Chapter 13 - The Truth That Split the Family
Evelyn sat down.
Nora remained standing.
Julian stood beside her.
David and Daniel waited silently.
Evelyn finally spoke.
Your father is Charles.
Nora exhaled.
Then why did he say otherwise?
Because he wanted to hurt you.
Nora frowned.
He wanted me to doubt everything.
Yes.
Why?
Because he knew you were close to the truth.
Evelyn reached into her purse.
She removed an old letter.
Your grandmother wrote this before she died.
Nora took it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My dear Nora.
There was no mention of another father.
Instead, there was a single warning.
Never trust a man who needs you to hate another person.
Nora looked at Evelyn.
What does that mean?
Your father spent your entire life convincing you that everyone around him was dangerous.
Evelyn's voice broke.
He wanted you dependent on him.
Nora sat beside her.
Why did you stay?
Because I was afraid.
Of Charles?
Of what he knew.
Evelyn looked toward Julian.
And because I knew what happened to Robert Vance.
Julian stiffened.
What happened to my father?
Evelyn looked at him.
He was not killed by Charles.
Julian's face went pale.
Then who?
Evelyn looked at David.
David's expression changed.
No.
Evelyn whispered.
He was betrayed by someone inside the military unit.
Daniel stood.
Who?
Evelyn shook her head.
I never learned the name.
But Robert left something behind.
What?
A notebook.
Where is it?
Evelyn looked at Nora.
Your grandmother hid it.
Where?
In the one place Charles never searched.
Nora understood.
My room?
Evelyn nodded.
Nora ran upstairs.
She searched through old boxes.
Photographs.
Books.
Letters.
Then she found a loose floorboard.
Underneath it was a notebook wrapped in cloth.
She opened it.
Robert's handwriting filled the pages.
Most of it was coded.
But one page was clear.
If I disappear, the person who betrays me will return to Nora.
Nora froze.
Return to me?
Julian read over her shoulder.
It means the betrayal isn't finished.
A page slipped from the notebook.
Nora picked it up.
A name was written there.
David Bell.
Everyone turned.
David stared at the paper.
Nora looked at him.
You betrayed Robert?
David shook his head.
No.
Then why is your name here?
David looked at Daniel.
Because Robert believed I was the only person who could stop the real traitor.
Who is the real traitor?
David's eyes moved toward the window.
Before he could answer, the lights went out.
A voice came through the house's security system.
Nora.
It was Charles.
If you want the truth about Robert Vance, come to the chapel.
Come alone.
Then the system went silent.
May you like
Nora looked at Julian.
She already knew what she was going to do.
