Chapter 4: The Call From My Dead Mother
My phone kept ringing.
Outside the shattered church windows, my mother stood beneath the rain, holding a black umbrella.
Fifteen years.
That was how long I had believed she was dead.
Fifteen years of visiting her grave on Christmas morning. Fifteen years of keeping her old photographs in the drawer beside my bed. Fifteen years of remembering the woman who used to kiss my forehead before I left for school.
Now she was standing outside my wife's funeral, looking at me as though we had simply missed a family dinner.
I answered the call.
"Hello, Marcus.""
Her voice was exactly the same.
Soft.
Calm.
Almost affectionate.
I couldn't speak.
"Marcus, darling, I know this is confusing.""
I stared at her through the broken window.
"You're supposed to be dead.""
She sighed.
"I know what they told you.""
"They buried you.""
"No, sweetheart. They buried someone else.""
My stomach twisted.
"Who?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she looked past me toward the coffin.
"Did you open the case?""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Why?""
"Because you shouldn't have.""
"What's inside it?""
"Something that belongs to our family.""
I almost laughed.
"Our family? You abandoned us.""
"That isn't true.""
"You let me believe you were dead.""
"I protected you.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was standing beside the altar, holding the little girl behind him. Evelyn was crouched near the pews, trying to stop the bleeding from a cut on her forehead.
Outside, two men had stepped out of the SUV.
Both wore dark suits.
Both carried weapons.
"Tell your men to put their guns down," my mother said.
I stared at her.
"Tell yours to leave.""
"Marcus, don't make this harder than it needs to be.""
I lowered my voice.
"Where is my wife?""
For the first time, her expression changed.
"She's safe.""
"Where?""
"Somewhere you cannot reach her.""
I felt my hand tighten around the phone.
"Listen to me carefully. If you've touched Evelyn or my wife, I will—"
"You will do nothing.""
Her voice became colder.
"Because you don't understand what you're holding.""
She paused.
Then she said something that made me look down at the black case.
"Your father designed the Bluebird system. Nathan stole the master key. Your wife found the original records. And you, Marcus, are the only person who can unlock the final archive.""
"Why me?""
"Because your father made sure of it.""
"How?""
My mother smiled faintly.
"Ask him.""
I stared at the photograph of my father.
"He's alive?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you weren't ready.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Ready for what? Finding out my entire life was a lie?""
She looked directly at me.
"Ready to learn that your brother didn't die in that fire because he was trying to save himself.""
The words struck harder than I expected.
"What does that mean?""
"Nathan started the fire.""
I froze.
"What?""
"He destroyed the warehouse because the people inside were about to transfer the original Bluebird archive. He thought he could stop them.""
"How many people died?""
"Nobody important.""
I felt something inside me snap.
"Nobody important?""
My mother looked impatient.
"Marcus, this isn't the time for your conscience.""
I turned toward Daniel.
He had heard enough to understand.
His expression had become murderous.
I spoke into the phone.
"You're going to tell me everything.""
"Not over the telephone.""
"Then come inside.""
She shook her head.
"I have a better idea. Give me the case. I'll give you your wife.""
"And my son?""
A pause.
My mother's eyes narrowed.
"So Evelyn has told you.""
I stepped closer to the window.
"Where is he?""
"Your brother has him.""
"Then we're going to find Nathan.""
My mother shook her head.
"Not if you want the boy alive.""
The call ended.
I stood motionless.
Outside, the SUV's engine started again.
Daniel approached.
"Boss, we've got about thirty seconds before those men try something.""
I looked at the little girl.
"What's your name?""
"Lucy.""
"Lucy, I need you to stay with Daniel.""
She nodded.
Then she reached into her pocket.
"There was one more thing.""
She handed me a small silver key.
It had a blue stone embedded in its head.
I recognized the symbol engraved on it.
A small bird with its wings spread.
The same symbol appeared on the black case.
Daniel stared.
"Where did you get that?""
Lucy swallowed.
"Your wife gave it to me.""
I turned the key over.
There was a tiny inscription on the back.
*FOR THE FIRSTBORN.*
I looked at the little girl.
"Lucy, does my wife know where Nathan is?""
She nodded.
"She said he would come when the clock stopped.""
"What clock?""
Lucy pointed toward the church tower.
The old clock above the entrance had been broken for years.
But its hands were moving.
Backward.
Daniel looked up.
"That's impossible.""
Then every phone in the church began ringing simultaneously.
A message appeared on each screen.
*BLUEBIRD SECURITY BREACH.*
*FAMILY REUNION INITIATED.*
*ALL WITNESSES MUST BE REMOVED.*
The two men outside raised their weapons.
Daniel shouted.
"EVERYONE DOWN!""
The next few seconds were chaos.
My men overturned pews. Evelyn pulled Lucy behind the altar. Glass shattered as bullets struck the stone walls.
I grabbed the black case and shoved it inside my jacket.
Then a motorcycle engine roared outside.
A familiar engine.
An old Harley-Davidson with a damaged exhaust pipe.
I knew that sound.
I'd heard it every Sunday morning when Nathan and I were boys.
The gunfire stopped.
The black SUV suddenly reversed.
A motorcycle crashed through the church's side entrance.
The rider wore a black helmet and a faded leather jacket.
He jumped off before the bike fully stopped.
Then he removed his helmet.
I stared at him.
Older.
Thinner.
A scar running down his left cheek.
But unmistakable.
My brother.
Nathan.
He looked at me.
"Hey, Marcus.""
I couldn't move.
He glanced toward the shattered coffin.
"Sorry I'm late.""
Then he pulled a photograph from his jacket.
It showed a young boy standing beside my wife.
Nathan placed it in my hand.
"There's something you need to know about your son.""
May you like
He paused.
"He's not the only child your wife gave birth to.""
