We reached the kitchen just as another gunshot shattered the window.<\/p>\n
The officers pushed us behind the wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay down!\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel's voice came from the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe, I don't want to hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Gabriel.<\/p>\n
He shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't answer him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel spoke again.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother made the same mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert raised his weapon.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou killed her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Gerald did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald's voice came from somewhere deeper inside the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always were a coward, Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
I heard footsteps.<\/p>\n
Then another shot.<\/p>\n
A body hit the floor.<\/p>\n
The officers rushed toward the hallway.<\/p>\n
We stayed behind the kitchen wall.<\/p>\n
I could hear Gerald and Daniel arguing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were supposed to destroy the evidence,\u201d Gerald shouted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was supposed to protect the network.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou betrayed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou betrayed everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then silence.<\/p>\n
Robert whispered, \u201cHe's moving toward the hidden room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabriel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
We ran.<\/p>\n
The hidden room was empty.<\/p>\n
The laptop remained open.<\/p>\n
The blue box sat on the desk.<\/p>\n
But the documents were gone.<\/p>\n
Only the cassette remained.<\/p>\n
And beneath it was another note.<\/p>\n
I knew they would come for this.<\/p>\n
So I left one final copy somewhere only Chloe would recognize.<\/p>\n
I looked around the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would I recognize?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabriel frowned.<\/p>\n
Robert thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething from your childhood.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered my mother's house.<\/p>\n
The blue curtains.<\/p>\n
The garden.<\/p>\n
The piano.<\/p>\n
The old clock.<\/p>\n
The clock.<\/p>\n
I ran toward the hallway.<\/p>\n
There had been an old wooden clock in the living room since I was a child. It had never worked properly. My mother always refused to throw it away.<\/p>\n
I reached it.<\/p>\n
Behind the clock was a narrow compartment.<\/p>\n
Empty.<\/p>\n
I searched beneath it.<\/p>\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n
Then I remembered the three taps.<\/p>\n
I tapped the wall three times.<\/p>\n
A panel shifted.<\/p>\n
Inside was a small black drive.<\/p>\n
I pulled it out.<\/p>\n
Gabriel stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe final copy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked toward the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
I put the drive into my pocket.<\/p>\n
We moved toward the front door.<\/p>\n
Gerald appeared.<\/p>\n
He looked exhausted.<\/p>\n
Blood stained one side of his shirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me the drive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou lied to me for years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was trying to keep you alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were trying to keep yourself alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
His face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't understand what Daniel will do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen help me stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald looked at Gabriel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou trust her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabriel answered immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald's expression broke.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have no idea what that choice will cost you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI already know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald looked at Robert.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou'll all die.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert raised his weapon.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald slowly lifted his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't kill Chloe's mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen prove it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe original surveillance recording.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel has it.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart sank.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why would he come here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he wants the drive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat's on it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cNames.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone.\u201d<\/p>\n
The house fell silent.<\/p>\n
Then Daniel appeared at the end of the hallway.<\/p>\n
He held a gun against Rachel's head.<\/p>\n
I hadn't realized she had followed us.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrop your weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert froze.<\/p>\n
Gabriel whispered, \u201cRachel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. Everyone is finally together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel's face was pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe drive.\u201d<\/p>\n
I took it from my pocket.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen let her go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sound like your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel's expression changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was brave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you kill her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel glanced at Gerald.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
Daniel continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother discovered the account. She was going to expose it. Gerald tried to stop her.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Gerald.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou went to her house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou threatened her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou tried to take the blue box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you kill her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe collapsed.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn't understand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother had a heart condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wasn't sick enough to die.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was under enormous stress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cGerald is lying by omission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're one to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel's grip tightened around Rachel.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me the drive.\u201d<\/p>\n
I held it out.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet her go first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you don't get it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel's eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really are your mother's daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Gabriel.<\/p>\n
He understood.<\/p>\n
While Daniel was watching me, Gabriel moved toward the side door.<\/p>\n
Robert noticed.<\/p>\n
He nodded once.<\/p>\n
Gabriel lunged.<\/p>\n
Daniel fired.<\/p>\n
The shot struck the wall.<\/p>\n
Rachel dropped.<\/p>\n
Robert tackled Daniel.<\/p>\n
The gun skidded across the floor.<\/p>\n
Gerald ran toward it.<\/p>\n
I kicked it away.<\/p>\n
Daniel and Robert struggled.<\/p>\n
Gabriel pulled Rachel behind the kitchen wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n
She shook her head.<\/p>\n
I grabbed the drive.<\/p>\n
Daniel broke free and ran.<\/p>\n
Robert chased him.<\/p>\n
Gerald followed.<\/p>\n
I stayed with Gabriel and Rachel.<\/p>\n
Then I noticed something on the floor.<\/p>\n
A small recorder.<\/p>\n
I picked it up.<\/p>\n
A red light blinked.<\/p>\n
Recording.<\/p>\n
I pressed play.<\/p>\n
My mother's voice filled the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cGerald, if you touch my daughter, I will release everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald's recorded voice answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't understand what you're threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can't win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't need to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cI only need Chloe to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n
The recording continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel knows where the money went.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerald answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel knows nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother's voice became quieter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are you afraid of him?\u201d<\/p>\n
The recording ended.<\/p>\n
I stared at the recorder.<\/p>\n
That conversation had happened before my mother's death.<\/p>\n
And she had known Daniel was dangerous.<\/p>\n
Gabriel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does the drive contain?\u201d<\/p>\n
I plugged it into the laptop.<\/p>\n
A folder opened.<\/p>\n
Inside were financial records.<\/p>\n
But one file stood apart.<\/p>\n
VIDEO_17.<\/p>\n
I clicked it.<\/p>\n
The screen showed my mother's bedroom.<\/p>\n
The date was six years earlier.<\/p>\n
My mother was alive.<\/p>\n
Gerald stood in front of her.<\/p>\n
Daniel stood behind him.<\/p>\n
And Robert was tied to a chair.<\/p>\n
I watched, unable to move.<\/p>\n
Gerald said, \u201cWhere is the evidence?\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother answered, \u201cSafe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're running out of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother looked directly into the camera.<\/p>\n
Then she said something that made my blood turn cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe will come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
The recording continued.<\/p>\n
Gerald demanded the location.<\/p>\n
My mother refused.<\/p>\n
Daniel raised a syringe.<\/p>\n
I covered my mouth.<\/p>\n
Gabriel stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
Then the recording showed Robert breaking free.<\/p>\n
He attacked Daniel.<\/p>\n
Gerald ran.<\/p>\n
My mother collapsed.<\/p>\n
Robert caught her.<\/p>\n
The recording ended.<\/p>\n
I looked at Robert when he returned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were there.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried to save her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she die that night?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe survived.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room seemed to stop.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother survived?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor three days.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere was she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn't anyone tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Gerald had people watching the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who told me she died?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked toward Gabriel.<\/p>\n
My husband lowered his head.<\/p>\n
I stepped backward.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabriel whispered, \u201cI was told she died.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGerald.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you believed him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was eighteen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou saw her alive?\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
My voice broke.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you never told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were being watched.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou let me mourn someone who was still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was the only way to keep you safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn't answer.<\/p>\n
Then Robert spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother died three days later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Daniel found her.\u201d<\/p>\n
The truth settled over me.<\/p>\n
Not one betrayal.<\/p>\n
Years of them.<\/p>\n
Layer upon layer.<\/p>\n
My mother had hidden the evidence.<\/p>\n
Robert had hidden the truth.<\/p>\n
Gabriel had hidden his knowledge.<\/p>\n
Gerald had hidden the crime.<\/p>\n
Daniel had hidden the final account.<\/p>\n
And somehow, after all those years, the evidence had still found its way back to me.<\/p>\n
Outside, sirens approached.<\/p>\n
More police.<\/p>\n
Daniel was arrested in the garden.<\/p>\n
Gerald was found near the road.<\/p>\n
He had stopped running.<\/p>\n
As officers took him away, he looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother wanted you to know one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe never blamed you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he was gone.<\/p>\n
I returned to the living room.<\/p>\n
The black drive remained in my hand.<\/p>\n
Gabriel stood near the doorway.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't expect you to forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know if I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I need to know one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you ever love me?\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
I believed him.<\/p>\n
That was the hardest part.<\/p>\n
Because love did not erase what he had hidden.<\/p>\n
It only made the betrayal hurt differently.<\/p>\n
I looked down at the drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe finish this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabriel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned toward the police lights outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe give them everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stepped beside me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked through the window.<\/p>\n
Daniel sat handcuffed in a police car.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will have to answer for his part.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel came into the room.<\/p>\n
She held the old blue box.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is still one envelope.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
She opened the box.<\/p>\n
At the bottom was a sealed letter.<\/p>\n
My name was written on it.<\/p>\n
The handwriting was my mother's.<\/p>\n
I took it.<\/p>\n
There was no warning on the outside.<\/p>\n
Only four words.<\/p>\n
For when you know everything.<\/p>\n
I opened it.<\/p>\n
And the first sentence made my hands go cold.<\/p>\n
Chloe, there is one final person you have never suspected.<\/p>\n
We reached the kitchen just as another gunshot shattered the window. The officers pushed us behind the wall. \u201cStay down!\u201d Daniel's voice came from the hallway. \u201cChloe, I don't want … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-readmore"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2283"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2293,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2283\/revisions\/2293"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}