Chapter 11 - The Name Beneath the Name
Daniel left before sunrise.
He refused to tell them where Nora was.
But he left behind one thing.
A key.
It was small.
Black.
Engraved with the same symbol.
Graves examined it.
“This isn't a key to a door.”
Claire looked at him.
“Then what is it?”
“A key to a file.”
Ryan frowned.
“What kind of file?”
“One that doesn't exist anymore.”
They returned to the estate.
Richard refused to speak.
Patricia remained upstairs.
Claire followed Graves into the study.
He opened an old military database on a secure device.
The key was connected to an encrypted archive.
The screen displayed a single name.
NIGHTGLASS.
Then another.
C-06.
Claire stared.
“Open it.”
Graves hesitated.
“I don't know what this will reveal.”
“Open it.”
He entered the key.
The archive unlocked.
Thousands of documents appeared.
Most were corrupted.
One file remained intact.
SUBJECT C-06 — STATUS: ACTIVE.
Claire's breathing stopped.
“I'm C-06.”
Graves looked at her.
“No.”
“Then who is?”
He opened the file.
A photograph appeared.
Claire stared.
The woman in the photograph was older than the girl from the basement.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
Green.
The same eyes as Claire.
The same face.
Older.
The photograph was labeled:
NORA VALE.
Claire felt numb.
“Nora looks like me.”
Graves nodded.
“She was your biological sister.”
Claire stared at him.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“My parents never told me I had a sister.”
“They couldn't.”
“Why?”
Graves looked toward the door.
“Because your mother isn't your mother.”
Claire turned.
“What?”
He lowered his voice.
“Patricia adopted you.”
Claire shook her head.
“Then who are my parents?”
Graves didn't answer.
The study door opened.
Patricia stood there.
She looked exhausted.
Claire faced her.
“Tell me.”
Patricia slowly walked into the room.
“I am not your biological mother.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Who is?”
Patricia looked at Richard.
Richard finally spoke.
“Your father is dead.”
Claire opened her eyes.
“And my mother?”
Patricia whispered:
“She is not dead.”
Claire stared.
“Where is she?”
Patricia looked toward the window.
“I don't know.”
Graves asked:
“Then who does?”
May you like
Patricia answered:
“Nora.”
