Chapter 6 - The Man in the Hallway
Everything happened at once.
Security officers rushed through the corridor.
Someone screamed.
Thomas pulled me behind him.
Dad grabbed Vanessa.
For one second, I couldn't understand what was happening.
Then a shadow moved at the far end of the hall.
A man ran toward us.
Thomas shouted,
“Down!”
We dropped.
The man disappeared around the corner.
Security chased him.
My father stood frozen.
Thomas looked at him.
“You knew this would happen.”
Dad shook his head.
“No.”
“You knew someone was coming.”
“I didn't.”
Thomas stared at him.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“Who was he?”
She wouldn't answer.
I was shaking.
“Why are they after me?”
Thomas crouched beside me.
“Because you found something they don't want you to find.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
That answer wasn't enough.
I wanted specifics.
I wanted my mother.
I wanted my father to become the man I remembered.
Instead, the hospital security chief arrived.
“We found something.”
He handed Thomas a small plastic evidence bag.
Inside was a key.
Thomas stared at it.
“What is this?”
The chief pointed to the engraving.
M17.
Thomas's face changed.
“What?”
“It's from an old storage facility.”
“Which one?”
The chief gave him the address.
Thomas went completely still.
I noticed.
“What?”
He didn't answer.
“Grandpa.”
He looked at me.
“That facility belonged to Rachel.”
My heart jumped.
“She had a storage unit?”
“Yes.”
“What's inside?”
“I don't know.”
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Don't go.”
Thomas turned.
“Why?”
She looked terrified.
“Because that's where everything started.”
Dad stared at her.
“Vanessa.”
She shook her head.
“You can't keep lying.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
Vanessa looked at me.
Then whispered,
“Your mother left something there.”
“What?”
“A recording.”
Thomas's expression hardened.
“Of what?”
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“Your father.”
Dad closed his eyes.
I looked at him.
“What did you do?”
He whispered,
“I didn't hurt her.”
Thomas asked,
“Then why would she record you?”
Dad didn't answer.
The security chief interrupted.
“There is one more thing.”
He handed Thomas another photograph.
It showed the storage facility.
Taken earlier that evening.
A woman stood outside.
Her face was partially hidden.
But I recognized the coat.
I had seen it in an old photograph of my mother.
My voice barely came out.
“That's her.”
May you like
Thomas stared at the picture.
“Rachel.”
