Chapter 13: The Father Who Never Died
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Samuel Rock was alive.
The man whose photograph my mother had kept hidden. The man whose death had supposedly destroyed our family. The man whose name had appeared in every version of the story I had been told.
Alive.
I looked at Arthur.
"Where is he?""
My grandfather rested both hands on his walking stick.
"Patience, Kendra. You've spent thirty-two years waiting for answers. Surely you can wait another few minutes.""
I raised my weapon.
"Where is my father?""
Arthur sighed.
"Still impatient. Elizabeth never could teach you restraint.""
Rebecca moved beside me.
"Don't listen to him. He's trying to control the conversation.""
Arthur smiled at her.
"Rebecca, you've always mistaken survival for intelligence.""
She stepped forward.
"You murdered innocent people.""
"I maintained order.""
"You kidnapped me.""
"You were an employee who stole confidential information.""
"I was twenty-one!""
"And remarkably troublesome.""
I tightened my grip on the weapon.
"Enough. Tell me where Samuel is.""
Arthur's smile finally disappeared.
"He's at the place where everything began.""
"The hospital?""
"No.""
He looked toward the ceiling.
"Your childhood home.""
I felt a chill.
The white house where my mother had lived before disappearing.
The house where I had found her letter.
The house where Emily had appeared with the recording.
"Why?""
"Because Samuel wanted to see you.""
I studied his face.
"Then why didn't he contact me?""
Arthur's answer came without hesitation.
"Because he was afraid.""
"Of you?""
"Of what you would become if you knew the truth.""
I shook my head.
"You're lying.""
Arthur slowly reached into his jacket.
Rebecca shouted.
"Don't!""
He stopped.
Then he removed a photograph.
It showed a young man sitting beside a hospital bed.
The woman in the bed was my mother.
The young man was Samuel.
He looked older than in the photograph taken before his supposed death, but unmistakably alive.
On the back was a handwritten message.
I have watched my daughter grow into someone stronger than I ever imagined. I hope one day she'll understand why I stayed away.
I felt my eyes burn.
"Why are you showing me this?""
Arthur looked at me.
"Because Samuel made a bargain with me.""
"What bargain?""
"He agreed to remain hidden in exchange for your mother's life.""
I turned toward Rebecca.
She shook her head.
"He's twisting it.""
Arthur smiled.
"Am I?""
He reached into his coat again.
This time, he produced a small remote control.
Before I could react, the basement door slammed shut.
A metallic locking sound echoed through the room.
Red lights flashed overhead.
Rebecca grabbed my arm.
"He's sealing the tunnel!""
Arthur moved toward the stairs.
I aimed at him.
"Stop!""
He looked over his shoulder.
"You wouldn't shoot your own grandfather.""
I took a step forward.
"Try me.""
For the first time, Arthur looked genuinely uncertain.
Then he smiled again.
"You're more like Samuel than Elizabeth ever admitted.""
He pressed the remote.
A loud mechanical hum started behind the walls.
Gas.
I smelled it immediately.
Rebecca covered her mouth.
"Kendra, we have to move!""
Arthur climbed the stairs.
I fired once.
The bullet struck the metal railing beside him.
He disappeared through the doorway.
Rebecca pulled me toward the cabinet.
"There!""
She pointed to a narrow maintenance hatch behind the shelves.
We forced it open and crawled through just as the basement filled with a thick chemical smell.
The passage led into the courthouse basement.
By the time we emerged, my eyes were watering.
Lewis and two agents rushed toward us.
"Hayes!""
I grabbed his jacket.
"Arthur escaped.""
Lewis looked toward Rebecca.
"Where's Mercer?""
"Outside.""
"Good. We have a bigger problem.""
He showed me his phone.
A live photograph displayed a man entering the old childhood house.
Samuel Rock.
I nearly dropped the phone.
"He's there?""
Lewis nodded.
"Someone sent us the location five minutes ago.""
I looked toward the exit.
"Get a vehicle.""
Rebecca caught my wrist.
"Kendra, wait.""
I turned.
She held up a small memory card.
"Arthur dropped this.""
I looked at it.
"What is it?""
"His private records.""
Lewis took it.
"We'll have the technical team examine it.""
"No," Rebecca said.
"You don't understand. This contains the original hospital transfer records.""
I stared at her.
"Which hospital?""
"Saint Mary's.""
The same hospital where my mother had been held.
Rebecca continued.
"Arthur didn't just arrange for Samuel to disappear. He arranged for another baby to disappear too.""
My stomach tightened.
"What baby?""
She looked at me.
"Your father's first child.""
I frowned.
"I thought I was his first child.""
Rebecca shook her head.
"No, Kendra.""
She lowered her voice.
"Samuel had a son before you were born.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Where is he?""
Rebecca looked toward the courthouse entrance.
"He's been standing beside you this entire investigation.""
I turned slowly toward Lewis.
He stared back at me.
Then his expression changed.
"Rebecca, don't.""
She pointed at him.
"Special Agent Lewis Grant is Samuel Rock's firstborn son.""
The room went silent.
Lewis lowered his head.
I looked at him.
"Is that true?""
He didn't answer.
"Lewis?""
Finally, he nodded.
"My mother was married to Samuel before he met Elizabeth.""
My mind struggled to process the information.
Another sibling.
Another secret.
Another child stolen by Arthur Hayes.
Lewis looked at me.
"I didn't know who you were when we first met.""
"Then when did you find out?""
"Three months ago.""
I stepped back.
"Everyone knew except me.""
Lewis reached toward me.
"Kendra—"
"Don't.""
He stopped.
Then he said something that made everything even worse.
"Samuel asked me to protect you.""
I stared at him.
"From whom?""
Lewis looked toward the courthouse doors.
"From Arthur.""
A phone rang.
Lewis answered.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his face went pale.
"What do you mean he's not there?""
He ended the call.
I grabbed his arm.
"What's happened?""
Lewis looked at me.
"The house is empty.""
"Where is Samuel?""
He swallowed.
"Someone left a message.""
"What message?""
Lewis turned his phone toward me.
A photograph showed the living room of my childhood home.
On the mantelpiece sat the old family photograph of my mother holding me as a baby.
Someone had written across the glass:
*ONE FAMILY. THREE CHILDREN. TWO LIES. ONE FINAL BURIAL.*
Beneath it was a time.
Midnight.
May you like
And an address.
The Ashborne cemetery.
