Chapter 8: The Name Written on the Uniform
The piece of fabric sat in Daniel’s hand like it weighed a hundred pounds.
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone understood what it meant.
A uniform with the Carter name.
Found by Rex.
Inside a locked airport terminal.
Years after Daniel Carter was declared dead.
Arthur reached toward it.
“Is that yours?””
Daniel stared at the patch.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
Nia noticed.
“You’re sure?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes.””
“Then whose is it?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
The woman in the black coat stepped closer.
“Daniel…”
He looked at her.
“You knew.””
Her face tightened.
“I suspected.””
“You suspected?””
Daniel’s voice rose.
“You knew there was someone else wearing my name?””
Passengers nearby looked over.
Nia immediately lowered her voice.
“Keep it down.””
But Daniel was no longer trying to hide his anger.
“For years, I was told my identity was erased because I was dead.””
He held up the patch.
“But someone has been using my name.””
Arthur looked between them.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the fabric.
“Because my name opens doors.””
Nia understood.
A stolen identity.
Access.
Security.
Information.
“Whoever did this wasn’t hiding you,” she said.
Daniel nodded.
“They were replacing me.””
The sentence disturbed everyone.
Arthur stepped back.
“My son was replaced?””
Daniel looked at him.
“I think someone wanted the world to believe I never existed.””
Rex moved closer to Daniel.
The dog stared at the patch.
Then looked toward the terminal hallway.
Daniel noticed.
“He knows.””
Nia looked at him.
“What?””
“Rex knows where it came from.””
She watched the dog.
“Can he track it?””
Daniel nodded.
“He was trained for that.””
Nia looked toward the hallway.
“Then we follow him.””
The woman shook her head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
“Why?””
She pointed toward the hallway.
“Because that’s what they want.””
Nia stepped forward.
“Who are they?””
The woman hesitated.
Then finally answered.
“The people who created this entire situation.””
Daniel stared.
“You know who they are.””
“Yes.””
“Then tell us.””
The woman looked at Arthur.
“I was afraid.””
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“You let me believe my son was dead.””
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
Arthur shook his head.
“No.””
His voice trembled.
“You were trying to protect yourself.””
The woman had no response.
Nia watched the exchange.
There was history here.
Pain.
Betrayal.
And secrets.
She turned to the woman.
“Your name.””
The woman looked at her.
“Marissa.””
“Marissa what?””
A pause.
“Marissa Bell.””
Nia immediately recognized the name.
Not from personal memory.
From records.
“Military intelligence.””
Marissa looked surprised.
“You know me?””
“I know your file.””
Nia stared.
“You disappeared six years ago.””
Marissa gave a sad smile.
“Apparently, disappearing is what we do.””
Before Nia could ask more, Rex suddenly moved.
The dog walked into the hallway.
Slowly.
Following a scent.
Daniel followed.
Nia followed Daniel.
Arthur followed his son.
Marissa stayed behind for a moment.
Then sighed and followed.
The hallway beyond Gate D24 was empty.
Too empty.
Airport lights buzzed overhead.
Every footstep echoed.
Rex stopped near a storage room.
The door was slightly open.
Daniel looked at Nia.
“This is where it leads.””
Nia reached for the handle.
“Everyone ready?””
Nobody answered.
She opened the door.
Inside was a small maintenance room.
Nothing unusual.
Except one thing.
A wall covered in photographs.
Hundreds of them.
Nia stepped inside.
Her breath caught.
The pictures showed Daniel.
At different ages.
Different places.
Different moments.
Someone had been watching him for years.
Arthur walked in behind her.
“Why would anyone do this?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
He was staring at one photograph.
Nia followed his eyes.
It showed Daniel standing beside Rex.
But the picture was recent.
Very recent.
Daniel picked it up.
His hands shook.
“That was taken yesterday.””
Marissa looked over.
“Impossible.””
Daniel turned the photograph around.
On the back was a date.
Yesterday.
And three words.
*HE IS HERE.*
Nia looked around the room.
“Who?””
Daniel didn’t respond.
Because Rex suddenly started barking.
Not at the photographs.
Not at the door.
At the ceiling.
Nia looked up.
A small red light blinked.
A camera.
Someone was watching them.
Then the speaker above them activated.
A voice filled the room.
“Congratulations.””
Daniel froze.
The voice continued.
“You finally found the room where I kept your memories.””
Arthur stepped closer to his son.
“Who are you?””
The voice answered:
“The person who made sure Daniel Carter disappeared.””
A pause.
Then:
“And the person who knows what really happened to him.””
The camera light turned off.
May you like
But before it did, the voice added:
“Ask Rex why he came back.””
