Chapter 5 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
They found the hidden exit beneath the old mill.
Daniel was alive.
Barely.
His wrists were tied.
His face bruised.
Silas had wanted the flash drive.
He hadn't gotten it.
Adrian cut Daniel free.
“You knew,” Adrian said.
Daniel coughed.
“I knew enough.”
“You lied to me.”
“I lied to survive.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Who else is alive?”
Daniel looked toward Delaney.
“That depends on what you mean by alive.”
Everyone fell silent.
Daniel continued.
“The man who ordered Kathleen's death wasn't Silas.”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“Who?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Your father.”
Adrian shook his head.
“My father loved my mother.”
“That's why.”
“What?”
“Your father ordered Kathleen's death because he believed she had betrayed him.”
Margaret stared.
“No.”
Daniel nodded.
“Someone forged evidence.”
“Silas.”
“Not Silas.”
Evelyn whispered, “Then who?”
Daniel looked at her.
“You know.”
Evelyn went pale.
Adrian grabbed his coat.
“Tell me.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You won't believe me.”
“Try.”
“Your father's youngest brother.”
Adrian frowned.
“My father had only one brother.”
Daniel nodded.
“Exactly.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Delaney watched her.
“Who?”
Evelyn whispered.
“Simon.”
Adrian stepped back.
“Simon died as a baby.”
“That is what everyone believed.”
Daniel looked at Delaney.
“He didn't.”
The truth unfolded slowly.
Simon Vale had survived.
Margaret's husband's second son had been born with a different surname after a quiet family scandal.
A child had been declared dead to protect the family's reputation.
He had been raised elsewhere.
He had returned years later.
And he had spent decades manipulating the Vale family from the shadows.
Silas had been blamed because Simon wanted him blamed.
Thomas had been killed because Thomas discovered Simon's identity.
Kathleen had been killed because she discovered the bank transfers.
And Adrian had been groomed into believing he was fighting external enemies while the true enemy remained beside him.
“Where is Simon now?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Closer than you think.”
The estate's security system suddenly activated.
Doors locked.
Phones lost signal.
Adrian looked toward the ceiling.
“We've been breached.”
Margaret took Delaney's hand.
Evelyn whispered, “He's here.”
“What do we do?”
Adrian drew his weapon.
“You stay behind me.”
Delaney shook her head.
“No.”
“Delaney.”
“You told me truth is evidence.”
She held up the flash drive.
“Then let's use it.”
She had an idea.
Instead of running, she called the one person who could expose Simon publicly.
A journalist.
Her old friend Hannah.
Hannah answered.
“Delaney?”
“I need you to record something.”
“What?”
“Everything.”
Delaney explained quickly.
Hannah agreed.
Adrian stared at her.
“You trust a journalist?”
“I trust my friend.”
The mansion doors opened.
A man walked inside.
He was older.
Elegant.
Gray-eyed.
He smiled at Margaret.
“Mother.”
Margaret dropped Delaney's hand.
“Simon.”
The room went silent.
Simon looked at Adrian.
“My nephew.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
Simon laughed softly.
“That is exactly why you were never meant to know me.”
“You killed my father.”
Simon smiled.
“Yes.”
“You killed Kathleen.”
“Yes.”
“You manipulated Silas.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Simon looked at Delaney.
“Because she was the last thing your father wanted protected.”
Delaney felt cold.
“You've been watching me.”
“For twenty years.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother had something.”
“What?”
Simon pointed at the locket.
“The proof that your father planned to destroy the organization rather than let it fall into the wrong hands.”
Adrian's eyes widened.
“My father wanted to shut everything down?”
“Yes.”
Simon laughed.
“And he expected everyone to obey.”
“Why didn't they?”
“Because power never volunteers to disappear.”
Simon looked around.
“This organization became mine before Adrian ever knew it.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“It ends tonight.”
Simon smiled.
“Does it?”
Outside, police sirens began approaching.
Hannah had sent the files to multiple newsrooms.
Simon glanced toward the window.
“You think publicity will save you?”
Delaney answered.
“No.”
She held up her phone.
“But evidence might.”
Simon looked at the screen.
The live recording was already transmitting.
Millions would soon hear him.
Everything he admitted.
Every crime.
Every name.
Simon went still.
Adrian lowered his weapon.
“You're finished.”
Simon stared at Delaney.
For the first time, fear entered his face.
“You don't know what you've started.”
Delaney looked at Margaret.
“Yes.”
May you like
She took Margaret's hand.
“I think I do.”
