Chapter 9 - ThomasThomas looked at Ethan like a man seeing a photograph come to life.
“You've grown.”
Ethan couldn't speak.
Claire stepped between them.
“Stay away from my son.”
Thomas laughed softly.
“You still think you can protect him.”
“You tried to kill me.”
“I tried to frighten you.”
“You put me in a coffin.”
Thomas's expression hardened.
“I did not.”
Claire stared.
“What?”
“That was Richard.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“Richard acted without permission.”
“Then why am I alive?”
“Because you're worth more alive.”
Ruiz raised her weapon.
“Don't take another step.”
Thomas stopped.
“Detective Ruiz.”
“You know my name.”
“I know everything.”
“Then you know I'm not afraid of you.”
“I know.”
Thomas looked at Ethan.
“But Ethan should be.”
Ethan finally found his voice.
“Why me?”
Thomas smiled.
“Because your father made a mistake.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“I exposed nothing.”
Thomas turned.
“You exposed something you didn't understand.”
“What?”
Thomas pointed at Ethan.
“Him.”
Ethan stared.
Thomas explained.
“Your father wasn't my employee.”
Daniel looked confused.
“He was my partner.”
Claire whispered:
“No.”
“He helped build the organization.”
Daniel's face went white.
Thomas continued.
“Then he discovered something buried in our research.”
“What?”
“The original identity of Victor Morrow.”
Ruiz frowned.
Thomas laughed.
“Morrow doesn't exist.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“Victor Morrow was a name created decades ago.”
Thomas looked at Daniel.
“And your father knows who the real man was.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“You know.”
“I don't.”
Thomas's smile vanished.
“Then ask him.”
Ethan turned toward his father.
Daniel was trembling.
“You were there,” Ethan whispered.
“What?”
“When Morrow took you.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I wasn't taken.”
Claire stepped back.
“What did you do?”
Daniel looked at her.
“I left.”
“You abandoned us?”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“By disappearing?”
“I had no choice.”
Thomas interrupted.
“You always had a choice.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Thomas pulled out a small device.
A recording began.
Richard's voice.
“I killed Claire.”
Claire gasped.
The recording continued.
“I killed her because she found the truth.”
Ethan stared.
Then another voice spoke.
Daniel.
“No. We cannot let Ethan know.”
Ethan felt the floor vanish beneath him.
“What truth?”
Daniel whispered:
“Your father isn't the man you think he is.”
Then the house lights exploded.
Darkness.
Gunfire.
Thomas shouted:
“MOVE!”
Ruiz grabbed Ethan.
Claire disappeared into the smoke.
Ethan heard three knocks.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
His mother's code.
May you like
He turned toward the sound.
But the knocking came from inside the wall.
