran.”
“Yes.”
“And left your children behind.”
Daniel's voice broke.
“I tried to take both boys.”
Ethan stared at Adam.
“Both?”
Daniel nodded.
“Richard helped me.”
Richard stepped into the frame.
He looked beaten.
But alive.
“We planned to disappear with you.”
“What happened?”
“Thomas found us.”
Richard looked at Claire.
“He took Adam.”
Claire cried.
“And Ethan?”
“We hid Ethan with Claire.”
Thomas interrupted.
“And you thought that would end it.”
Ethan realized something.
“Richard didn't kill Mom.”
“No,” Richard said.
“I staged the funeral,” Thomas said.
Everyone looked at him.
“I needed Claire gone.”
“But why?”
Thomas's face became cold.
“Because Claire knew the location of Arthur Vale's final vault.”
Ethan stared.
“What vault?”
Thomas smiled.
“The one containing proof of who I really am.”
Daniel whispered:
“Arthur kept a confession.”
Thomas nodded.
“A confession that could destroy everything.”
Ethan looked at Claire.
“Do you know where it is?”
Claire shook her head.
Thomas stepped behind her.
“You do.”
“No.”
“You found the clue.”
Claire stared at Ethan.
Then her eyes widened.
Ethan suddenly remembered the three knocks.
The code.
Three taps.
Then a phrase Claire used when he was little.
Look where the moon never shines.
Ethan whispered:
“The attic.”
Claire's expression changed.
Thomas smiled.
“You remembered.”
The screen went black.
Adam looked at Ethan.
“We need to get there first.”
The lights in the tunnel turned red.
An alarm sounded.
Richard shouted:
“Run!”
Then every exit door locked.
Thomas spoke through the speakers.
“You have fifteen minutes.”
Ethan looked at Adam.
“For what?”
May you like
Thomas answered.
“To choose which brother lives.”
