Chapter 10 - Daniel's Offer
The front door opened before anyone reached it.
Daniel entered alone.
He wore a dark suit.
No weapon visible.
No fear.
He looked at Claire.
“Hello, little sister.”
Ryan raised his weapon.
“Don't move.”
Daniel smiled.
“You still think you're protecting her.”
Ryan's jaw tightened.
“What do you want?”
Daniel looked at Claire.
“I want to finish what your family started.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Where is Nora?”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“You remember.”
“Answer me.”
“Nora is alive.”
The room went silent.
Patricia's knees nearly gave way.
Claire stared.
“Where?”
Daniel looked at Graves.
“You know.”
Graves shook his head.
“I don't.”
Daniel laughed.
“You've spent nineteen years believing she died.”
He looked back at Claire.
“She didn't.”
Claire's heart raced.
“Take me to her.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she doesn't want to see you.”
Claire froze.
“What?”
Daniel stepped closer.
“She remembers everything.”
Claire whispered:
“So do I.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at her tattoo.
“You remember only what she allowed you to remember.”
Graves raised his weapon.
“Enough.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You're still carrying the same badge.”
Graves frowned.
“What?”
Daniel reached inside his jacket.
He removed an old military photograph.
Graves stared.
His face changed.
The photograph showed the Nightglass team.
Twenty-one people.
Graves was there.
Richard was there.
Patricia was there.
And standing behind them was a woman.
Claire recognized her.
The woman had appeared in her childhood nightmares.
Claire whispered:
“Who is she?”
Daniel answered:
“Nora's mother.”
Patricia began to shake.
Claire turned toward her.
“You knew her.”
“Yes.”
“What happened to her?”
Patricia looked at Daniel.
“She died.”
Daniel smiled.
“No.”
Patricia stared at him.
Daniel placed the photograph on the table.
“She is the reason all of you are still afraid.”
Claire looked at the photograph again.
There was something written on the back.
She turned it over.
A single sentence.
THE FIRST BETRAYAL CAME FROM INSIDE THE FAMILY.
Claire looked at Richard.
Then Patricia.
May you like
Then Ryan.
For the first time, she wondered whether the person who had betrayed Nora was still standing in the room.
