Chapter 8: The Son in the Photograph
Martha stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
Her son.
Her little boy.
The child who used to fall asleep on Frank's chest while the two of them sat on the porch after dinner.
The boy who had cried on his first day of school.
The teenager who had sworn he would never leave home.
The young man who had stood beside Martha at Frank's funeral with red eyes and a clenched jaw.
That same boy was now standing beside Samuel.
Older.
Harder.
Alive.
And smiling.
Martha shook her head.
“No.””
Frank said nothing.
Wade picked up the photograph.
“That's impossible.””
Martha reached for it.
“Give it to me.””
Wade handed it over.
She stared again.
There was no doubt.
The man in the photograph had her son's eyes.
His father's shoulders.
And the small scar beneath his chin from the bicycle accident when he was nine.
Martha knew every part of that face.
But there was one problem.
Her son had died twenty years ago.
At least, that was what she had been told.
She looked at Frank.
“You're saying he's alive?””
Frank nodded.
“No.””
Martha's voice sharpened.
“You just showed me a photograph.””
“I said he's alive.””
Her hands began to shake.
“You stood at his funeral.””
Frank swallowed.
“I know.””
“You watched me bury an empty coffin?””
“Yes.””
Martha stepped backward.
“You let me bury my son too?””
Frank's eyes filled with tears.
“I believed he was dead.””
“Believed?””
“Yes.””
“Then why is he in this photograph?””
“I found him six months ago.””
Martha looked at Daniel.
He lowered his eyes.
“You knew?””
Daniel nodded.
“How long?””
“About six months.””
Martha's face hardened.
“You both knew.””
Daniel opened his mouth.
“You both knew my son was alive.””
“We didn't know where he was,” Daniel said.
“That is not the point.””
Martha's voice cracked.
“The point is that I spent twenty years grieving a child who was apparently standing alive somewhere in this country.””
Frank reached toward her.
She moved away.
“Don't.””
He stopped.
Martha looked at the photograph again.
“What is his name now?””
Frank hesitated.
“What do you mean?””
“My son had a name.””
“Michael.””
She stared at him.
“Does he still?””
Frank nodded.
“He uses another one.””
“What?””
“Evan Cole.””
Martha closed her eyes.
“Why?””
“Because Samuel changed his identity.””
“Why would my son let him?””
Frank's expression was grim.
“He didn't.””
The words hung in the underground room.
Martha looked up.
“What happened?””
Frank took a slow breath.
“When Michael was twenty-four, he found the operation.””
“Like you?””
“Yes.””
“Then Samuel took him.””
Frank nodded.
“He was supposed to be killed.””
Martha covered her mouth.
“But someone stopped it.””
“Who?””
“I did.””
She stared.
“You rescued him?””
“I tried.””
“What does that mean?””
“I got there too late.””
Frank's voice became strained.
“They had already convinced him I was dead.””
Martha frowned.
“They told him I was dead?””
“Yes.””
“So he believed you were gone.””
“Yes.””
“And you believed he was dead.””
“Yes.””
They stared at each other.
A terrible understanding passed between them.
Two people destroyed by the same lie.
“Then how did he end up working with Samuel?””
Frank shook his head.
“He isn't.””
Martha looked at the photograph.
“Then why is he standing beside him?””
“Because he's undercover.””
Daniel spoke quietly.
“Michael infiltrated Samuel's organization.””
Martha looked at him.
“For how long?””
“Four years.””
“Four years?””
“Yes.””
“And nobody told me?””
“There was no way to know whether you were being watched.””
Martha clenched the photograph.
“So my husband disappears for thirty years.””
Her voice shook.
“My son disappears for twenty.””
“And both of them think they are protecting me.””
Frank looked down.
“Yes.””
Martha laughed bitterly.
“Maybe you're all terrible at protection.””
Frank nodded.
“You're probably right.””
For the first time, Wade almost smiled.
Then the sound of movement above them erased it.
Footsteps.
Several people.
Frank immediately shut the filing cabinet.
“They're inside the house.””
Wade moved toward the staircase.
“How many?””
“I don't know.””
Daniel checked the hidden door.
“They must have followed us.””
Frank shook his head.
“No.””
“What?””
“They were already there.””
Martha looked at him.
“Then why did we come here?””
“Because they couldn't get through the hidden entrance.””
“And now?””
Frank pointed to the floor.
“Now they know it exists.””
A heavy thud shook the ceiling.
Dust fell from the beams.
Someone was searching the house.
Wade whispered:
“We need another exit.””
Frank nodded.
“There is one.””
He moved toward the rear wall.
Martha followed.
“Where?””
“Behind the filing cabinet.””
He pushed it aside.
A rusted ladder descended deeper.
Wade stared.
“How many tunnels does this house have?””
Frank didn't answer.
They climbed down.
The tunnel was narrow, damp, and almost completely dark.
Martha went first.
Frank followed.
Wade and Daniel brought up the rear.
Behind them, the hidden room door slammed open.
Voices echoed through the tunnel.
“They're gone!””
A second voice shouted:
“Find them!””
Wade whispered.
“They're coming.””
Frank kept moving.
“Don't stop.””
Martha's shoes slipped on wet stone.
She grabbed the wall.
Frank caught her.
“You okay?””
“No.””
He smiled faintly.
“You always hated basements.””
“I hate you more.””
He nodded.
“Fair.””
They reached a wooden door.
Frank opened it.
They emerged behind an abandoned machine shop two blocks away.
A black SUV sat at the curb.
Martha stared.
“Whose?””
“Mine.””
Wade opened the driver's door.
“Everyone in.””
They piled inside.
Wade drove.
No one spoke for several blocks.
Then Martha looked at Frank.
“Where is Michael?””
Frank stared through the windshield.
“I don't know.””
“You found him six months ago.””
“Yes.””
“Then you must know something.””
“I know he infiltrated Samuel's network.””
“Where?””
“Somewhere in Arizona.””
Martha frowned.
“How far?””
“Far enough.””
She looked at the photograph.
“Is he in danger?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Tonight, very much.””
Martha's heart sank.
“Why?””
Frank looked at the road.
“Because Samuel knows someone accessed the evidence.””
“Does he know about Michael?””
“I don't think so.””
Daniel spoke.
“He will.””
Frank turned to him.
“What did you do?””
Daniel looked away.
“You know what I did.””
“I want to hear you say it.””
Daniel was silent.
Then he said:
“I sent Michael the location of the Harley.””
Martha turned.
“You did what?””
“I thought the motorcycle would bring Samuel out.””
Frank's expression hardened.
“You used my son.””
“I was trying to finish this.””
“You could have gotten him killed.””
“I know.””
Martha stared between them.
“You are all insane.””
Nobody argued.
The SUV turned onto a highway.
Martha looked at Frank.
“I want to meet him.””
“You can't.””
“Yes, I can.””
“Not tonight.””
“Tomorrow.””
Frank shook his head.
“Not until the evidence is secure.””
“What evidence?””
He looked at the flash drive in his hand.
“This isn't everything.””
Martha frowned.
“What is missing?””
“The second copy.””
She remembered the man at the dealership.
Frank made the mistake of hiding the second copy.
Martha's eyes widened.
“The second copy is in the house.””
“No.””
“You told me the box isn't the secret.””
“It isn't.””
“Then what is?””
Frank looked at the brass key.
“B-17.””
Martha held it up.
“What does it unlock?””
“The original storage unit.””
“Where?””
“Under the old distribution yard.””
Wade frowned.
“That place was demolished years ago.””
“It was.””
“Then how?””
Frank looked at him.
“The basement survived.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“The old yard.””
Frank nodded.
“There's a sublevel under it.””
“Does Samuel know?””
“Not yet.””
Wade's eyes narrowed.
“Then that's where we're going.””
“No.””
Frank shook his head.
“Someone is waiting for us there.””
“Who?””
“The person who gave Samuel the original list.””
Martha looked at him.
“I thought Samuel was the one behind everything.””
“He is.””
“Then who gave him the list?””
Frank didn't answer.
Martha studied his face.
“Who?””
Frank finally spoke.
“My father.””
Silence filled the vehicle.
Daniel whispered:
“Our father died before all this started.””
“Exactly.””
Martha frowned.
“You're telling me a dead man gave Samuel the list?””
“No.””
Frank's voice was grim.
“I'm telling you the list was prepared before he died.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew what would happen.””
Wade looked at Frank.
“Did he tell you?””
“He tried.””
“And you didn't listen.””
“I was young.””
Martha stared through the windshield.
“This keeps getting worse.””
Frank nodded.
“It hasn't gotten to the worst part.””
She looked at him.
“What now?””
Frank pointed at the road ahead.
A dark sedan was following them.
Wade saw it too.
“Have you seen that car?””
“Three times.””
“Since when?””
“Since the dealership.””
Daniel turned around.
“There was another one behind us.””
Martha looked through the rear window.
Nothing.
Then the sedan accelerated.
Wade stepped on the gas.
The engine roared.
The sedan followed.
Martha gripped the seat.
“Who are they?””
Frank's face remained calm.
“People who don't want you reaching Michael.””
“They know about him?””
“They know someone is helping me.””
The sedan moved into the passing lane.
Wade's hands tightened around the wheel.
“There's an exit coming.””
“Take it.””
He swung the SUV onto the ramp.
The sedan followed.
Then another set of headlights appeared behind them.
Martha looked back.
“Two cars.””
Frank nodded.
“We're being herded.””
“To where?””
“The old yard.””
Wade swore.
“They know we're going there.””
Daniel looked at Frank.
“Then somebody told them.””
Martha watched him.
“Who?””
Daniel's face changed.
“There's only one person who knew the location.””
Frank looked at him.
“You.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“You told them.””
“I didn't.””
“You were the only one I told.””
Martha's eyes moved between them.
Then she noticed Daniel's hands.
He was holding something.
A phone.
The screen was dark.
Martha remembered the call from the attacker.
The name on the display.
*BELL.*
She stared.
“Daniel.””
He looked up.
“What?””
“Give me the phone.””
“No.””
“Give it to me.””
He tightened his grip.
Frank turned.
“Daniel.””
“No.””
Wade's eyes narrowed.
“You hiding something?””
Daniel looked terrified.
“I have to make a call.””
“To whom?””
“My son.””
Martha froze.
“Your son?””
Daniel nodded.
“Michael.””
Martha's heart lurched.
“Why do you have his number?””
“He gave it to me.””
“When?””
“Six months ago.””
“Why did you never tell me?””
Daniel looked down.
“Because Michael told me not to.””
“Why?””
“Because someone close to you was sending him information.””
Martha stared.
“Someone close to me?””
Daniel nodded.
“Someone inside your house.””
She felt the blood drain from her face.
“My housekeeper?””
“No.””
“Neighbor?””
“No.””
“My daughter?””
“No.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked at Frank.
Frank's expression was grim.
“Ask her about the funeral.””
Martha frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel reached for the phone.
“I think Michael knows.””
Before he could dial, the device vibrated.
An incoming message.
One line.
Daniel read it.
His face turned white.
“What?””
He handed Martha the phone.
The message was from an unknown number.
*YOU FOUND FRANK. NOW WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO MICHAEL.*
Martha's fingers went numb.
Another message arrived.
A photograph.
Michael was sitting in a chair.
His hands were tied.
His face was bruised.
Martha made a sound that did not feel human.
“No.””
Frank grabbed the phone.
His expression shattered.
“They got him.””
Wade looked at the screen.
“Where was that photo taken?””
Frank zoomed in.
There was a wall behind Michael.
Concrete.
A red stripe.
And a faded number.
17.
Frank went silent.
Martha looked at him.
“What?””
He stared at the image.
“B-17.””
Wade slammed the brakes.
The SUV stopped hard enough to throw everyone forward.
Frank looked toward the darkness ahead.
“They aren't at the yard.””
“Where are they?””
“They're already in the storage unit.””
Martha's heart pounded.
“They have Michael.””
Frank nodded.
“And they have the second copy.””
Daniel whispered:
“Then they have everything.””
“No.””
Frank looked at Martha.
“They don't have one thing.””
“What?””
“The key.””
Martha held up the brass key.
For the first time that night, determination replaced fear in Frank's eyes.
He reached across the seat and closed his hand around hers.
“Martha.””
She looked at him.
“I need you to do something for me.””
“What?””
“When we get there, stay behind me.””
“No.””
“Martha—”
“I'm done standing behind people.””
He stared at her.
She tightened her grip on the key.
“I spent thirty years waiting for someone else to tell me the truth.””
She looked at the dark road ahead.
“Tonight, I get my son back myself.””
Frank's eyes filled with tears.
He nodded.
“Then we're going home.””
Wade restarted the engine.
The SUV turned toward the abandoned distribution yard.
Martha looked out the window.
For the first time in decades, she wasn't returning to the past.
She was driving directly into it.
And somewhere beneath the ruined buildings, her son was waiting.
Alive.
May you like
Bound.
And holding a secret that could finally destroy every person who had lied to Martha for thirty years.
