Chapter 4 - Patricia's Second Life
The hidden door opened from the other side.
Patricia stepped into the room.
Her silver evening dress was gone.
She was wearing dark clothing.
Her hair was pulled back.
She looked nothing like the elegant woman who had been smiling for photographs minutes earlier.
Claire stared.
“Mom?”
Patricia looked at her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Patricia said:
“You shouldn't have come home tonight.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“I live here.”
“You were supposed to stay at the base.”
“I came because you invited me.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Patricia looked toward Richard.
“You told her?”
Richard said nothing.
Patricia closed her eyes.
“Then it's over.”
Graves raised his weapon.
“Patricia Whitaker.”
She looked at him.
“Colonel Graves.”
“You know who I am.”
“I've known for nineteen years.”
Graves's expression hardened.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“During Nightglass?”
“Yes.”
Claire felt sick.
“You were there?”
Patricia nodded.
“I was one of the people who got you out.”
Claire stared.
“Then why did you spend my whole life telling me I was weak?”
Patricia looked at her.
“Because I needed you to hate me.”
Claire's eyes widened.
“What?”
“If you loved me, you would have followed me.”
Patricia's voice trembled.
“And if you followed me, they would have found you.”
Claire shook her head.
“You could have told me.”
“I couldn't.”
“Why?”
“Because there was someone inside your life.”
Ryan looked confused.
“Who?”
Patricia looked at him.
“I don't know.”
Richard suddenly spoke.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
Richard walked toward the filing cabinet.
He removed another document.
“This arrived six months after Claire came home.”
He handed it to Graves.
The colonel read it.
His expression changed.
Claire asked:
“What is it?”
Graves didn't answer.
Ryan took the paper.
His face went pale.
“What?”
Claire grabbed it.
The document contained a photograph of a man.
She recognized him immediately.
She had seen him at family gatherings.
She had spoken to him at Thanksgiving.
He had attended her graduation.
He had stood beside her father at her military commissioning.
Claire whispered:
“Uncle Daniel.”
Patricia nodded.
“Daniel isn't your uncle.”
May you like
Richard added:
“He is Black Meridian.”
