Chapter 13 - the second choice at marston lake)
Peter was standing on the dock when Daniel arrived.
Morning mist floated above Marston Lake.
The old boathouse stood behind him.
Daniel approached alone.
Police waited farther up the road.
Peter heard his footsteps but did not turn.
“You never listen.”
Daniel stopped beside him.
“Family trait.”
Peter smiled faintly.
For several moments they stared at the water.
Daniel remembered coming here as children.
Peter teaching him to fish.
Peter pushing him off the dock.
Daniel retaliating by hiding Peter’s shoes.
Ordinary memories.
Precious precisely because no one had designed them.
Peter said, “I remember the first line.”
“Of the registry?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“Not yet.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
“I trust you. I don’t trust what is inside your head.”
Daniel accepted that.
Peter continued.
“Voss unlocked your section. If he built any retrieval trigger into you, hearing my half could complete the sequence.”
“So we keep them separate.”
“For now.”
Daniel stared at the lake.
“Dad wanted us together.”
“No. He wanted both halves preserved.”
“That isn’t the same thing.”
Peter nodded.
Daniel asked, “Why come here?”
“My first encoded memory begins here.”
“What memory?”
Peter pointed to the water.
“The night I supposedly drowned.”
Daniel frowned.
“That was before Voss altered you.”
“Exactly.”
Peter explained that Charles had hidden data beneath existing traumatic memories because those memories were already resistant to manipulation.
The false death at Marston formed the first container.
Daniel’s half, he suspected, began with the night Peter escaped.
Two linked events.
Two brothers.
Two versions of loss.
“Can you access everything?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Peter looked at him.
“You say that now.”
“We need time.”
“We may not have it.”
Peter reached into his coat and removed a small drive.
“What is that?”
“Files Adrian gave me.”
Daniel took it.
“Evidence?”
“Enough to expose several Mercer clients.”
“Why haven’t you released it?”
“Because some files involve subjects whose lives could be destroyed if their identities became public.”
Daniel understood.
There would be victims inside the evidence as well as criminals.
Releasing everything recklessly could create new harm.
Peter said, “We need someone who can separate them.”
“Torres.”
“Maybe.”
Daniel noticed the word.
“You still don’t trust the police.”
“Someone helped Voss take Ruth.”
“Adrian said the hotel was compromised.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel looked at the road.
“We find the leak.”
Peter nodded.
A vehicle approached in the distance.
Daniel tensed.
It was Claire.
She got out before the car fully stopped.
“You two are unbelievable.”
Daniel started toward her.
“I told you to stay with the boys.”
“And I told you never to disappear into dangerous places without me again.”
“This is not dangerous.”
Peter raised an eyebrow.
Claire pointed at him.
“You do not help.”
Peter actually laughed.
The sound surprised all three of them.
Then Claire walked onto the dock.
She looked at Peter.
“If you disappear again, Daniel will spend the rest of his life looking for you.”
Peter’s smile faded.
Claire continued.
“And my sons have already had enough people vanish.”
Peter looked toward the water.
“I’m dangerous to them.”
“So is Daniel.”
“Thank you,” Daniel said.
Claire ignored him.
“So am I, apparently. We are all targets.”
Peter shook his head.
“Voss needs me.”
“Then hiding alone makes you easier to take.”
Peter looked at her.
Claire held out her hand.
“You don’t get eighteen years back.”
Peter’s eyes filled.
“No.”
“But you can decide what you do with tomorrow.”
Peter stared at her hand.
Then he took it.
Daniel looked away for a moment because he did not want them to see his tears.
The peace lasted twelve seconds.
A shot cracked across the lake.
Peter fell.
Claire screamed.
Daniel dragged them behind the dock railing.
Another bullet struck the wood.
Police shouted from the road.
Daniel pressed both hands against Peter’s shoulder.
Blood spread between his fingers.
“Stay with me.”
Peter gasped.
“Wasn’t supposed to be dramatic.”
“Shut up.”
Claire called emergency services while officers searched the tree line.
The shooter was gone.
Peter survived.
The bullet passed through his shoulder.
At the hospital, Torres looked furious.
“We have a serious leak.”
Daniel nodded.
“Only six people knew Peter would come here.”
“Seven.”
“Who is seventh?”
Torres looked at him.
“Ruth.”
Daniel frowned.
“She’s under guard.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think she told someone?”
“I think we stop assuming anything.”
They reviewed every person who knew.
Daniel.
Claire.
Torres.
Two tactical supervisors.
Ruth.
And Adrian.
Adrian was unconscious during most of the relevant period.
Claire said, “What about the person monitoring police communications?”
Torres looked at her.
“That expands the list.”
“To how many?”
“Hundreds.”
Daniel sat back.
This could never end if Voss remained ahead of them.
Then Torres received a message.
Ruth had requested to speak immediately.
When they reached her hospital room, they found three officers outside.
Ruth looked terrified.
“I remembered who the doctor was with at the villa.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“You said you didn’t know.”
“I didn’t recognize him then.”
“Who?”
Ruth looked at Torres.
“Not Voss.”
Everyone went still.
Daniel whispered, “What?”
“The man Peter arrived with was not Elias Voss.”
Peter sat upright despite his wound.
“I saw him.”
“You saw a man you believed was Voss.”
Peter’s face changed.
Ruth continued.
“The real Voss was older. Taller. I worked with him for years.”
Torres said, “Then who was in the house?”
Ruth swallowed.
“His son.”
Daniel stared.
“Voss had a son?”
May you like
Ruth nodded.
“And if he is active, Elias may not be the person running Mercer anymore.”
