Chapter 13 - Brother)
Arthur tried to reach the lower level.
Federal agents restrained him.
"The fire suppression system failed."
"My brother is down there."
"We don't know that."
"I saw him."
"Mr. Blackwood."
Arthur fought them.
Caroline screamed his name.
Then an explosion shook the facility.
The lower corridor collapsed.
Smoke filled the stairwell.
They were forced outside.
Arthur stood in the snow watching flames rise from hidden ventilation towers.
Six years.
He had been within two floors of Daniel.
And lost him again.
Then Samuel's phone rang.
He answered.
"Who is this?"
His expression changed.
He handed the phone to Arthur.
"Arthur."
No voice.
Then breathing.
Arthur's hand shook.
"Daniel?"
A man spoke.
Older.
Rougher.
But Arthur knew the voice.
"Still terrible at following instructions."
Arthur closed his eyes.
Daniel used to say that whenever Arthur ignored him as a teenager.
"Where are you?"
"Not there."
Arthur laughed and cried at the same time.
"You son of a bitch."
Daniel was silent.
Arthur whispered, "Are you alive?"
"Mostly."
Arthur covered his face.
Caroline realized who it was.
She started shaking.
Arthur turned on speaker.
"Caroline is here."
Silence.
Then Daniel's breathing changed.
"Caroline?"
She stepped forward.
"Daniel."
He said nothing for several seconds.
Caroline cried.
"I thought you were dead."
Daniel answered quietly.
"I was supposed to be."
Maya and Noah were not there.
Arthur suddenly wanted them there and wanted them nowhere near any of this.
"Where are you?"
Daniel ignored the question.
"Do you have the children?"
"Yes."
"Safe?"
"For now."
Daniel exhaled.
"Good."
"Come back."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because Vale isn't the Architect."
"We know."
"Do you know who is?"
"No."
Daniel became silent.
Arthur waited.
Then Daniel said, "Father found out."
Arthur tightened his grip.
"Before he died?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"Because he believed your house was compromised."
Arthur looked toward the burning facility.
"Victoria."
"Not just Victoria."
"What does that mean?"
Daniel said, "There's someone closer."
Arthur felt cold.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Then how do you know?"
"Because the Architect knew things only four people in our family knew."
Arthur thought.
Himself.
Daniel.
Their father.
Their mother, dead decades ago.
"That's impossible."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"You should retire that word."
Arthur almost smiled.
Daniel continued.
"Listen carefully. The Red Ledger is incomplete."
"How?"
"It's bait."
Samuel looked sharply at Arthur.
Daniel said, "Vale's names are real. Payments are real. But the Architect left their own network out."
"Where is the complete record?"
"The Harbor Archive."
"Where is Harbor?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because they're listening."
Arthur stared at the mountains.
"Then why call?"
"Because Marrow's destruction means the next phase started."
"What phase?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Succession."
Arthur didn't understand.
"Succession of what?"
"The Blackwood system."
"You're talking like Dad."
"I'm talking like someone who spent six years inside it."
Arthur heard pain beneath Daniel's voice.
"What did they do to you?"
"Later."
"Daniel."
"Later."
Arthur closed his eyes.
"Your children are alive."
Daniel inhaled sharply.
"I know."
Arthur looked toward Caroline.
"Maya is seven. Noah is six."
No response.
"Daniel?"
His brother's voice broke.
"I know."
Arthur realized Daniel had been watching them somehow.
"Have you seen them?"
"From a distance."
Caroline covered her mouth.
"Why didn't you come?"
Daniel whispered, "Because every person who helped me escape died."
Silence.
Arthur understood.
Daniel had stayed away because love had become a tracking device.
"I can protect you."
"No, Arthur."
"I'm not Dad."
"I know."
Daniel's voice softened.
"That's why I'm calling."
"What do you need?"
"Take the children somewhere Charles never controlled."
"Where?"
"Caroline knows."
Everyone looked at her.
Caroline shook her head.
"I don't."
Daniel said, "The lighthouse."
Her face changed.
Arthur noticed.
Caroline whispered, "Cape Rowan."
"Go there."
"Why?"
"Because Margaret Shaw is waiting."
Arthur stared.
"Margaret is alive?"
Daniel didn't answer.
"Daniel?"
The signal crackled.
His final words came quickly.
"Do not let Vale reach Victoria."
The call ended.
Arthur stared at the phone.
Samuel frowned.
"Vale reach Victoria?"
Caroline understood first.
"She's not his prisoner."
Arthur looked at her.
Caroline whispered, "She's evidence."
At the federal detention facility, Victoria was being moved to protective custody.
At 6:12 p.m., the convoy disappeared from GPS.
At 6:19, one transport vehicle was found abandoned.
The driver was unconscious.
May you like
One guard was missing.
So was Victoria Blackwood.
