Chapter 7 - The police surrounded Blackwood Pediatric Center.The building had been abandoned for six years.
Windows shattered.
Walls blackened.
The old fire damage still scarred the upper floors.
Arthur entered through the main lobby.
The smell of smoke remained.
Chloe stayed close.
“You sure this place hasn't been occupied?”
The officer shook his head.
“No official activity.”
They found a hidden staircase beneath the basement.
Someone had recently cleaned the steps.
Arthur followed.
At the bottom was a corridor.
Fresh footprints.
One set.
Small.
Child-sized.
Arthur's heartbeat quickened.
“Emily?”
No answer.
Then a metallic sound.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
They followed it to a steel door.
Arthur opened it.
Inside sat a teenage boy.
Approximately fourteen.
Thin.
Pale.
His wrists were bruised.
He stared at Arthur.
“Who are you?”
Arthur stepped closer.
“I'm looking for my daughter.”
The boy laughed bitterly.
“You should have found her years ago.”
Arthur stopped.
“Who are you?”
“Daniel.”
“Daniel what?”
“Daniel Mercer.”
Arthur went rigid.
The surname hit him.
Mercer.
His father's attorney.
The dead man in the photograph.
“You knew Emily?”
Daniel nodded.
“I raised her.”
Arthur stared.
“But you're—”
“Not his son.”
Daniel pointed toward an old photograph.
“This was taken before the fire.”
It showed Daniel with Emily.
Arthur recognized the girl instantly.
“How?”
Daniel answered,
“My father was protecting her.”
“From who?”
“Your family.”
Arthur's voice dropped.
“Which family?”
Daniel looked directly at him.
“The people sitting at your dinner table.”
Chloe stepped forward.
“Is Emily here?”
Daniel looked toward the ceiling.
“No.”
“Where is she?”
“She left with Thomas.”
Arthur's blood ran cold.
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“Where?”
Daniel hesitated.
“There's one place they always return to.”
Arthur waited.
“The original Vale estate.”
Arthur stared.
“My father's old property?”
Daniel nodded.
“The house burned down twelve years ago.”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“That's what everyone thinks.”
A gunshot suddenly exploded in the hallway.
The police shouted.
Everyone ducked.
Another shot.
Then footsteps running.
The officer chased.
Arthur looked at Daniel.
“Stay here.”
Daniel grabbed his arm.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“Your father didn't die naturally.”
Arthur froze.
“What are you talking about?”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“He was murdered.”
Another gunshot echoed.
Arthur looked toward the door.
Then Daniel whispered:
“And Isabella knows who did it.”
Arthur turned back.
“She was there?”
Daniel nodded.
“She saw everything.”
Before Arthur could ask another question, the lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Then a voice came from the corridor.
“Arthur.”
Isabella.
Arthur stepped toward the doorway.
“Where's Emily?”
Her voice trembled.
“She's not your biggest problem.”
He saw her silhouette.
“You lied about everything.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“You put Ethan behind a wall.”
“I didn't.”
“Then who did?”
She paused.
Then whispered:
“Richard Cole.”
Arthur froze.
“Why?”
“Because he was protecting the trust.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It will.”
Isabella stepped into the light.
Her face was covered in tears.
“I didn't kill Emily.”
“You helped hide her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She looked directly at him.
“Because the people hunting her were using you to get to her.”
Arthur stared.
“Who?”
Isabella whispered:
“Your father.”
Silence.
Arthur's expression hardened.
“My father is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then explain.”
Isabella looked toward Daniel.
“That boy knows the truth.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Isabella turned back.
“Arthur, your father didn't protect Emily.”
She took a breath.
“He used her as bait.”
Arthur felt the world tilt.
“What did he do?”
Isabella whispered the answer.
“He built the trust to expose the people closest to him.”
A light flickered.
Thomas appeared at the far end of the corridor.
And in his arms was Emily.
The little girl looked at Arthur.
Her mouth trembled.
“Daddy?”
May you like
Thomas smiled.
“Now we can finally finish this.”
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