Daniel stared at his father across the airfield.<\/p>\n
The wind moved through the open hangar, carrying the smell of fuel and damp grass. Somewhere beyond the runway, a small aircraft engine coughed and went silent. Nobody around them spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt my house,\u201d Daniel repeated.<\/p>\n
Edward lowered his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt six fifty-two.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt his hands clench.<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca says the fatal damage was done then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants you to believe I did it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWere you beside the car?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you touch it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Renner took one step closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI checked your work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Renner went still.<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s voice became quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cExplain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward rubbed one hand across his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had learned Renner had been hired to frighten Anna. Richard told me the car had been tampered with. I went to the house because nobody else was getting there quickly enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you knock?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t let Anna see me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel laughed without humor.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were already dead. That must have complicated mornings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward accepted the blow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI entered through the garage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith your old remote.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou found the car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI got underneath.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel glanced toward Renner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas the brake line cut?\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward answered carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamaged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Renner frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA compression fitting had been loosened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward turned sharply.<\/p>\n
Daniel noticed.<\/p>\n
Renner continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI scored the line and weakened the retaining clip. It should have produced a gradual leak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s expression changed.<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo when Dad arrived, someone had already altered Renner\u2019s work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore six fifty-two.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca had said the fatal cut occurred then.<\/p>\n
Maybe she had lied.<\/p>\n
Maybe Edward was lying.<\/p>\n
Maybe the timeline itself had been manipulated.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at his father.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you do after finding it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI tightened the fitting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Renner stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou tightened it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may have made it worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s face hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I was stabilizing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Renner shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the line was already scored, tightening around a damaged section could increase stress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt the air leave his lungs.<\/p>\n
Edward turned toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou touched a sabotaged brake line without a mechanic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI believed I was preventing a leak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou believed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word came out sharp.<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s face collapsed slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped away.<\/p>\n
A lifetime of Edward Mercer\u2019s decisions seemed contained inside that answer.<\/p>\n
He believed he knew enough.<\/p>\n
He believed other people could be managed.<\/p>\n
He believed risk became acceptable when he understood the board better than everyone else.<\/p>\n
Anna had written it plainly.<\/p>\n
He did not understand the difference between strategy and family anymore.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Renner.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Dad tightened the fitting, could that explain why the brakes failed earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPossibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould he know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel, I did not cut the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not kill Anna.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt something in him harden.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou participated in every condition that made her death possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s eyes closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew someone had targeted her. You stayed hidden. You sent other people. You touched the car yourself. You kept me ignorant because you thought ignorance was useful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward said nothing.<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may not have murdered her.\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice lowered.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut don\u2019t ask me to separate your choices from what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan stood several feet away, watching both men.<\/p>\n
Daniel turned on him next.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s expression changed slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew Rebecca was alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not start.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew she survived longer than the family believed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sentence means yes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI lost contact with her decades ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you built Continuity together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan looked toward the runway.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Edward and I disagreed about Hartwell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean you wanted to weaponize it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou already had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel raised a hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot another family history lecture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both brothers stopped.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Rebecca take Continuity from you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe recruited the people I trusted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCross?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarcus Whitmore?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLater.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho else?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople inside Hartwell. people inside Bellmont.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cNames.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never knew them all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConvenient.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan looked tired.<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca understood something Edward and I did not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat organizations are easier to control through loyalties than contracts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel thought of everything that had happened.<\/p>\n
Margaret protecting Edward.<\/p>\n
Thomas protecting Emma.<\/p>\n
Claire protecting Anna.<\/p>\n
Richard protecting Bellmont.<\/p>\n
Gregory protecting himself.<\/p>\n
Marcus serving different masters.<\/p>\n
Each person bound by something more personal than money.<\/p>\n
Rebecca had built around those bonds.<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s phone buzzed.<\/p>\n
Another message.<\/p>\n
Rebecca.<\/p>\n
YOU HAVE ONE HOUR.<\/p>\n
Below it was an address.<\/p>\n
A decommissioned conference center twenty miles from the airfield.<\/p>\n
Richard read it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat location belonged to Hartwell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYears ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another message arrived.<\/p>\n
BRING EDWARD.<\/p>\n
A third.<\/p>\n
BRING THE TRUST DOCUMENTS.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Edward.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou expected this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan said, \u201cShe wants founder authentication.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n
Daniel turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeaning?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe network still recognizes Edward\u2019s old identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Sophie\u2019s trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard nodded slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree layers of authority.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the documents under his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants to transfer control.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants to dissolve something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if Rebecca only wanted Bellmont, she already has enough leverage through Marcus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward understood.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants the parent network.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan nodded.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens if she gets it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s answer came reluctantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery Hartwell-linked debt, security interest, conversion right, and custodial account could be reassigned.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much money?\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard said, \u201cPotentially billions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel almost laughed.<\/p>\n
All of this suffering.<\/p>\n
All of these secrets.<\/p>\n
And beneath it, as always, an enormous amount of money.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not giving her control.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan said, \u201cYou may not have a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have Sophie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words landed badly.<\/p>\n
Daniel moved toward him.<\/p>\n
Nathan raised both hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not threatening her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen choose better phrasing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan nodded once.<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca will use Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel thought of the emergency succession rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Claire signs as temporary guardian?\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe may activate limited trust authority.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly if you\u2019re incapacitated or unavailable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca wants me unavailable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Edward swore.<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s phone buzzed again.<\/p>\n
A photograph loaded.<\/p>\n
Claire.<\/p>\n
Bound to a chair.<\/p>\n
Blood on her sleeve.<\/p>\n
Julian Cross stood behind her.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s message:<\/p>\n
CLAIRE HAS ALREADY SIGNED.<\/p>\n
Richard took the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat signature could be coerced.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill usable long enough to cause damage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan looked pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she sign?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another image arrived.<\/p>\n
A trust authorization.<\/p>\n
Richard enlarged it.<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe appointed an interim protector.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
He scrolled.<\/p>\n
The name:<\/p>\n
Julian Cross.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cCross now controls Sophie\u2019s trust?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot fully.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough to validate a temporary transaction if combined with your signature.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked toward the hangar.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Rebecca needs me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll threaten Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if that fails?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody needed to say Sophie\u2019s name.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Marcus Reed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow quickly can we move police to the conference center?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlready coordinating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe will have planned for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe won\u2019t be at the obvious location.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen tell me where.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan looked toward the hills.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Rebecca gives you a destination, she wants you to think the destination matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat matters?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you carry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the trust documents.<\/p>\n
Nathan continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll move you through checkpoints until she\u2019s sure nobody followed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard said, \u201cWhich means the first location is only a relay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s phone rang.<\/p>\n
Rebecca.<\/p>\n
He answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Claire?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPut her on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there is no deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou learned that from me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned it from everyone who thought holding my family gave them leverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel, you misunderstand the nature of leverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably. I spent my life surrounded by Mercers.\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
Rebecca almost laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sound like Anna.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop using her name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe understood you better than Edward ever did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked directly at his father.<\/p>\n
Edward looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBring him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause my brother owes me something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward stepped forward.<\/p>\n
Daniel held up a hand.<\/p>\n
Rebecca continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd bring the folder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know they\u2019re copies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI assumed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why care?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I want to know what you choose to protect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds theatrical even for this family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome to the address.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens to Claire?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat depends on whether you finally stop making other people pay for your need to understand everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt anger flash.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is rich coming from you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s voice cooled.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
She disconnected.<\/p>\n
Daniel lowered the phone.<\/p>\n
Edward said, \u201cI\u2019m going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not your decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe asked for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe asked for documents too. That doesn\u2019t make paper brave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s mouth tightened.<\/p>\n
Nathan spoke quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe hates him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan looked at Edward.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he left her behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s face went still.<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody answered.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at his father.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked older suddenly.<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca didn\u2019t disappear voluntarily.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
Daniel felt another old secret opening.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s voice dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was institutionalized.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur father.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan said, \u201cBecause she discovered Hartwell\u2019s original money was criminal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cCriminal how?\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmuggling. bribery. political payments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca had found it.<\/p>\n
Their father had locked her away.<\/p>\n
Edward and Nathan knew.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you left her there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was twenty-three.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan said bitterly, \u201cSo was I.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe told ourselves we would get her out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree years later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at his father.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou built Hartwell from the same system she exposed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou took the family machine that destroyed her and made it bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried to make it legitimate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel laughed once.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery generation of this family seems to have a favorite euphemism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan looked toward the runway.<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca never forgave us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe shouldn\u2019t have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel studied his father.<\/p>\n
For once, there was no defense.<\/p>\n
No strategy.<\/p>\n
No explanation.<\/p>\n
Only shame.<\/p>\n
Daniel picked up the folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marcus Reed stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt distance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan said, \u201cRebecca will detect them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen give them something to detect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard understood.<\/p>\n
\u201cA visible convoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd another route.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marcus started planning immediately.<\/p>\n
Edward moved toward the car.<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Rebecca tells me you ordered anything that harmed Anna and I find proof she\u2019s right, I will not protect you because you\u2019re my father.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would expect nothing else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
They left the airfield twelve minutes later.<\/p>\n
Daniel rode in the rear of an unmarked SUV with Edward beside him.<\/p>\n
No one spoke for the first several miles.<\/p>\n
Finally Edward said, \u201cI loved Anna.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked out the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was furious with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe should have been.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe still wanted to save you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was Anna.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt grief move through him in a quieter way than before.<\/p>\n
Not the violent grief of the crash.<\/p>\n
Something older.<\/p>\n
More precise.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wanted you to stand beside me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI read that letter once.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel turned sharply.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou read it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA copy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know she put the original in the bank.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe knew you too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward accepted that.<\/p>\n
The conference center appeared ahead.<\/p>\n
Abandoned parking lot.<\/p>\n
Dark windows.<\/p>\n
One light over the entrance.<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s phone buzzed.<\/p>\n
Rebecca.<\/p>\n
LEAVE THE OTHERS.<\/p>\n
BRING EDWARD.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at Marcus Reed driving.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marcus did.<\/p>\n
Richard\u2019s vehicle stopped behind.<\/p>\n
Daniel got out.<\/p>\n
Edward followed.<\/p>\n
No folder.<\/p>\n
Daniel had left it under the seat.<\/p>\n
His phone buzzed again.<\/p>\n
THE DOCUMENTS.<\/p>\n
Daniel typed:<\/p>\n
CLAIRE FIRST.<\/p>\n
Rebecca responded:<\/p>\n
LOBBY.<\/p>\n
Daniel and Edward entered.<\/p>\n
The old conference center smelled of carpet dust and stale air.<\/p>\n
A single chair sat in the middle of the lobby.<\/p>\n
Claire was tied to it.<\/p>\n
Alone.<\/p>\n
Daniel ran toward her.<\/p>\n
Edward scanned the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes opened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
He cut the ties with a knife from the reception desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Cross?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNever here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked around.<\/p>\n
Of course.<\/p>\n
Relay.<\/p>\n
Claire gripped his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants Edward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel glanced toward his father.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe already has him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants him to go where Nathan won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward went pale.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire looked at Edward.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s patience snapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe institution.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same place Rebecca had been confined.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared.<\/p>\n
Claire said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is where she started Continuity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s phone buzzed again.<\/p>\n
New coordinates.<\/p>\n
An old psychiatric hospital two counties away.<\/p>\n
Then a message:<\/p>\n
BRING MY BROTHER BACK TO THE ROOM WHERE HE LEFT ME.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at his father across the airfield. The wind moved through the open hangar, carrying the smell of fuel and damp grass. Somewhere beyond the runway, a small aircraft … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30647"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30682,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30647\/revisions\/30682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}