Chapter 7: The Man in the Dark
The voice behind us was impossible.
I knew it before the emergency lights flickered back on.
Daniel Mercer stood beside the ruined archive wall, holding a flashlight beneath his chin.
For one terrible second, I thought I was looking at my father.
Same dark eyes.
Same sharp jaw.
Same habit of tilting his head when he was about to say something unpleasant.
But Daniel was younger.
Alive.
And furious.
Thomas raised his weapon.
"Don't move.""
Daniel slowly lifted both hands.
"If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have heard me.""
I stepped in front of Meline.
"You're Daniel Mercer.""
His eyes moved to her.
"Meline.""
She stared at him.
"You were supposed to be dead.""
"So were you.""
Her face tightened.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel lowered the flashlight.
"It means your father wasn't the only person who lied to you.""
I took a step toward him.
"Start talking.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Your father killed your mother.""
"You said that before.""
"No.""
His expression hardened.
"I said he ordered her death.""
The distinction made my stomach twist.
"Who actually killed her?""
Daniel looked toward Meline.
"Ask her.""
Meline shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"You've known for twelve years.""
"I knew she was murdered.""
"You knew more than that.""
"Daniel.""
Meline's voice cracked.
"Stop.""
He took a step toward her.
"You think keeping quiet protected him?""
"He was my father.""
"And he destroyed mine.""
Thomas moved between them.
"Enough.""
Daniel stared at him.
Then he reached inside his jacket.
Thomas raised his gun.
Daniel froze.
Slowly, he pulled out a small cassette recorder.
He placed it on the desk.
"Your father recorded this two nights before he died.""
I stared at the recorder.
"Why didn't you give it to me earlier?""
"Because I needed to know whether you were still Elena's puppet.""
My jaw tightened.
"You don't get to judge me.""
"I don't?""
Daniel's voice rose.
"You abandoned a pregnant woman because another woman told you she was a liar.""
I said nothing.
He stepped closer.
"You didn't even answer her calls.""
"I know.""
"She begged you.""
"I know.""
"She bled alone while you drank champagne.""
"I said I know!""
My voice echoed through the underground room.
Meline flinched.
I lowered my eyes.
Daniel watched me for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
Not softer.
Just tired.
"Good.""
He pushed the recorder toward me.
"Then listen.""
I pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then my father's voice.
"Damen, if this recording reaches you, I'm already dead.""
I closed my eyes.
"I need you to understand why I kept Meline hidden.""
The recording crackled.
"I didn't hide her because I was ashamed of her.""
Meline's eyes filled with tears.
"I hid her because the man who believed she was his daughter was willing to kill anyone who stood between him and Vance Holdings.""
Daniel looked away.
My father's voice continued.
"Daniel Mercer has spent years searching for the truth about Claire's death. He believes I ordered her murder.""
I looked at Daniel.
He didn't react.
"He is wrong about one thing.""
The recording paused.
"I did not order Claire's death.""
Meline covered her mouth.
My father's voice continued.
"Elena Courtland's father did.""
Silence.
Daniel's eyes snapped toward me.
"What?""
I replayed the sentence.
"Elena's father.""
Daniel stepped backward.
"No.""
My father continued.
"Richard Courtland discovered that Claire had evidence connecting his family to illegal transfers through Vance Holdings. He threatened her. When she refused to surrender the evidence, he arranged the accident.""
Meline began crying.
"I arrived too late.""
My father's voice shook.
"Claire was already dying.""
The recording stopped.
Daniel stared at the machine.
"That's impossible.""
I looked at him.
"You believed my father killed her.""
"He was there.""
"What?""
Daniel's face had gone pale.
"I saw him.""
My pulse quickened.
"You saw him?""
"The night Claire died.""
He looked at Meline.
"I was sixteen.""
Meline stared at him.
"I saw your father standing beside her car.""
I shook my head.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"Because Richard Courtland found me first.""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"He told me if I spoke, Meline would disappear.""
Meline closed her eyes.
"He threatened my life.""
"No," Daniel said.
"He threatened hers.""
The room fell silent.
Then Thomas pointed toward the recorder.
"There's more.""
The tape was still running.
My father's voice returned.
"There is another person you must fear.""
I leaned closer.
"Someone inside the Vance family.""
Static.
"Someone who has been feeding information to the Courtlands for years.""
The recording cut out.
I slammed my hand against the machine.
"Who?""
Daniel stared at me.
"Your father's brother.""
I froze.
"My uncle?""
"Victor Vance.""
The name struck me like ice water.
Victor had been my father's younger brother.
He had left the company years ago after a bitter dispute.
I'd barely seen him since.
"He died," I said.
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
"His funeral was—"
"A staged funeral.""
Meline suddenly looked toward the wall.
"The beneficiary records.""
I followed her gaze.
Victor's name wasn't there.
But another name was.
*VINCENT VALE.*
Meline whispered, "That's him.""
I turned.
"What?""
"That's the name Victor used when he disappeared.""
Thomas looked toward the sealed door.
"We need to leave.""
"No.""
I grabbed the folder.
"We're not leaving until we know where he is.""
Daniel shook his head.
"You don't understand.""
"Then explain.""
"Victor isn't working for Elena.""
"Who is he working for?""
Daniel looked at Meline.
"Nobody.""
A strange fear crossed his face.
"He's the one giving the orders.""
Before I could respond, something exploded above us.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Thomas pulled Meline behind him.
Another blast.
Then another.
The underground room shook.
"Someone's attacking the house," Thomas shouted.
Daniel grabbed the recorder.
"We need another exit.""
"There isn't one.""
He looked at me.
"There is.""
He pointed toward the far wall.
"Behind your father's fireplace.""
We ran.
Daniel kicked through the weakened panel.
A narrow passage appeared.
Thomas helped Meline inside.
I followed.
The moment I entered, the door behind us slammed shut.
Gunfire erupted overhead.
Meline grabbed my arm.
"Damen.""
"I'm here.""
"What if Elena has the baby?""
"She doesn't.""
"How do you know?""
I looked at her.
"I don't.""
Her eyes filled with terror.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Your daughter is safe.""
I stopped.
"Who is this?""
"Someone your father trusted.""
"Where is she?""
"Not where you think.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Put me through to the hospital.""
"Can't.""
"Why?""
"Because the hospital is compromised.""
My heart stopped.
"What does that mean?""
"Look at your messages.""
The call ended.
I opened my phone.
There was a photograph.
Our daughter's incubator.
But the hospital room number wasn't 614.
It was *B-17*.
A basement unit.
I stared at Meline.
"They moved her.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
Then another message appeared.
*COME ALONE.*
A location followed.
An abandoned church on the east side.
Meline read it over my shoulder.
"No.""
"I have to go.""
"It's a trap.""
"I know.""
"Damen, if you go alone, they'll kill you.""
I looked at the photograph of our daughter.
"Then I won't go alone.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"I'm coming.""
Thomas nodded.
"So am I.""
Meline shook her head.
"Then I'm coming too.""
"No.""
She stared at me.
"I've spent my entire life being hidden.""
May you like
Her voice steadied.
"I'm done hiding.""
