Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Gone
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Thomas Hale stood in the diner doorway like he had never been arrested.
Like the last twelve hours had never happened.
Like he hadn’t terrified a child, broken into my diner, and chased us through the darkness.
But something was different.
He wasn’t smiling.
He looked exhausted.
Desperate.
“Emma,” he said again.
Rick immediately stepped in front of me.
“How did you get out?””
Thomas looked at him.
“Because the people you should be afraid of are not the police.””
Rick’s jaw tightened.
“That’s exactly what someone dangerous would say.””
Thomas ignored him.
His eyes stayed on me.
“You saw the photo.””
I held up my phone.
“You mean this?””
The picture on the screen showed my father standing somewhere unfamiliar.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
The date was yesterday.
“Where is he?”” I demanded.
Thomas looked toward the windows.
“Not here.””
“Then where?””
His expression hardened.
“Emma, if you want to find your father, you need to understand something first.””
“I’m done understanding.””
My voice surprised even me.
“You’ve spent years letting me believe he was dead.””
Thomas looked away.
“I know.””
“You watched me mourn him.””
“I know.””
“You let me think my whole family was gone.””
His eyes dropped.
“And I’m sorry.””
I laughed once.
A bitter sound.
“Sorry doesn’t bring back ten years.””
Maya stepped beside me.
Her hands moved quickly.
I watched her face.
Then translated.
“She says you’re scared.””
Thomas looked at her.
For the first time, his expression softened.
“Yes.””
Maya signed again.
“Of Claire?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Rick looked confused.
“Who is Claire?””
Nobody spoke.
Then I said:
“My father’s business partner.””
Rick stared at me.
“The woman who helped you after the fire?””
I nodded.
Thomas stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
“She didn’t help you.””
The words felt like a slap.
“She controlled the story.””
I looked at him.
“Explain.””
Thomas placed the photograph on the counter.
“My job was to find people who knew the truth.””
“Your job?””
He nodded.
“I worked for Claire.””
Maya flinched.
“But I wasn’t loyal to her.””
I stared at him.
“You hunted children for her.””
His face changed.
“I hunted evidence.””
“That’s not better.””
“No,” he admitted.
“It isn’t.””
The honesty caught me off guard.
People who lied usually defended themselves.
Thomas looked like someone who had been carrying something heavy for too long.
“Three years ago, I found out Claire was eliminating witnesses.””
The room went quiet.
“Eliminating?””
Thomas nodded.
“Your father discovered what she was doing. He collected proof. Names.
Financial records. People who disappeared.””
He looked at Maya.
“Laura was one of them.””
Maya lowered her eyes.
“She was trying to expose Claire.””
I looked at the notebook.
“And my father?””
Thomas swallowed.
“He tried to run.””
My heart tightened.
“From Claire?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did everyone think he died?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Because Claire needed everyone to believe it.””
I stepped closer.
“You were there.””
His silence answered.
“You were there the night of the fire.””
Thomas nodded.
“I was.””
The anger inside me burned.
“You let it happen.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I tried to stop it.””
“But you failed.””
“Yes.””
One word.
No excuse.
Just pain.
Then the front window shattered.
Everyone dropped.
Glass exploded across the floor.
Rick grabbed Maya and pulled her down.
Thomas pushed me behind the counter.
A second later, a bullet hit the wall where I had been standing.
Someone outside was shooting.
Thomas looked toward the window.
His face changed.
“She found us.””
“Claire?”” I whispered.
He nodded.
Another shot.
The lights flickered.
Maya grabbed my hand.
She was signing desperately.
I focused.
“What?””
Her eyes moved toward the photograph.
Then toward the back exit.
She signed:
“Your father.””
I looked at her.
“What about him?””
She pointed at Thomas.
Then outside.
Then made a motion like someone falling.
My stomach dropped.
“She knows where he is?””
Thomas looked at Maya.
“What did she say?””
I stared at him.
“She says Claire knows where my father is.””
Thomas went pale.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because the only person who knew his location…”
He stopped.
I waited.
“Was me.””
The diner went silent.
Then his phone rang.
Thomas looked at the screen.
His face drained of color.
“It’s Claire.””
He answered.
Nobody spoke.
Then Claire’s voice came through the speaker.
Calm.
Almost gentle.
“Bring Emma to me.””
Thomas tightened his grip on the phone.
“No.””
A pause.
Then Claire said:
“Then I’ll bring her father’s body to her.””
The call ended.
May you like
And Thomas whispered:
“She found him.””
