Chapter 14: The Last Mission
The room went silent.
Nobody spoke.
Because the impossible had become something worse.
Personal.
Nia stared at the identification card.
Her father’s face looked younger.
Stronger.
Alive.
She had seen thousands of pictures of him.
Birthday photos.
Family photos.
Old work pictures.
But never this.
Never in uniform.
Never beside Rex.
Never connected to Marcus Carter.
Marcus looked at her.
“Your father was part of it.””
Nia shook her head.
“No.””
But her voice lacked certainty.
Daniel gently took the card.
“James wasn’t part of the program.””
Nia looked at him.
“Then why is he on this card?””
Daniel looked toward Victor.
“Because he was trying to destroy it.””
Victor said nothing.
Nia stepped closer.
“Tell me everything.””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father discovered the replacement program years before Marcus disappeared.””
He looked at the card.
“He learned they weren’t just replacing identities.””
“What were they doing?””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“They were creating people who could inherit them.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
Nia understood.
“They were creating replacements before someone disappeared.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
Arthur looked sick.
“So which Marcus is my son?””
Nobody answered.
That was the question everyone had avoided.
Marcus closed his eyes.
Rex moved toward him.
The dog sat beside him.
A quiet answer.
Nia noticed.
“Rex knows.””
Daniel nodded.
“Rex knew from the beginning.””
Marcus looked down.
“How?””
Daniel smiled sadly.
“Because your real memories are not the only thing that makes you who you are.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Then what does?””
Daniel looked at Rex.
“Your bond.””
The words hit him.
Nia remembered the first moment.
Rex running across the airport.
Not attacking.
Not searching.
Finding.
Marcus looked at Arthur.
“Do you remember when I was young?””
Arthur nodded.
“Every day.””
Marcus swallowed.
“What was my favorite thing?””
Arthur smiled through tears.
“Your mother hated this.””
He looked at Rex.
“You would sneak food to every stray animal in the neighborhood.””
Marcus looked surprised.
Arthur continued.
“You said animals deserved second chances.””
Rex lifted his head.
Marcus smiled faintly.
“That sounds like me.””
Arthur nodded.
“Because it is.””
For the first time since entering the room, Marcus looked calm.
Then Victor spoke.
“Unfortunately, the truth doesn’t change the danger.””
Nia turned.
“What danger?””
Victor looked at the files.
“The program is still active.””
Daniel nodded.
“That’s why they came.””
Marcus looked toward the hallway.
“They’re coming for me.””
Victor corrected him.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
“They’re coming for Rex.””
The room froze.
Nia frowned.
“Why?””
Victor looked at the dog.
“Because Rex is the only living witness who can identify every person involved.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“They’ll kill him.””
Marcus immediately moved toward Rex.
“No.””
A loud impact hit the door.
Once.
Twice.
The people outside were trying to enter.
Nia checked her weapon.
“We need an exit.””
Daniel looked around.
“There is one.””
He walked to the old wall panel.
Behind it was a narrow passage.
Arthur stared.
“You knew about this?””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father built it.””
Nia looked at him.
“My father?””
Daniel looked at her.
“He knew someday you would need it.””
The door behind them shook again.
Marcus picked up Rex’s leash.
Arthur looked at his son.
“Are you coming home?””
Marcus looked at him.
A painful smile appeared.
“I never stopped trying.””
They entered the passage.
Before leaving, Nia looked back at the room.
At the files.
At the secrets.
At the life her father had hidden.
Then she saw something on the table.
One final photograph.
She picked it up.
It showed Rex.
Marcus.
Her father.
And another person.
A woman.
Nia recognized her immediately.
Her own mother.
She turned the photo over.
Written on the back:
*The Carter family was never an accident.*
Nia froze.
Because below that sentence was another line.
May you like
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*Your mother knows where the first Marcus is.*
