Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Locked Door
The key stopped turning.
For a moment, Daniel and I stood motionless in the narrow corridor, staring at the steel door.
Then someone knocked three times.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Daniel raised his weapon.
"Federal agents! Identify yourself!""
A familiar voice answered.
"Put that thing down, son.""
Daniel's expression changed.
He looked at me.
I recognized the voice too.
Chief Walter Brennan.
But something about the way he spoke bothered me. He sounded relaxed. Almost amused.
Daniel moved toward the door.
"Chief Brennan, you're interfering with a federal investigation.""
A low chuckle came from the other side.
"Daniel, I've known you since you were twelve. Your father and I used to fish together. Don't make this personal.""
Daniel stiffened.
"Stay away from my father.""
"Then stop pretending you don't know why you're here.""
The lock clicked.
The steel door slowly opened.
Chief Brennan stood in the doorway wearing a dark overcoat over his uniform. His silver hair was neatly combed, and his hands were tucked inside his pockets.
Two uniformed officers stood behind him.
Neither looked particularly interested in helping us.
Brennan's eyes moved from Daniel to me.
"Special Agent Hayes. You've certainly inherited your mother's talent for finding trouble.""
I raised my weapon.
"Where is she?""
His smile faded.
"That's an interesting question.""
"She's alive. I just saw her.""
"You saw a recording.""
"Then tell me where she is.""
Brennan stepped inside.
"Put your weapon down.""
"No.""
He glanced at Daniel.
"Your partner seems rather emotional.""
Daniel didn't lower his gun.
"You're obstructing a federal investigation, Chief.""
"Am I?""
Brennan reached into his coat.
Daniel tightened his grip.
"Slowly.""
The chief removed a folded document and held it between two fingers.
"Search authorization. Signed by the county judge. This building belongs to the Ashborne Police Department.""
I stared at the paper.
"That's convenient.""
"Life is full of conveniences, Agent Hayes.""
I noticed the chief's left hand.
His ring finger had a pale scar running around the base.
I had seen that scar before.
On the hand holding the photograph outside the old police station.
The man beside Trevor.
The same man who had stood near my mother on the night Rebecca disappeared.
I lowered my weapon slightly.
"You're the man in the security photograph.""
Brennan's expression changed.
Only for a second.
Then he smiled.
"Your mother took a lot of photographs.""
"She also kept records.""
"Elizabeth was a difficult woman.""
"She was my mother.""
"And she made choices that put people in danger.""
I took a step forward.
"Did you take her from the hospital?""
Brennan looked at me for a long moment.
Then he answered.
"Yes.""
The word landed like a physical blow.
Daniel turned toward him.
"What?""
Brennan shrugged.
"She was injured. Confused. She had information that could have destroyed several families. We moved her somewhere safe.""
"That's kidnapping," Daniel said.
"That's protection.""
"Where is she?""
Brennan ignored him.
Instead, he looked directly at me.
"You have your mother's eyes, Kendra.""
"Don't pretend you knew her.""
"Oh, I knew her very well.""
He took another step closer.
"Better than you ever did.""
I wanted to hit him.
I wanted to demand every detail of those twelve missing years.
But I forced myself to remain still.
"Why did you show me that recording?""
Brennan's smile disappeared.
"Because Trevor has become careless.""
My stomach tightened.
"What does Trevor have to do with my mother?""
"Everything.""
Before I could respond, Daniel's radio suddenly crackled.
"Agent Grant, this is Mercer. Respond.""
Daniel grabbed it.
"Mercer, we're in the basement. Brennan is here.""
"Get out immediately.""
"Why?""
A pause.
Then Daniel heard a sentence that made him turn pale.
"Because the building is surrounded by Ashborne officers, and your FBI credentials have just been flagged as stolen.""
Daniel looked at Brennan.
"What did you do?""
The chief spread his hands.
"Nothing you can prove.""
I moved toward the doorway.
The two uniformed officers raised their weapons.
"Stay where you are," one ordered.
Brennan sighed.
"Unfortunately, Agent Hayes, your visit has become rather inconvenient.""
I stared at him.
"You think this is over?""
"No.""
He leaned closer.
"I think it's just beginning.""
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Take their weapons.""
The two officers moved forward.
Daniel resisted, but one struck his shoulder with a baton. His weapon hit the concrete floor.
I was reaching for my second magazine when Brennan grabbed my wrist.
His grip was surprisingly strong.
"Don't make the same mistake your mother made.""
I stared at him.
"What mistake?""
He lowered his voice.
"Believing that the truth would save her.""
The officers separated us.
Daniel was pushed against the wall.
I was handcuffed.
But before they dragged me toward the stairs, I noticed something on Brennan's wrist.
A small tattoo.
Three black circles arranged in a triangle.
I had seen that symbol in the folder marked Operation Silent House.
It appeared beside every payment record.
Every missing person.
Every officer involved.
And beneath the final entry was a handwritten instruction.
*IF ELIZABETH HAYES RETURNS, TERMINATE THE FAMILY LINE.*
I looked at Brennan.
He noticed where my eyes had stopped.
For the first time, his confidence disappeared.
"Where did you see that symbol?"" he demanded.
I smiled.
"Somewhere you forgot to destroy.""
May you like
Then the lights went out.
And someone upstairs shouted, "The evidence room is on fire!""
