Chapter 10: The Man Behind the Door
The gunshot echoed through the basement.
For one terrifying second, I thought someone had been hit.
Then I realized something worse.
Nobody knew where the bullet went.
Smoke curled from the weapon in Officer Reed’s hand.
But he wasn’t aiming at us.
He was aiming at the old cassette recorder.
The device shattered against the wall.
The sound of plastic breaking filled the basement.
Everyone froze.
Daniel stared at him.
“You didn’t want to kill us.””
Reed’s breathing was heavy.
“You don’t understand what that thing is.””
I stepped backward.
“What did you just destroy?””
Reed looked at me.
His face was no longer the calm officer I had worked beside.
It was someone else.
Someone desperate.
“Evidence.””
Laura shook her head.
“No.””
She pointed at him.
“You’re protecting them.””
Reed’s eyes moved toward her.
“You have no idea what you started.””
Daniel laughed.
“You always were afraid of the wrong things.””
Reed turned sharply.
“Be quiet.””
I looked at Daniel.
“You knew about him.””
Daniel didn’t answer.
That answer hurt more than anything.
“You knew Reed was involved?””
Daniel looked down.
“I suspected.””
“Suspected?””
My voice rose.
“You let me stand next to him all night?””
“I was trying to figure out whose side he was on.””
I stared at him.
“You used me.””
Daniel looked ashamed.
For a second, he looked almost human.
Then another sound came.
A soft click.
From behind the hidden door.
Everyone turned.
The door slowly opened.
A man stepped out.
Older.
Gray hair.
A scar across his cheek.
And in his hand was a folder.
Nobody recognized him.
Except Daniel.
Daniel whispered:
“No.””
The man smiled.
“Hello, son.””
The entire room went silent.
Daniel looked like the ground had disappeared beneath him.
“Dad.””
My heart stopped.
His father.
The person behind everything.
The man stepped into the basement.
“Everyone thinks Daniel built this empire.””
He looked around.
“They’re wrong.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Don’t do this.””
His father ignored him.
“Daniel was always too emotional.””
The man looked at me.
“But he was useful.””
Officer Reed lowered his weapon slightly.
The older man noticed.
“Reed.””
Reed straightened.
“Mr. Voss.””
The name hit me.
Voss.
I remembered seeing it in the files.
Company records.
Hidden transfers.
Chairman Voss.
The man who was supposed to be retired.
“You knew,” I whispered.
Voss smiled.
“I knew everything.””
Daniel looked furious.
“You told me she was gone.””
Voss looked at him.
“I told you what you needed to believe.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You used me.””
Voss laughed softly.
“Of course.””
The cruelty in his voice was worse than shouting.
“You were never the leader, Daniel.””
Daniel’s face changed.
For years, he had acted powerful.
But standing there, he looked like a child.
Voss opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
Names.
Including mine.
“My father tried to expose you,” I said.
Voss nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you kill him?””
The room went quiet.
Voss smiled.
“Because your father was more useful alive.””
My stomach turned.
“He’s alive?””
Voss ignored the question.
Instead, he looked at the parrot.
“That bird was supposed to be destroyed.””
The parrot tilted its head.
Then spoke.
“Liar.””
Voss smiled.
“Still annoying.””
I looked at the bird.
“You knew all of this?””
The parrot stared at Voss.
Then said:
“He made Daniel do it.””
Daniel looked at the bird.
“What?””
The parrot repeated.
“He made Daniel do it.””
Voss’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Because the bird had just revealed something he didn’t want anyone to know.
“What did Daniel do?”” I asked.
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel whispered:
“My father made me lock Megan downstairs.””
Megan covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“I didn’t want to.””
Voss looked at him coldly.
“But you did.””
Daniel looked broken.
“I thought she was dead.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Megan.
Then Laura.
Then Daniel.
How many secrets had this house been hiding?
Voss stepped closer.
“You’re all wasting time.””
He looked at me.
“The truth is simple.””
I tightened my fists.
“What truth?””
He smiled.
“Your father didn’t disappear because he was my enemy.””
A pause.
“He disappeared because he was my partner.””
I froze.
Impossible.
Voss turned toward the stairs.
“And now he’s coming back to finish what he started.””
Suddenly, a loud crash came from upstairs.
Everyone looked up.
May you like
Then the parrot screamed:
“HE’S HERE.””
