Chapter 9: The Man Who Never Died
I couldn't speak.
Daniel looked at my phone.
His face went pale.
“Claire.””
“Don't.””
“I need to explain.””
“You've had seventeen years.””
“I was protecting—”
“Don't use that word.””
He stopped.
I stood.
“Who is he?””
“Your father?””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked away.
“I don't know where he is.””
“You're lying again.””
“I haven't seen him in years.””
“But he's alive.””
“Yes.””
The word landed like a physical blow.
My father was alive.
For seventeen years, I had mourned him.
I had stood beside my mother's grave-like silence.
I had carried his medals.
I had built my military career partly because I wanted to become the kind of person he would have been proud of.
And all this time, he had been alive.
I walked outside.
The morning air was cold.
My phone rang.
Unknown.
I answered.
No one spoke.
Then a man's voice.
Older.
Rougher.
But unmistakable.
“Claire.””
My knees nearly gave out.
“Dad?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
The voice breathed.
“You shouldn't have come here.””
“Where are you?””
“I can't tell you.””
“You're alive.””
“Yes.””
“Why did you leave us?””
Silence.
Then:
“Because if I stayed, they would kill you.””
“They already came for Mom.””
“I know.””
My heart stopped.
“You know?””
“I've watched.””
“Then why didn't you help her?””
“I couldn't expose myself.””
“You let her suffer.””
“I sent someone to call the police.””
The anonymous caller.
I closed my eyes.
“You?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you come yourself?””
“Because they were watching the house.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Who?””
My father's voice dropped.
“People who believe Nightfall still exists.””
“What is Nightfall?””
“A list.””
“Of what?””
“People.””
My blood ran cold.
“Names?””
“Names of people who can identify the network.””
“Is my name on it?””
“No.””
“Then why are they after me?””
“Because you inherited something.””
“The trust?””
“No.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“The information.””
I looked at Daniel.
My father continued.
“Your mother doesn't know everything.””
“She told me you disappeared because you were afraid.””
“She was right.””
“Of whom?””
“Of the people who killed everyone else.””
My throat tightened.
“Dad, tell me who they are.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because you're already too close.””
I looked toward the road.
A black SUV appeared in the distance.
Daniel saw it.
“Claire.””
“I see it.””
My father spoke again.
“Listen carefully.””
The SUV slowed.
“Your husband wasn't recruited because of money.””
I stared at Ryan's photograph.
“Then why?””
“Because he was vulnerable.””
“To Melissa?””
“To Vivian.””
My stomach dropped.
“Vivian?””
“She has been connected to Nightfall for years.””
I couldn't breathe.
“My mother-in-law?””
“Yes.””
“That's impossible.””
“Your husband didn't know who she really was.””
“But she abused Mom.””
“She wanted access to your house.””
“Why?””
“To find the information you inherited.””
The SUV stopped.
Two doors opened.
Daniel drew his weapon.
My father said,
“Claire, leave now.””
“Where?””
“Your house.””
“The mansion?””
“No.””
“Then where?””
“The old Bennett property.””
“What property?””
“Your mother's house.””
I froze.
“My mother's?””
“The one she sold when you were a child.””
I remembered.
A small house.
A white porch.
A place I had barely remembered.
“Why?””
“Because that's where I hid the key.””
“The key from the desk?””
“Yes.””
Daniel fired toward the SUV.
The vehicles sped away.
I turned toward him.
“What's on the key?””
“I don't know.””
“Dad does.””
“Yes.””
“Then why won't he tell me?””
My father's voice softened.
“Because if you open what that key unlocks, there is no going back.””
“Dad.””
“I love you.””
The line went dead.
I stood there with tears running down my face.
For seventeen years, I had imagined my father's final words.
I had imagined them being brave.
Simple.
Maybe even comforting.
I never imagined hearing them now.
Daniel lowered his weapon.
“We need to move.””
I looked at him.
“You knew he was alive.””
“Yes.””
“For how long?””
“Eleven years.””
My face went cold.
“Eleven.””
“I was ordered to keep you away from him.””
“By whom?””
He hesitated.
“General Marcus Hale.””
I knew the name.
Everyone in my world knew it.
A decorated senior officer.
A man whose career had been built on intelligence work.
A man who had personally recommended me for promotion.
I whispered,
“Hale is Nightfall.””
Daniel didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Natalie.
*CLAIRE, GET BACK TO THE MANSION NOW.*
Then another.
*VIVIAN IS HERE.*
I stared at the screen.
“How did she get inside?””
Daniel's face hardened.
“She shouldn't have.””
We raced back.
The mansion gates were open.
Security officers were on the ground.
Alive.
Unconscious.
Inside, the house was silent.
Too silent.
I ran upstairs.
Mom's room was empty.
The children's room was empty.
Their beds were untouched.
Then I heard a voice from the study.
Vivian.
“Hello, Claire.””
I entered.
Vivian stood beside my desk.
She held a folder.
Mom was behind her.
And beside Mom stood Oliver and Emma.
They were unharmed.
But Vivian held something against Mom's side.
A weapon.
Vivian smiled.
“You should have listened to your husband.””
I raised my hands.
“Let them go.””
She laughed.
“You still think this is about money.””
“No.””
I looked at the folder in her hand.
“It's about Nightfall.””
Her smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw fear in Vivian's eyes.
Then she whispered,
“You found him.””
I knew immediately.
She meant my father.
Vivian's phone rang.
She answered.
“She's here.””
A man's voice came through the speaker.
I recognized it.
General Marcus Hale.
“Then bring her to me.””
Vivian looked at me.
And smiled.
“Your father was right.””
She pressed the weapon closer to Mom.
May you like
“You really are dangerous.””
Then the lights went out.
