Chapter 6: The Last Room
The brass key fit a lock I'd never seen.
It was hidden inside the wall behind an old breaker panel.
Maya stood beside me with her flashlight raised.
“You're sure?””
Sarah nodded.
“Yes.””
I turned the key.
The wall clicked.
A section of concrete shifted inward.
Behind it was a steel door.
No dust.
No rust.
Someone had opened it recently.
I looked at Sarah.
“You've been here before.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Then who has?””
“I don't know.””
Maya stepped forward.
She pushed the door open.
Inside was a small room with no windows.
A desk.
A chair.
Three filing cabinets.
And a single video monitor.
The screen was already on.
Emily appeared.
She was sitting somewhere unfamiliar.
She wore pajamas.
Her stuffed rabbit was in her lap.
I rushed toward the monitor.
“Emily!””
Her head lifted.
“Daddy?””
I almost broke.
“Yes.””
She smiled.
Then the screen flickered.
A man stepped into view behind her.
Richard Hale.
“You've found it.””
I slammed my hand against the desk.
“Where is my daughter?””
Hale smiled.
“Safe.””
“Let her go.””
“That depends on Sarah.””
Sarah stepped toward the monitor.
“Please.””
Hale ignored her.
He looked at me.
“Do you know why your father lost?””
“He didn't.””
“He died believing he won.””
“What do you want?””
“The ledger.””
Maya whispered, “What ledger?””
Hale laughed.
“Your client doesn't know?””
Sarah shook her head.
“Daniel has never seen it.””
Hale leaned closer to the camera.
“Then perhaps he deserves to.””
The screen changed.
A scanned document appeared.
It contained names.
Dates.
Numbers.
Transfers.
At the top was a logo.
Blackwell Holdings.
My father's signature appeared beneath it.
My stomach tightened.
“He signed.””
“Yes,” Hale said.
“Why?””
“Because everyone signs when they have something to lose.””
My father had been covering something.
Maya stepped closer to the screen.
“What's the date?””
Hale smiled.
“Three days before Jason died.””
I looked at him.
“My brother was killed because of this?””
“Your brother discovered the ledger.””
“And you killed him.””
“No.””
Hale's eyes shifted toward Sarah.
“She did.””
Sarah gasped.
“No.””
I turned to her.
“What is he talking about?””
“I didn't kill Jason.””
“He trusted you,” Hale said.
“You gave him the location.””
Sarah shook her head violently.
“I didn't know what would happen.””
“What happened?””
Hale answered.
“He was supposed to disappear.””
My voice dropped.
“What does that mean?””
Hale smiled.
“Your brother isn't dead.””
The world stopped.
Maya lowered her flashlight.
“That is impossible.””
Hale laughed.
“You've all been looking in the wrong grave.””
Sarah covered her mouth.
I couldn't move.
Three years.
Three years of grief.
Three years of believing I'd buried my younger brother.
“What did you do to him?””
Hale said, “Ask him.””
The screen changed again.
A live video appeared.
A man sat in a dark room.
Older.
Thinner.
A scar crossed his cheek.
But the face was unmistakable.
Jason.
My brother.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Danny?””
My knees nearly gave out.
“Jason?””
His voice cracked.
“I'm sorry.””
I grabbed the monitor.
“Where are you?””
He looked terrified.
“I don't know.””
“Why did you let us think you were dead?””
“I didn't.””
Sarah began crying.
Jason continued.
“Sarah didn't kill me.””
I turned toward her.
“Then who did?””
Jason stared at the camera.
“Hale.””
Richard Hale stepped into frame.
“That's enough.””
Jason recoiled.
I shouted.
“Don't touch him!””
Hale smiled.
“You still think this is about punishment.””
“Then what is it about?””
“Blood.””
He looked directly at me.
“Your father discovered a trafficking network.””
Maya stiffened.
“He documented it.””
Hale nodded.
“He also discovered something worse.””
“What?””
Hale's smile disappeared.
“The children weren't random.””
The room went silent.
Jason lowered his eyes.
Hale said, “They were chosen.””
“Chosen for what?””
Hale looked at Emily on the other monitor.
“For families.””
My blood froze.
“What does that mean?””
Hale answered quietly.
“Emily was one of them.””
I couldn't breathe.
Sarah whispered, “No.””
Hale looked at her.
“You knew.””
Sarah shook her head.
“Not all of it.””
Hale smiled.
“Then ask her who Emily's real parents are.””
Every person in the room turned toward Sarah.
She didn't answer.
And that was when I realized something terrifying.
May you like
Sarah wasn't looking at Hale.
She was looking at me.
