Chapter 12 - What Nora Was Never Supposed to Know
The envelope contained no money.
No confession.
Only a series of photographs.
The first showed Nora as a child.
The second showed Julian as a teenager.
The third showed Eleanor.
The fourth showed Charles.
The fifth showed a military unit.
David studied the final photograph.
That was us.
Nora looked at the image.
Thirty young soldiers stood together.
David was among them.
Daniel stood behind the camera.
And at the edge of the frame was Robert Vance.
Julian stared at his father.
Why was he there?
Daniel answered.
Because we were all trying to stop the same thing.
What?
A program.
Nora looked confused.
What kind of program?
Daniel hesitated.
A private intelligence operation funded through government contracts.
Charles was not its creator.
He was its financial architect.
Then who created it?
Nobody knows.
David said quietly.
But someone used Montgomery Holdings to hide it.
Nora looked at the photographs again.
And my father helped them?
Yes.
Why?
Because he believed he was protecting our country.
Nora stared at him.
You expect me to believe that?
No.
I expect you to discover the truth yourself.
David pointed to the last photograph.
Look behind Charles.
Nora leaned closer.
There was a man standing in the background.
Older.
Almost invisible.
She recognized him.
She had seen him before.
At charity dinners.
At family events.
In newspaper photographs.
Her father's closest friend.
Senator Richard Hale.
Nora whispered.
He is above my father.
David nodded.
He was.
Was?
David looked at the doorway.
He is the man who ordered the investigation closed.
Julian's expression hardened.
Where is he now?
Nobody answered.
Then Nora's phone rang.
The caller ID showed her father.
She answered.
Dad?
Charles's voice was quiet.
You found the room.
Nora said nothing.
Charles continued.
I told you to leave Julian.
Why?
Because he doesn't know what he is carrying.
Nora looked at Julian.
What is he carrying?
Charles paused.
The truth about your mother.
Nora froze.
What about Mom?
Charles whispered.
Ask her who your real father is.
The call ended.
Nora slowly lowered the phone.
Julian looked at her.
Nora?
She turned toward Evelyn.
Her mother stood in the doorway.
Crying.
Nora asked one question.
Who is my father?
May you like
Evelyn closed her eyes.
And for the first time in Nora's life, she saw her mother afraid of the answer.
