Chapter 11: The Man Behind the Camera
Daniel slammed his shoulder against the door.
Nothing.
He tried again.
The wood didn't move.
“Everyone stay back.””
Celia grabbed the handle.
“It's electronically locked.””
Dr. Voss looked toward the ceiling.
“They're watching.””
“Who?”” I demanded.
She didn't answer.
The speaker crackled.
Then a man's voice filled the room.
“Hello, Daniel.””
Daniel looked at the camera.
“Who are you?””
“You know me.””
“No.””
“You've spent half your life trying to forget me.””
Eleanor covered her mouth.
I looked at her.
“You recognize him.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
The voice laughed.
“Still protecting him, Eleanor?””
Her face collapsed.
“Marcus.””
Daniel turned.
“Who is Marcus?””
Eleanor whispered, “Your father's partner.””
The voice came again.
“Business partner.””
Daniel stared at the speaker.
“You're dead.””
“So was your father.””
“You disappeared.””
“I was encouraged to.””
“By whom?””
“By the people who wanted the Mercer fortune.””
Daniel's fists tightened.
“You took Anna.””
“No.””
“Then who did?””
“Your father.””
Daniel shook his head.
“My father said Anna was dead.””
“He wanted you to believe that.””
The camera turned slightly.
I could hear a mechanical hum.
Then the screen on the wall came alive.
A live video appeared.
Lily was sitting in another room.
My heart stopped.
“Lily!””
She looked around.
“Mommy?””
“I can see you!””
Daniel stepped toward the screen.
“Marcus, if you hurt her—”
“You still think this is about hurting children.””
“What do you want?””
“The ledger.””
Daniel looked down.
The black book was still in his hand.
“You can have it.””
“No.””
“What?””
“I want the original.””
“This is the original.””
Marcus laughed.
“No, Daniel.””
The screen changed.
An image appeared.
A woman standing in a hospital corridor.
Me.
Seven years younger.
Pregnant.
Standing beside me was Marcus.
I felt dizzy.
“I know him.””
Daniel looked at me.
“You do?””
“I remember his face.””
The memory came back suddenly.
A hand on my shoulder.
A voice saying:
“Your husband doesn't need to know yet.””
I gasped.
Daniel caught me.
“What did he say?””
“He said you didn't need to know.””
Marcus spoke through the speaker.
“Now she remembers.””
Dr. Voss looked terrified.
“Stop this.””
“You should have stayed out of it, Mara.””
“You promised Claire would be left alone.””
“I promised nothing.””
Celia moved toward the screen.
“Where is Lily?””
Marcus ignored her.
“Celia, you always were the sentimental one.””
“You used me.””
“Yes.””
“You said Anna was safe.””
“She was.””
Celia's eyes filled with tears.
“Where is she?””
“Ask Eleanor.””
Everyone turned.
Eleanor stared at the floor.
Daniel's voice dropped.
“What did you do?””
“I sent Anna away.””
“To where?””
“A safe house.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus laughed.
“You knew exactly where.””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Montana.””
Daniel stared at her.
“She's in Montana?””
“She was.””
“What happened?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus interrupted.
“She died two years ago.””
Celia covered her mouth.
“No.””
Marcus continued.
“Anna knew too much.””
I stepped toward the speaker.
“Why was Lily chosen?””
Silence.
Then Marcus said:
“Because she was born with something your husband doesn't have.””
Daniel frowned.
“What?””
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“Your father's crimes.””
Dr. Voss shook her head.
“That's impossible.””
Marcus laughed.
“Not if the embryo came from the Mercer archive.””
My entire body went cold.
Daniel looked at me.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus answered.
“Lily wasn't conceived the way you were told.””
Daniel stared at me.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“Don't.””
“Claire…”
“I don't know what he's talking about.””
Marcus spoke slowly.
“Your daughter carries genetic material from the original Mercer bloodline.””
Daniel's face drained of color.
“My father?””
“No.””
“Then who?””
Marcus paused.
“Your father's firstborn son.””
Daniel went completely still.
“I was his only son.””
“No.””
The screen changed.
A photograph appeared.
A teenage boy standing beside Daniel's father.
The boy looked about sixteen.
And he had Daniel's eyes.
Daniel stepped backward.
“Who is that?””
Eleanor began crying.
“My God.””
I looked at her.
“You know him.””
She nodded.
“That was Michael.””
“Who is Michael?””
Eleanor couldn't speak.
Celia whispered:
“Daniel's brother.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't have a brother.””
“You did,” Eleanor said.
“What happened to him?””
“Your father erased him.””
The speaker crackled again.
Marcus said:
“And Lily is the only person who can prove he ever existed.””
The screen went black.
Then Lily's voice came through.
“Mommy?””
I grabbed the microphone.
“I'm here.””
“I found something.””
“What?””
“There's a box under the bed.””
“Don't touch it.””
Too late.
Lily lifted the lid.
Inside was a photograph.
She held it up to the camera.
A family portrait.
Daniel's father.
Eleanor.
A teenage boy.
And a baby.
I stared at the baby.
May you like
Daniel whispered:
“That baby is me.””
