Chapter 8: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Daniel spent the entire night searching through everything he knew about his father.
There wasn’t much.
That was the strange part.
Michael Hayes had lived a quiet life.
No newspaper articles.
No public achievements.
No awards.
Nothing.
For a man supposedly connected to one of the biggest technology companies in America, he had almost no digital footprint.
“That’s impossible,” Daniel said.
Renee sat beside him in the archive room.
“Not if someone erased it.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You’re saying someone removed my father’s history?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because information is power.””
He stared at the screen.
A thought suddenly crossed his mind.
“My father didn’t disappear.””
Renee looked at him.
“What?””
“He didn’t want people to find him.””
She studied him.
“Why?””
“Because he knew someone was looking.””
The next clue came from an unexpected place.
A former Sterling employee.
An elderly engineer named Harold Bennett.
Renee found him living outside Boston.
When they arrived, he almost refused to open the door.
But when he saw Daniel, everything changed.
“You’re Michael’s son.””
Daniel froze.
“You knew him?””
Harold looked away.
“I wondered when this day would come.””
Daniel stepped inside.
The old man’s house was filled with books and old machines.
“Tell me the truth.””
Harold sighed.
“Your father was the smartest man I ever knew.””
“Then why did he hide?””
“Because smart people know when they are standing next to something dangerous.””
Daniel waited.
Harold poured coffee.
“Sterling Global’s biggest invention wasn’t the satellites.””
“What was it?””
“A security system.””
Renee frowned.
“A security system?””
“Yes.””
Harold looked at her.
“Your father called it The Guardian.””
Daniel frowned.
“What did it do?””
“Protected sensitive information.””
“From hackers?””
Harold shook his head.
“From insiders.””
The room became quiet.
“Insiders?”” Daniel asked.
Harold nodded.
“Your father discovered executives were secretly selling company technology.””
Renee looked shocked.
“Who?””
Harold stared at her.
“People close to Arthur.””
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
“Thomas?””
Harold didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
“Why didn’t my father expose them?”” Daniel asked.
“Because he tried.””
“And?””
“He failed.””
“Why?””
Harold looked at him.
“Because someone betrayed him.””
Daniel felt a chill.
“Who?””
Harold looked at Renee.
“Your father’s closest ally.””
Renee went pale.
“Who?””
Harold whispered:
“Arthur Sterling’s wife.””
Daniel and Renee exchanged a glance.
“Your mother?””
Renee stepped back.
“My mother died when I was young.””
“Yes.””
“What are you saying?””
Harold looked miserable.
“I’m saying the betrayal started inside the family.””
That night, Renee couldn’t sleep.
Daniel found her sitting alone in the hospital room she had kept reserved for treatments.
“You shouldn’t be here alone.””
She looked up.
“Ironic.””
“What?””
“I spent my entire life surrounded by people.””
She looked around the empty room.
“And somehow ended up alone anyway.””
Daniel sat beside her.
“Why didn’t you tell me you knew about Sarah?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you would hate me.””
Daniel looked at her.
“I don’t hate you.””
“You should.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because you didn’t do it.””
Renee looked away.
“My family did.””
Daniel thought about that.
Then said:
“You know what I learned after Sarah died?””
“What?””
“You can’t choose the family you’re born into.””
Renee looked at him.
“But you can choose what kind of person you become.””
For the first time, Renee looked like she might cry.
Not because she was weak.
Because someone finally said something she needed to hear.
The next morning, Daniel received a package.
No return address.
Inside was a flash drive.
And a letter.
“Daniel Hayes,
Your father died protecting this information.
If you want the truth, watch the video.
But understand this:
Once you see it, there is no going back.””
Daniel inserted the drive.
The screen turned on.
A video appeared.
A man sat in a dark room.
Daniel immediately recognized him.
His father.
Michael Hayes.
Older.
Tired.
Afraid.
“Daniel,” his father said.
“If you are watching this, then I failed.””
Daniel stopped breathing.
His father continued.
“I need you to listen carefully.””
The video shook slightly.
“Trust no one.””
A pause.
“Not Sterling.””
“Not the board.””
“Not even the person who gives you the truth.””
Daniel looked at Renee.
Her face had gone pale.
Then his father said the words that changed everything.
“The person who destroyed my life is the same person who destroyed Sarah’s.””
The screen went black.
Daniel stared.
Because suddenly, one terrifying possibility entered his mind.
May you like
What if the enemy wasn’t someone outside the Sterling family?
What if it was someone they had both trusted?
