Chapter 13 - The Person Standing Behind Michael
We heard footsteps outside.
Three people.
Maybe four.
Thomas turned off the lights.
Rachel pulled me behind the table.
Dad stood beside us.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then the lighthouse door opened.
Michael Hale walked inside.
He looked exactly like the photograph.
Young.
Calm.
Perfectly dressed.
He wasn't holding a weapon.
That somehow made him more frightening.
“Rachel.”
She stepped forward.
“Michael.”
Thomas moved between them.
“Stay back.”
Michael smiled.
“I didn't come to hurt anyone.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To end this.”
Rachel shook her head.
“You can't.”
Michael looked at me.
“I know who she is.”
Thomas tightened his jaw.
“Then you know she's protected.”
Michael smiled.
“By whom?”
He looked around.
Then said,
“Your protection was the problem.”
Thomas stared.
Michael placed a folder on the table.
Inside were photographs.
Rachel.
Dad.
Vanessa.
Thomas.
And me.
Years of surveillance.
I felt sick.
“How long?”
Michael looked at me.
“Since you were six.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
Michael continued.
“Your mother wasn't hiding from Victor.”
“Then who?”
He looked at Thomas.
“Your grandfather.”
Thomas froze.
Rachel shook her head.
“No.”
Michael continued.
“Thomas ordered the investigation.”
“That doesn't mean he was responsible.”
Michael looked at me.
“He wasn't.”
I frowned.
“Then why are you saying this?”
Michael opened the folder.
“Because the person responsible was someone Thomas trusted.”
Rachel whispered,
“Samuel.”
Michael nodded.
“Yes.”
Thomas looked stunned.
“But Samuel died.”
Michael smiled.
“That's what everyone was told.”
My blood went cold.
“He's alive?”
Michael nodded.
“And he's been watching your family for twelve years.”
Rachel stepped toward me.
“That's why I couldn't come home.”
Thomas whispered,
“Where is he?”
Michael looked at the door.
Then said,
“Behind you.”
Thomas turned.
Nobody was there.
Michael smiled.
“Not here.”
He pulled out another photograph.
Samuel Reed stood beside my father.
But the photograph was recent.
Taken three months ago.
Dad stared at it.
“I haven't seen him in years.”
Rachel looked at him.
“That's not true.”
Dad went silent.
“What?”
Rachel's voice trembled.
“You saw him six months ago.”
Dad shook his head.
“No.”
Rachel looked at me.
“Your father met Samuel the night he saw me.”
I stared at Dad.
“Is that true?”
He couldn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face went white.
May you like
The caller ID showed one name.
Samuel Reed.
