Chapter 10 - THE TRADE
Cross demanded we meet in the abandoned east wing.
Alone.
Marcus refused.
My father refused.
I went anyway.
But I didn't go unprepared.
The east wing had been closed for twelve years.
My grandfather's old office remained there.
Cross stood inside.
Malcolm sat tied to a chair.
Blood covered his forehead.
The key rested on the desk.
Cross smiled.
“You came.”
“Let him go.”
“No.”
“You wanted me.”
“I need your biometric authorization.”
“For the archive.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas locked the master files.”
I stared at him.
“You've spent twenty-two years trying to get inside.”
“Correct.”
“You killed him.”
Cross smiled.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
His expression changed.
“Ask your father.”
My stomach tightened.
“Don't.”
“Richard knows more than he's admitted.”
“Stop.”
“He always has.”
Malcolm lifted his head.
“He's telling the truth.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
Malcolm coughed.
“Richard was at the marina.”
“I saw the video.”
“You saw what Daniel wanted you to see.”
Cross smiled.
“Careful, Senator.”
Malcolm continued.
“Richard came back.”
My heart pounded.
“What happened?”
Malcolm looked at me.
“Your grandfather was alive.”
Cross raised the gun.
“Enough.”
I stepped forward.
“Let him talk.”
Cross pointed the weapon at me.
“Open the archive.”
“No.”
His finger tightened.
I didn't move.
“You won't shoot me.”
“Why?”
“You need me alive.”
His smile disappeared.
For the first time that night, I had leverage.
I took another step.
“Tell me what happened to my grandfather.”
Cross stared at me.
Then Malcolm whispered.
“Richard made a choice.”
“What choice?”
“He chose you.”
My throat tightened.
“What does that mean?”
Cross laughed.
“It means your grandfather put his own granddaughter in danger.”
I stared.
“Explain.”
Cross leaned against the desk.
“Thomas wanted to expose the network.”
“They threatened you.”
I stopped breathing.
“You were nine.”
“He refused to surrender the archive.”
“So they took you.”
I looked at Malcolm.
He nodded.
“You were kidnapped for six hours.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I would remember.”
“You were drugged.”
I thought about childhood memories.
A missing day.
A hospital visit my parents always described as food poisoning.
My father sleeping beside my bed.
My mother crying.
I felt sick.
Cross continued.
“Richard came to the marina begging Thomas to surrender.”
“Thomas refused.”
“My father would never—”
“He did.”
Cross smiled.
“Because your father understood something Thomas didn't.”
“Secrets weren't worth his daughter's life.”
A sound came from the doorway.
My father.
He stood there alone.
Tears filled his eyes.
“Claire.”
I looked at him.
“Is it true?”
He nodded.
That hurt more than any lie.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“All these years?”
“Yes.”
“Who kidnapped me?”
He looked at Cross.
Cross's smile vanished.
May you like
Dad raised his weapon.
“Him.”
