Chapter 9: The Last Lie
My aunt Claire always smelled like vanilla perfume.
That was the first thing I remembered.
Every birthday.
Every holiday.
Every family gathering.
She was the person who brought gifts when my parents couldn’t afford them.
The person who sat beside my hospital bed when I broke my arm.
The person my mother trusted more than anyone.
And now her face was on a photograph connected to everything.
I couldn’t breathe.
“No.””
Richard looked at me.
“You know her?””
“She’s family.””
Emily picked up the picture.
“Your aunt?””
I nodded slowly.
Richard closed his eyes.
“That explains everything.””
“What does?””
“She was the person who had access to your father’s files.””
I looked at him.
“You’re saying she did this?””
“I’m saying she knows more than anyone.””
I grabbed my phone.
“I’m calling her.””
Richard stopped me.
“Daniel.””
“What?””
“If she knows we found this…”
He didn’t finish.
He didn’t have to.
Emily looked terrified.
“What do we do?””
I stared at the photograph.
Then I made a decision.
“We find out the truth.””
I called Claire.
She answered immediately.
“Daniel?””
Her voice was cheerful.
Too cheerful.
“Claire, where are you?””
“At home. Why?””
“I need to ask you something.””
A pause.
“Okay.””
“Did you know Richard Hale?””
Silence.
Only for a second.
But enough.
My grip tightened.
“Claire?””
She exhaled.
“Who told you that name?””
I looked at Emily and Richard.
“She did.””
Claire became quiet.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel, listen to me carefully.””
“What?””
“Do not trust anyone in that room.””
My eyes moved to Richard.
“What does that mean?””
“It means you don’t know the truth.””
“Then tell me.””
Another silence.
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because they’ll kill you.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
She hung up.
I immediately called back.
No answer.
Then a message arrived.
A location.
And one sentence.
*Come alone if you want answers.*
Emily grabbed my phone.
“No.””
“I need to go.””
“Absolutely not.””
“Emily—”
“She’s manipulating you.””
Richard nodded.
“She is.””
I looked at him.
“You’re one to talk.””
He accepted that.
“You’re right.””
That surprised me.
Then he said:
“But Claire is dangerous.””
“How do you know?””
“Because she was there the night your father died.””
Everything went silent.
I drove to the location.
But I didn’t go alone.
Emily and Richard followed in another car.
The address led to an abandoned office building.
I walked inside.
“Claire?””
My voice echoed.
Then she appeared.
Older.
Tired.
Broken.
Not the woman from my childhood.
The woman from the photograph.
“Daniel.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
She started crying.
“Because I had no choice.””
“That’s what everyone says.””
“I’m serious.””
“You knew everything.””
“Yes.””
“You knew my father was investigating.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Richard was alive.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you lie?””
She looked down.
“Because your mother asked me to.””
I froze.
“My mother?””
Claire nodded.
“Your father found out the truth.””
“What truth?””
“That Richard wasn’t the enemy.””
She looked at me.
“He found out who was controlling everything.””
“Who?””
Claire took a breath.
Then she said:
“Your mother.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Daniel…”
“No.””
“She wasn’t evil.””
“Then why?””
“Because she was protecting you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says they’re protecting me.””
Claire stepped closer.
“Your mother made a deal.””
“What deal?””
“She gave them information.””
“Who?””
Claire looked behind me.
And suddenly her expression changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Daniel…”
I turned around.
A car door slammed outside.
Someone was here.
Claire whispered:
“You were followed.””
Then the building lights went out.
And a familiar voice came from the darkness.
“Daniel.””
My blood froze.
May you like
Because I knew that voice.
My mother.