Chapter 12: The Last Envelope
“Julian?””
My voice echoed through the dark vault.
Detective Lewis kept his weapon raised.
“Julian Mercer, step into the light.””
A figure appeared in the doorway.
Julian.
His shirt was soaked from the rain.
There was blood on his sleeve.
My father moved between us.
“You stay away from her.””
Julian looked at me.
“I came to warn you.””
“You shot at us.””
“I didn't.””
Detective Lewis narrowed his eyes.
“Then explain the gunshot.””
“I wasn't the one who fired.””
“Who was?””
Julian looked behind him.
“Vale.””
The name silenced the room.
Detective Lewis moved toward the corridor.
“Where is he?””
“Gone.””
“Convenient.””
Julian looked at me.
“Emily, where's the case?””
I held it tighter.
“Why?””
“Because if Vale gets it, everyone in those documents dies.””
My father stepped forward.
“You've been working for him.””
“I was.””
“Were?””
Julian's face hardened.
“I stopped eight years ago.””
“After you married my daughter?””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“You knew about Noah.””
Julian went still.
“What did you find?””
I held up the DNA report.
“You aren't his father.””
His face changed.
“I know.””
The words struck me harder than a denial would have.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Since before he was born.””
My hands shook.
“You lied to me.””
“I didn't know how to tell you.””
“You let me raise my son believing you were his father.””
“I loved Noah.””
“That doesn't answer me.””
Julian looked down.
“I knew Vale would use Noah to control you.””
“Who is Noah's father?””
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Julian.””
He looked at my father.
Then at me.
“Your mother knew the answer.””
“She left a letter.””
“Then you haven't found the right one.””
I held up the black case.
“What is the last envelope?””
Julian's face went pale.
“You opened it?””
“No.””
“Don't.””
“Why?””
“Because once you know, there is no going back.””
I laughed bitterly.
“There hasn't been a way back for years.””
Julian looked at me.
“Emily, your mother didn't just investigate Richard.””
“What did she do?””
“She investigated your birth.””
My father froze.
“My birth?””
Julian nodded.
“Richard had been moving money through your mother's family for years. But when your mother discovered the account, she also discovered something else.””
“What?””
“That you weren't her biological daughter.””
The room disappeared around me.
I stared at him.
“No.””
My father looked devastated.
“Julian…”
“Your mother adopted you,” Julian said.
I shook my head.
“She never told me.””
“She couldn't.””
“Who were my parents?””
Julian looked at the envelope.
“That's why you can't open it here.””
Detective Lewis stepped closer.
“Where should she open it?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“You've been running from Vale all night. How safe is anywhere?””
Julian ignored him.
“He knows about the envelope.””
My father looked at me.
“We need to leave.””
A loud crash came from the bank lobby.
Detective Lewis turned.
“Everybody move.””
Julian grabbed the black case.
I pulled it back.
“No.””
“Emily, please.””
“I'm not giving you anything.””
He looked directly into my eyes.
“I didn't come for the evidence.””
“Then why?””
“To get you out alive.””
A second crash.
Glass shattered.
Detective Lewis moved toward the door.
“Back entrance. Now.””
We ran.
My father supported me while Julian followed behind.
We reached a service corridor.
Then the lights came back on.
A man stood at the far end.
Richard Vale.
Older than in the photographs.
Calm.
Holding a gun.
“Julian,” he said.
Julian stopped.
“It's over.””
Richard smiled.
“It was never about you.””
His eyes moved to me.
“It was always about her.””
My father stepped in front of me.
Richard laughed.
“Thomas. Still pretending you're a hero?””
“You killed Elizabeth.””
“No.””
Richard's smile disappeared.
“She made a deal.””
I stared at him.
“What deal?””
Richard looked directly at me.
“Ask your father.””
My father went pale.
“Don't listen to him.””
Richard raised the gun.
“Tell her.””
“Tell me what?””
Richard's finger tightened.
“Tell Emily who her real father is.””
My father closed his eyes.
Richard smiled.
“Tell her whose blood is running through her veins.””
Julian suddenly lunged.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the wall.
Detective Lewis tackled Richard.
Chaos exploded through the corridor.
I dropped the case.
The last envelope slid across the floor.
Richard saw it.
He reached for it.
So did I.
Our hands touched the same envelope.
He whispered,
“Your mother was never supposed to let you know that I am your father.””
Everything inside me stopped.
Richard Vale was my father.
Then my mother's warning came back to me.
If Julian ever tells Emily the truth, believe him.
And suddenly I understood why everyone had spent seven years lying to me.
May you like
The man I called Dad wasn't my father.
The man I feared was.
