Chapter 13: The Final Betrayal
Every person in the basement turned toward Officer Reed.
Nobody spoke.
Not even Reed.
The parrot stared at him from inside the cage.
“Reed.””
The single word carried more weight than any accusation.
Reed slowly shook his head.
“No.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Of course.””
Reed looked at him.
“Don’t.””
“You were there the whole time.””
Reed’s face hardened.
“I was trying to fix this.””
I stepped between them.
“Fix what?””
Reed looked at me.
His eyes were tired.
Not angry.
Tired.
“Megan…”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You don’t get to say my name like everything is normal.””
He looked down.
That was when I knew.
The truth was already there.
He just didn’t want to speak it.
Laura stepped closer.
“You worked for Voss.””
Reed didn’t answer.
“You helped him hide evidence.””
Still nothing.
Daniel suddenly moved toward him.
“You helped him destroy my life.””
Reed looked at Daniel.
“Your life?””
His voice became sharp.
“You think you were the victim?””
Daniel stopped.
Reed laughed quietly.
“You were his favorite weapon.””
Daniel’s face changed.
Reed continued.
“Voss didn’t need you to be smart. He needed you to be loyal.””
Daniel looked away.
Because he knew it was true.
I stared at Reed.
“How long?””
He looked at me.
“How long have you known?””
The silence answered.
My chest tightened.
“You knew who I was when you met me.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about my father.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Daniel.””
“Yes.””
Every answer felt like another betrayal.
“Then why?””
Reed looked toward the floor.
“Because your father made a deal.””
My father stepped forward.
“What?””
Reed looked at him.
“You disappeared.””
My father’s expression changed.
“You were told I was dead.””
“No.””
Reed shook his head.
“I was told you chose to leave.””
Everyone went silent.
“That’s not true,” my father said.
Reed looked at him.
“I know that now.””
He reached into his jacket slowly.
Nobody moved.
But instead of a weapon, he pulled out a small envelope.
He handed it to me.
“What is this?””
“The reason Voss has been afraid of you.””
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
My father.
My mother.
Daniel.
And Voss.
Standing together.
But that wasn’t what shocked me.
It was the date.
Three days before my father’s supposed death.
My mother was alive.
But she was supposed to have died years earlier.
I looked at my father.
“Why is Mom in this picture?””
His face fell.
“I didn’t want you to know.””
“Know what?””
My father closed his eyes.
“Your mother didn’t die before everything happened.””
The room became silent.
“She disappeared.””
My hands shook.
“You told me she died.””
“I was protecting you.””
I laughed once.
A painful sound.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Reed looked at me.
“She was the person who betrayed your father.””
My father nodded slowly.
“She worked with Voss.””
Daniel whispered:
“She was the beginning.””
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel stared at the photograph.
“My mother and your mother started the company together.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“They built the empire.””
Laura looked confused.
“Then why hide it?””
Daniel answered quietly.
“Because when they started losing control, they needed someone to blame.””
My father looked at me.
“And they chose us.””
Suddenly, the parrot screamed.
“CAR!””
Everyone turned.
The bird repeated:
“CAR!””
Then my father froze.
“No.””
“What?””
He looked toward the window.
“Voss isn’t running.””
A horrible realization crossed his face.
“He’s going after someone.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
No one spoke.
Then a familiar voice whispered.
“Megan.””
I froze.
Because I knew that voice.
May you like
A voice I had not heard in years.
My mother.
