Chapter 12 - Beneath the Children’s Center
William Mercer had died twelve years earlier.
Daniel had identified his body after a private plane crashed into the sea. The remains had been badly damaged, but dental records confirmed his identity.
Eleanor now claimed those records had been falsified.
Daniel wanted to question her further, but the paramedics insisted she needed immediate treatment.
Before they took her away, she whispered one more sentence.
“William created compartment seventeen.”
Daniel drove toward the abandoned children’s center with Claire.
The police followed at a distance after Daniel warned them about the underground tunnels.
The building stood beyond the city limits, surrounded by weeds and rusted fencing. Most of the east wing had been demolished, but the foundation and lower level remained.
Claire led Daniel through a gap in the fence.
“The main entrance will be watched.”
“You have been here recently.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
Daniel stopped.
“You knew the vault still existed.”
“I knew it existed. I could not open it without the necklace and token.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Because I didn’t know whether you were part of it.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You approached my daughter without knowing whether I was dangerous?”
“I needed to know what Anna had told her.”
“She was eight.”
“I know.”
“You frightened her.”
Claire looked toward the dark building.
“I have spent eight years being frightened.”
Daniel had no sympathy to offer.
They entered through a broken service door.
The corridor smelled of damp concrete. Old murals of animals remained on the walls, their painted smiles faded and cracked.
Claire switched on a flashlight.
“The stairs are ahead.”
They descended into the lower level.
Daniel’s phone displayed no signal.
At the bottom, they found a metal door marked with the number 17.
The sapphire necklace was already fitted into a circular opening near the handle.
Someone had brought it from Eleanor’s car.
Daniel inserted the brass token into the second slot.
The lock clicked.
Claire grabbed his arm.
“Once this opens, whoever took Lily will know.”
“They already know we’re here.”
He pulled the door.
Inside was a narrow room lined with filing cabinets.
A single light burned above a table.
Lily sat in a chair.
Her hands were not tied, but she looked terrified.
Daniel rushed toward her.
“Dad!”
She ran into his arms.
Daniel held her tightly.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“A man told me to wait.”
“Where is he?”
“He went through that door.”
She pointed toward a second exit behind the cabinets.
Daniel checked her cheek and arms.
Other than the mark Rebecca had left, she appeared unharmed.
Claire stood in the doorway, staring at Lily.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Lily pressed closer to Daniel.
“Are you my other mom?”
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“I gave birth to you.”
“But Mom Anna raised me.”
“Yes.”
Lily thought for a moment.
“Then she’s still my mom.”
“Always,” Claire said.
A speaker crackled above them.
A man’s voice filled the room.
“Touching.”
Daniel looked upward.
“Who are you?”
“You already know.”
The voice was distorted.
“Show yourself.”
“In time.”
A screen on the far wall turned on.
Security footage appeared.
Anna stood inside the same records room eight years earlier. She was holding a folder while arguing with Thomas Vale.
The audio was missing.
Then Eleanor entered.
Daniel watched his mother take the folder from Anna.
Rebecca appeared seconds later.
Lily gripped Daniel’s hand.
“Aunt Rebecca was there.”
Daniel stared at the date.
The footage had been recorded the night before Anna’s accident.
Rebecca had always claimed she had been in Paris that week.
The video continued.
Anna pointed toward the camera and said something.
Thomas looked alarmed.
Then a fourth person entered.
His face remained beyond the camera’s view.
He wore a dark suit and walked with a silver-handled cane.
Daniel recognized the cane.
It had belonged to William Mercer.
The screen went black.
The distorted voice returned.
“You wanted the truth about Anna. Open the center cabinet.”
Daniel approached it.
Inside were adoption files, bank records and photographs of children.
On top rested a sealed evidence bag containing Anna’s missing phone.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
Daniel,
If William learns that I copied the list, he will kill me.
Daniel read the sentence twice.
Behind him, Claire gasped.
The second door had opened.
May you like
A figure stood in the tunnel.
Before Daniel could see his face, the light went out.
