Chapter 8: The Friend Who Betrayed Him
I dropped the radio.
Captain Williams stared at me.
"What did he say?""
I couldn't answer immediately.
My brain was trying to process too many impossible things at once.
My father was alive.
My father had spoken to me.
And he had just accused the man who had spent the last two days protecting me.
Captain Williams.
The man my father trusted.
The man who attended his funeral.
The man who claimed to be his closest friend.
"Sarah?""
Williams stepped closer.
I moved back.
Not because I believed my father.
Not because I believed him.
Because I no longer knew what to believe.
My entire life was built on missing information.
Everyone had secrets.
Everyone had explanations.
Everyone had reasons.
Except me.
Harris watched the captain carefully.
"You finally understand.""
Williams looked at him.
"Don't.""
"You know I'm right.""
"Michael.""
"Daniel trusted you.""
Williams's expression changed.
Pain crossed his face.
"More than anyone.""
"Exactly.""
Harris pointed at him.
"And that's why it hurt the most.""
I looked between them.
"What happened twenty-six years ago?""
Nobody answered.
Then my mother spoke.
"I'll tell her.""
Everyone turned.
She looked exhausted.
Like she had been waiting decades for this moment.
"Your father discovered that someone was selling identities.""
She looked at Harris.
"And Emily found evidence.""
Harris's face changed.
"My wife was innocent.""
"Yes.""
"Then why did Daniel investigate her?""
"Because she was investigating the same people.""
I frowned.
"What?""
My mother nodded.
"Emily wasn't involved. She was trying to expose them.""
Harris looked away.
For the first time, I saw grief instead of anger.
"My wife disappeared because of that investigation.""
"And my father?""
My mother swallowed.
"He got too close.""
Captain Williams sat down.
His shoulders looked heavier than before.
"Daniel found the person responsible.""
"Who?""
Nobody spoke.
Then Harris said:
"Richard.""
The room froze.
Captain Williams looked at him.
"You don't know what you're talking about.""
"You were there.""
"I was there because I was investigating.""
"No.""
Harris stepped closer.
"You were there because you knew.""
My mother covered her mouth.
I looked at Williams.
"Is it true?""
He didn't answer.
That was the worst answer.
"Captain.""
His eyes met mine.
"Sarah...""
"Tell me.""
He looked broken.
"I made mistakes.""
My heart sank.
"What mistakes?""
"I trusted the wrong people.""
Harris laughed.
"That's not what happened.""
Williams suddenly raised his voice.
"Enough!""
The entire room shook with his anger.
Then he lowered his voice.
"I lost Daniel.""
Nobody moved.
"I lost Emily.""
He looked at the floor.
"And I have spent twenty-six years trying to fix what I couldn't stop.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did my father tell me to get away from you?""
Williams looked at me.
"I don't know.""
A sudden crash came from the hallway.
Everyone turned.
The front door opened.
Two officers entered.
Captain Williams immediately relaxed.
"My backup.""
But Harris didn't.
He looked terrified.
"Those aren't your people.""
Williams frowned.
"What?""
The two officers raised their weapons.
Not at Harris.
At us.
"Nobody move.""
Captain Williams froze.
The badge on their uniforms looked official.
But something was wrong.
Harris whispered:
"See?""
I looked at him.
"See what?""
He pointed.
"The badge numbers.""
I looked closer.
My blood ran cold.
The officers weren't wearing current badges.
They were wearing old department badges.
From twenty-six years ago.
The same era when my father disappeared.
One officer stepped forward.
"Sarah Mitchell.""
I stepped back.
"Who are you?""
The officer smiled.
"Someone who knew your father.""
"Where is he?""
The man's smile disappeared.
"Closer than you think.""
Then he looked directly at Captain Williams.
"Richard.""
Williams raised his weapon.
"You should have stayed buried.""
My heart stopped.
May you like
Because the officer replied:
"That's exactly what Daniel said before he disappeared.""
