Chapter 4 - The Sister Who Lied)
Claire stepped away from Brooke.
Brooke's face emptied. "I was sixteen."
"She said you were there."
"I told you I was. I saw Mom burn the photograph."
"That isn't what she meant."
On the security feed, Ryan slammed the laptop shut. Grant leaned over him, shouting something the study microphone did not capture. Diane remained motionless, but her eyes were fixed on the black drive.
Maya paused the recording on Evelyn's face. "The newspaper is dated four months ago. She was alive then."
"And she expected me to see this," Claire said. "How would she know about me?"
"Because somebody has been communicating with her," Maya replied.
They both looked at Brooke.
"I received one email," Brooke said. "Six weeks ago. No return address. It said Claire was in danger and asked me to watch Ryan. I thought it might be Evelyn, but I couldn't prove it."
"Why didn't you warn me?"
"Would you have believed me? You thought I hated you."
"You did hate me."
"I envied you," Brooke snapped. "That isn't the same thing. Dad listened when you spoke. Ryan looked happy around you. Mom tried to impress you. I spent my whole life performing for those people and you walked in without knowing the rules."
Claire's anger rose. "Your envy does not explain tonight."
Brooke closed her eyes. "The night Evelyn disappeared, she came into my bedroom. Her blouse was torn and there was blood on her lip. She gave me the photograph and a key. She told me to hide both. Then Ryan came in."
"What did he do?"
"He begged her to return the drive she had taken from Dad's safe. Evelyn said she would go to the FBI. Ryan told her that if she did, Dad would destroy our family and frame Samuel Mercer."
Claire felt the air leave her lungs.
"My father?"
"Evelyn said Samuel was already gathering proof. Ryan said proof could be manufactured both ways. They argued. Evelyn ran. I followed them to the garage. Mom was waiting beside Evelyn's car."
Brooke's voice dropped.
"Mom handed Ryan a glass of water. He gave it to Evelyn. Ten minutes after she drove away, she crashed through the bridge barrier."
"You watched them drug her?"
"I didn't know until later. I was a child."
"You were old enough to hide evidence for fourteen years."
Brooke flinched.
Maya placed herself between them. "Where is the key?"
Brooke reached beneath the lining of her purse and pulled out a small brass key stamped with the number 317.
"Evelyn said it opened the first door."
"A station locker?" Maya asked.
"We checked the major terminals years ago. Nothing."
Claire took the key. "Maybe 317 isn't a locker number."
Her phone rang. Ryan.
Maya shook her head, but Claire answered.
"Are you safe?" Ryan asked.
The softness in his voice was almost worse than his violence.
"You mean, did your father finish what he started?"
"Dad has lost control. I can protect you if you come back."
"Like you protected Evelyn?"
Silence.
"Brooke is filling your head with stories," he said at last.
"I saw Evelyn's video."
Ryan breathed in sharply. "Then you know she's alive."
"Did you try to kill her?"
"No. I tried to save her from my father. I made mistakes, Claire. Terrible ones. But I never wanted her dead."
"And the pension money?"
"I moved it because Grant was going to take it. Northstar was supposed to be temporary."
"Eighteen million dollars is missing."
"It isn't missing. It's protected. I can prove it, but I need the key Brooke has."
Claire looked at the brass key in her palm.
"Why?"
"Because Evelyn took the master ledger and locked it in a private vault. The key opens her deposit box. She gave Brooke only half the instructions."
"What is the other half?"
"The burned photograph."
Ryan's answer came without hesitation.
Only four people knew they had it.
Claire, Brooke, Maya, and whoever had been watching the safe house.
The steel shutters suddenly began to rise.
Maya ran to the security console. Every camera feed had gone black.
"We have been breached," she said.
The front door unlocked itself.
May you like
Claire held Brooke's key in one hand and the burned photograph in the other. In her earpiece, Ryan whispered one final sentence.
"Whatever happens next, do not let Maya take you to Vault 317."
