Chapter 9: The Last Recording
Darkness changed everything.
People become different when they cannot see.
Fear becomes louder.
Breathing becomes sharper.
Every movement becomes a threat.
I heard footsteps.
More than one person.
Someone knocked over a chair.
Someone whispered.
"Find her.""
Not police.
Not security.
Hunters.
Halloway grabbed my shoulder.
"Stay low.""
A few minutes ago, I would never have trusted him.
Now I did.
Because sometimes people reveal who they are when everything falls apart.
Bell moved toward the back entrance.
Vale stood beside us.
For a man who had been hiding for years, he looked strangely calm.
"You have a plan?"" I whispered.
"Yes.""
"What is it?""
"Survive.""
I almost laughed.
"That's not a plan.""
"It is tonight.""
A flashlight beam crossed the room.
Someone shouted.
"Victoria Hale!""
I froze.
They knew my exact location.
A voice called again.
"We know you're inside.""
Vale leaned toward me.
"Do not answer.""
The voice continued.
"You have something that belongs to us.""
I looked at Vale.
"The archive.""
He nodded.
"The final evidence.""
I whispered:
"My father knew this would happen.""
"Yes.""
"How?""
Vale looked at me.
"Because he was smarter than all of us.""
Another flashlight moved closer.
Bell returned.
"Back door is blocked.""
Halloway looked at him.
"How many?""
"At least six.""
Vale closed his eyes briefly.
"Only six?""
Bell frowned.
"What?""
Vale looked almost amused.
"Then they sent the lower level.""
The comment was disturbing.
"Lower level?""
Vale ignored the question.
Instead, he looked at me.
"Victoria, do you still have the video?""
I nodded.
"On the laptop.""
"Open it.""
"Why?""
"Because your father left something else.""
I opened the computer.
The screen glowed in the dark.
The final recording still showed the last frame.
My father's face.
Fear in his eyes.
I checked the file.
Vale pointed.
"Look at the timestamp.""
I did.
The video had been edited.
But there was another file hidden underneath.
A second recording.
Created seconds later.
I opened it.
The screen showed my father again.
But this time he wasn't alone.
A man sat across from him.
My breath stopped.
Because I recognized him.
Chief Andrew Mercer.
Younger.
Smiling.
My father spoke first.
"You promised me you would protect the evidence.""
Mercer sighed.
"I promised I would protect people.""
"You mean yourself.""
Mercer's expression changed.
"You don't understand what you're threatening.""
My father leaned forward.
"I understand exactly.""
The video shook slightly.
Someone was holding the camera.
Then Mercer said:
"Thomas, if this gets out, thousands of people lose everything.""
My father replied:
"Good.""
Mercer looked surprised.
"Good?""
"Sometimes people need to lose everything before they stop hurting others.""
The video continued.
Mercer stood.
"You leave me no choice.""
Then another voice entered.
A voice behind the camera.
Vale.
"You can't do this.""
I froze.
Because Vale had been there.
My father looked toward him.
"Robert.""
Vale stepped into view.
Younger.
Afraid.
Mercer looked at him.
"You know what happens if this goes public.""
Vale looked between them.
Then said:
"I know what happens if it doesn't.""
The video ended.
Nobody spoke.
Even the people searching the diner seemed forgotten.
Because the truth was finally visible.
Vale hadn't betrayed my father.
He had tried to stop Mercer.
I looked at him.
"You were protecting him.""
Vale nodded.
"Too late.""
Halloway stared.
"Then why disappear?""
Vale looked away.
"Because Mercer made sure everyone believed I was responsible.""
A sound came from outside.
A vehicle engine.
Then another.
Vale looked toward the window.
"They're getting impatient.""
I closed the laptop.
"Who are they?""
Vale looked at me.
"The people above Mercer.""
I felt cold.
"There's someone above him?""
Vale nodded.
"Your father discovered the person at the top.""
"Who?""
Vale looked at the door.
Then at me.
Before he could answer, the diner lights returned.
Everyone froze.
Because standing in the entrance was someone I never expected.
Someone who should have been helping us.
Someone who had spent the entire day pretending to be on my side.
Elena Ward.
She walked inside slowly.
Her eyes found mine.
Then the laptop.
Then Vale.
"I was hoping you wouldn't have to learn the truth this way.""
I stepped forward.
"You knew.""
Her face showed pain.
"Yes.""
"You knew about my father.""
"Yes.""
"You knew Vale was innocent.""
A pause.
"Yes.""
My voice shook.
"Then why did you send me into this?""
Elena looked at me.
"Because I needed to know if you were ready.""
I stared.
"Ready for what?""
She looked toward the men outside.
Then back at me.
"The truth about who ordered your father's death.""
My heart stopped.
"Who?""
Elena whispered the name.
And every piece finally connected.
"It was someone who has been protecting this investigation from the beginning.""
She looked directly at me.
"Your father wasn't betrayed by an enemy.""
A pause.
"He was betrayed by his closest ally.""
I waited.
May you like
Then she said:
"Victoria... your father was investigating me.""
