Chapter 14: The Family Beneath the Ground
We reached the cemetery at 11:46 p.m.
Rain had begun falling.
The iron gates stood open, and the security lights flickered above the entrance.
Lewis drove.
Rebecca sat beside him.
I rode in the back with Trevor, who had joined us after receiving the location from Mercer.
Nobody spoke.
I kept looking at the photograph on my phone.
One family.
Three children.
Two lies.
One final burial.
I had spent my entire life believing I had no siblings.
Then I discovered Trevor.
Then Lewis.
And now there was a father I had never met.
Trevor broke the silence.
"Whatever happens tonight, don't let Arthur get inside your head.""
I looked at him.
"You don't get to tell me how to feel.""
He nodded.
"You're right.""
He stared through the window.
"I spent my whole life believing Robert was my father in every way that mattered. I thought he chose me because I was special.""
His voice cracked.
"Turns out he chose me because I was useful.""
I looked at him.
"You were a child.""
"So were you.""
He turned toward me.
"That's what makes this unforgivable.""
The vehicle stopped beside the cemetery chapel.
Lewis checked his weapon.
"Stay close.""
We entered through the side gate.
The rain tapped against the stone monuments.
A single figure stood near the oldest section of the cemetery.
He was holding an umbrella.
His back was turned.
I knew who it was before he spoke.
"Hello, Kendra.""
Samuel turned.
He was older now.
His hair had turned silver, and his face carried deep lines around the eyes.
But his eyes were mine.
I stepped forward.
"You're alive.""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you come home?""
He looked down.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of Arthur?""
"Of everyone.""
I stared at him.
"You let Mom believe you were dead.""
His eyes filled.
"I know.""
"You let me grow up without a father.""
"I know.""
"You watched me bury an empty coffin?""
He closed his eyes.
"Every year, I wanted to tell you.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't make it better.""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"It doesn't.""
For several seconds, we stood in the rain.
Then he reached into his coat.
I raised my weapon.
He stopped.
"Easy. I only want to show you something.""
He removed a photograph.
It showed three children standing outside the old white house.
A baby girl.
A little boy.
And a teenage boy.
I recognized myself.
Trevor was beside me.
The third boy was Lewis.
I looked at the photograph.
"How old was I?""
"About three.""
"And Lewis?""
"Six.""
I turned toward Lewis.
He stood several feet away.
His face was unreadable.
Samuel continued.
"Arthur took Lewis from his mother after she refused to help him control the police department. He raised the boy through another family.""
Lewis looked at his father.
"You knew where I was?""
Samuel nodded.
"For years.""
"And you never came for me?""
"I tried. Arthur threatened your mother.""
Lewis laughed bitterly.
"Everyone has an excuse.""
Samuel lowered his head.
"You're right.""
I approached the photograph.
"Why bring us here?""
Samuel pointed toward a grave.
The headstone read:
ROBERT JAMES ROCK.
I looked at Trevor.
He was staring at it.
"Robert is buried here?""
Samuel nodded.
"He died eight years ago.""
"Then who have we been chasing?""
Samuel's expression hardened.
"Someone using his identity.""
I felt a chill.
"Who?""
Samuel looked toward the darkness beyond the chapel.
"Arthur Hayes.""
Trevor shook his head.
"That doesn't make sense. I've seen Robert.""
"You've seen a man wearing Robert's identity. Arthur had plastic surgery after the original operation collapsed.""
Lewis looked furious.
"So Thomas has been taking orders from Arthur all these years?""
Samuel nodded.
"Thomas believed Arthur had died. When he discovered the truth, he became part of the operation.""
I thought about the recording.
The instructions.
The hospital.
The Director.
Everything finally made sense.
But one question remained.
"Why did Arthur make us believe he was dead?""
Samuel looked at me.
"Because he needed to control the town without being recognized.""
He pointed toward the graves.
"Robert was his son. Thomas was his partner. Brennan was his instrument. They all carried out his orders.""
Trevor stepped closer.
"And what about my mother?""
Samuel looked at him.
"Elizabeth was the only person who ever truly defeated him.""
I turned.
"Then why is Arthur still free?""
Samuel hesitated.
"Because Elizabeth never found the original evidence.""
Rebecca stepped forward.
"We have it.""
She held up the memory card.
Samuel's face changed.
"Where did you get that?""
"Arthur dropped it.""
Samuel looked at me.
"Then we need to leave. Immediately.""
A car engine started beyond the cemetery wall.
Headlights swept across the graves.
Trevor raised his weapon.
"Company!""
A black vehicle crashed through the open gate.
The doors flew open.
Four armed men stepped out.
And behind them stood Thomas Grant.
He was holding Margaret by the arm.
Daniel's mother looked terrified.
Thomas shouted.
"Put your weapons down!""
Lewis raised his gun.
"Let her go!""
Thomas laughed.
"Always the obedient son.""
Lewis's expression hardened.
"You're not my father.""
Thomas smiled.
"No, Lewis.""
He pulled Margaret closer.
"I'm much worse.""
He pointed his weapon at her.
"Now give me the memory card.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She held it tightly.
Thomas raised his gun.
"Ten seconds.""
Samuel stepped forward.
"Thomas, don't do this.""
Thomas stared at him.
"Samuel Rock. The man who refused to stay dead.""
He laughed.
"Arthur was right. You always did cause problems.""
Then he looked at me.
"Give me the card, Kendra.""
I slowly raised my hands.
"Let Margaret go first.""
Thomas shook his head.
"You're not negotiating.""
Trevor moved toward the side.
Thomas noticed.
"Don't.""
He pressed the gun against Margaret's head.
"One more step and she dies.""
I looked at the men behind him.
Two were watching Trevor.
One was watching Lewis.
The fourth had his weapon pointed at Rebecca.
We were surrounded.
Then Margaret did something unexpected.
She stamped on Thomas's foot.
Hard.
He shouted and loosened his grip.
Lewis fired.
The gun flew from Thomas's hand.
Trevor tackled one of the armed men.
Samuel pulled me behind a stone monument as bullets struck the ground.
Rebecca dropped the memory card.
It slid beneath a nearby grave marker.
I crawled toward it.
Thomas recovered his weapon.
He aimed at Lewis.
"Daniel's father never told you what happened to your mother, did he?""
Lewis froze.
Thomas smiled.
"She wasn't murdered by Arthur.""
Lewis's weapon lowered.
Thomas continued.
"She was murdered by the man standing behind you.""
I turned.
Samuel was staring at Thomas.
His face had gone white.
Thomas laughed.
"Tell them, Samuel.""
Then he pointed directly at my father.
"Tell your children who killed their grandmother.""
Samuel slowly raised his hands.
May you like
And whispered:
"I did.""
