Chapter 8: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Lucas spent the next five minutes staring at the photograph.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't blink.
Because his mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing.
His father's signature.
On a message connected to Eleanor Bennett.
A message dated after his death.
Impossible.
"This is fake.""
Claire looked at him.
"You believe that?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Because if it wasn't fake, everything changed.
Lucas had spent twelve years grieving a man he believed he understood.
His father had been complicated.
Demanding.
Sometimes distant.
But never a monster.
Never someone capable of destroying another person's life.
"People can copy signatures.""
Claire nodded.
"They can.""
Lucas looked relieved for half a second.
"Then—"
"But they don't usually copy private phrases.""
He stopped.
"What?""
Claire pointed at the photograph.
"My mother told me that phrase.""
Lucas looked confused.
"What phrase?""
"She trusted the wrong man.""
A cold feeling moved through him.
"Your mother said that?""
"Only once.""
"When?""
"The night before she disappeared.""
Lucas stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know if it mattered.""
Claire looked away.
"I was seventeen.""
That answer silenced him.
Seventeen.
She had been seventeen when everything happened.
While he was attending university, building a future, and worrying about normal problems...
She had been losing everything.
Her mother.
Her home.
Her sense of safety.
Lucas lowered the photograph.
"I'm sorry.""
Claire looked surprised.
"For what?""
"For not knowing.""
Her expression softened slightly.
"You weren't responsible.""
"No.""
He looked at the photo again.
"But my family was.""
Before they could continue, Lucas's phone rang.
Richard.
He answered immediately.
"Grandfather.""
The older man's voice sounded exhausted.
"Where are you?""
"Why?""
"Because Alexander knows you found the house.""
Lucas looked at Claire.
"How?""
Richard was silent.
Then:
"Because he just asked me why my grandson was investigating Eleanor Bennett's death.""
Lucas's expression hardened.
"He knew.""
"Yes.""
"How much?""
Another silence.
Too long.
"Grandfather.""
Richard sighed.
"More than he should.""
Lucas looked around the room.
"Are you saying Alexander is involved?""
"No.""
The answer came too quickly.
Lucas noticed.
"You're protecting him.""
"No.""
"You are.""
Richard's voice lowered.
"Lucas, there are things you don't understand.""
"I understand that everyone in this family lies.""
The words hurt.
Richard went quiet.
Then he said:
"I deserve that.""
The admission surprised Lucas.
"Where are you?""
"At the hospital.""
Lucas froze.
"Why are you there?""
"Because the doctors found something after the attack.""
"What?""
Richard hesitated.
"They found evidence that the attacker wasn't trying to scare me.""
Lucas tightened his grip.
"What does that mean?""
"It means...""
A pause.
"...they were trying to erase my memory.""
The room went cold.
Claire looked at Lucas.
"What happened?""
Lucas didn't answer.
He was listening.
"Grandfather?""
Richard spoke quietly.
"The attacker used a chemical agent.""
Lucas felt anger rise.
"Who does that?""
Richard didn't answer.
Then he said something worse.
"Someone who knows exactly what I know.""
The call ended.
Lucas looked at Claire.
"This isn't about money.""
She nodded.
"No.""
"It's about information.""
"Yes.""
"And someone is willing to kill for it.""
Claire looked toward the photograph.
"My mother knew that.""
Lucas studied her.
"What are you thinking?""
"I think my mother wasn't trying to expose someone.""
"What then?""
"I think she was trying to protect someone.""
"Who?""
Claire looked at him.
"You.""
The answer shocked him.
"Me?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Claire picked up the photograph.
"Because if she knew your father was dangerous...""
She looked at him.
"...and she still told me to find you...""
A pause.
"She believed you were different.""
Lucas didn't know what to say.
For years, he had believed his family legacy was something to protect.
Now he wondered if it was something he needed to escape.
Then Claire's computer suddenly turned on.
Neither of them touched it.
The screen displayed a message.
One sentence.
*You found the archive.*
Lucas stepped closer.
Another line appeared.
*Now find the person who hid it.*
Claire's face changed.
"Someone is inside my system.""
Lucas looked at the screen.
"No.""
He watched the cursor move.
Typing.
Another message appeared.
*Ask Richard why Eleanor trusted him.*
Then the screen went black.
Lucas looked at Claire.
"What does that mean?""
Claire whispered:
"It means we have been asking the wrong question.""
"What question should we ask?""
She looked toward the photograph.
"Not who betrayed my mother.""
May you like
A pause.
"Who did my mother trust before she disappeared?""
