Chapter 7: Room 17
Captain Reed moved first.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him.
Daniel shoved a metal cart against the service door.
Julian stood frozen for half a second before joining him.
Another metallic click echoed through the corridor.
Someone was trying to open the lock.
“Where’s the other exit?”” I whispered.
Captain Reed pointed toward a narrow staircase.
“Down.””
We ran.
The stairwell smelled like dust and machine oil.
Our footsteps echoed as we descended.
I could hear Daniel breathing hard behind me.
Julian was right behind him.
Nobody spoke until we reached the basement level.
Captain Reed stopped beside a concrete wall.
“Room 17 is below the old headquarters, not the airport.””
I looked at him.
“Then where are we going?””
“To a car.””
“What car?””
“Mine.””
Julian shook his head.
“They’ll track the plates.””
Captain Reed looked at him.
“They already know where we are.””
“Then we need a different route.””
Daniel pointed ahead.
“There’s a tunnel.””
Captain Reed turned.
“You remember it?””
“I helped build the records facility.””
Julian laughed sharply.
“Of course you did.””
Daniel glared at him.
“Not now.””
The four of us moved through the basement until we reached a rusted maintenance door.
Daniel pulled a ring of keys from his pocket.
“How do you still have those?””
“I kept them.””
He opened the door.
A cold draft rushed through.
Beyond it was a narrow concrete passage stretching beneath the terminal.
I looked at the darkness.
“You expect me to go down there?””
Daniel nodded.
“You wanted the truth.””
“Yes.””
“Then this is what truth looks like.””
We entered.
The tunnel twisted for several minutes.
My shoes scraped against damp concrete.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Julian said, “You need to know something before we reach Room 17.””
I kept walking.
“What?””
“The account wasn’t created to steal money.””
I stopped.
“What was it for?””
Julian looked at me.
“Protection.””
“For whom?””
“For you.””
I laughed.
“That makes no sense.””
“It will.””
Captain Reed cut in.
“Let him finish.””
Julian took a breath.
“Your biological mother discovered that several companies were laundering money through a private network. She took copies of the records.””
“And?””
“She realized the people involved weren’t just executives.””
“Who were they?””
“Politicians. Lawyers. Judges. Law enforcement.””
The tunnel seemed to grow colder.
“She knew too much.””
“Yes.””
“So they killed her?””
Julian looked away.
“They tried.””
I stopped again.
“What does that mean?””
“She disappeared before they could find her.””
My pulse thudded.
“You said she disappeared.””
“I said that because it was easier than explaining the rest.””
“What rest?””
“She came back once.””
“When?””
“The night you were born.””
I stared at him.
“You're telling me my mother was alive when I was born?””
“Yes.””
“Then where did she go?””
“She gave you to Dad.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew they would use you to find her.””
I covered my mouth.
Captain Reed spoke quietly.
“Your father changed your records.””
“To protect me?””
“Yes.””
“And everyone thought I was his biological daughter.””
“Yes.””
I looked at Daniel.
“You knew?””
He nodded.
“My father told me before he died.””
“And you still lied?””
“I swore I’d protect you.””
“You failed.””
He lowered his head.
“I know.””
We continued.
At the end of the tunnel, a steel door appeared.
Painted in faded black letters were two numbers.
17.
My hand went to my pocket.
The brass key was still there.
I looked at Captain Reed.
He nodded.
I inserted it.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
Inside, the room looked untouched.
Dust covered the shelves.
Boxes lined the walls.
Old computers sat beneath plastic covers.
A wooden desk stood in the center.
On the wall was a photograph of my father.
Beside it was another photograph.
My mother.
Eleanor Shaw.
I stared at her.
“I remember this face.””
Julian looked at me.
“From where?””
“Dreams.””
Nobody spoke.
I walked toward the desk.
There was a cassette recorder.
Beside it sat a handwritten note.
My father’s handwriting.
*Rachel,*
*If you are hearing this, then I failed to keep you away from the people who ruined us.*
My throat tightened.
I pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then my father’s voice.
“Eleanor, you have to leave.””
A woman answered.
“I’m not leaving without my daughter.””
“She isn't safe with you.””
“She isn't safe with anyone.””
The recording crackled.
My father spoke again.
“You know what they’ll do.””
“They already did it to Thomas.””
“They don't know Thomas is alive.””
I froze.
Julian looked at me.
“What?””
I raised a hand.
“Listen.””
The recording continued.
My mother’s voice.
“If they discover who Rachel really is, they won't stop.””
My father answered.
“Then we'll make sure they never discover it.””
A door slammed in the recording.
Someone shouted.
Then silence.
The tape resumed with my father speaking in a whisper.
“Eleanor, go. I’ll raise her as my own.””
Her voice broke.
“And when she asks about me?””
“Tell her nothing.””
“She deserves to know.””
“She deserves to live.””
I started crying without realizing it.
The tape clicked.
A second recording began.
My father sounded older.
Tired.
“Rachel, there is one truth I need you to understand.””
I held my breath.
“You were never chosen because you were weak.””
A pause.
“You were chosen because you are the only person they cannot predict.””
My heart pounded.
“What does that mean?”” I whispered.
The recording answered.
“Your mother placed the original evidence inside something no one would ever think to search.””
Daniel moved closer.
“What evidence?””
My father continued.
“If Julian is standing beside you when you hear this, he has finally chosen the right side.””
Julian closed his eyes.
I looked at him.
My father’s final words came through the speaker.
“Trust the person who has been protecting you without telling you.””
The tape ended.
Silence.
I turned slowly.
“Who?””
Nobody answered.
Then Captain Reed reached beneath the desk.
He pulled out a small metal box.
“There’s more.””
He placed it in front of me.
A combination lock covered the lid.
I looked at the numbers.
There was a date engraved beneath them.
The date of my birth.
I entered it.
The box opened.
Inside was a single envelope.
My name was written across it.
*RACHEL SHAW.*
I stared.
Not Bennett.
Shaw.
My mother’s surname.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a birth certificate.
And at the bottom of the page was the name of my biological father.
I read it once.
Then again.
Then my knees nearly gave out.
Because the man listed as my father wasn't a stranger.
He was standing three feet away.
Captain Reed looked at the certificate.
His face collapsed.
Julian whispered, “Oh God.””
Daniel said nothing.
I lifted my eyes.
Captain Reed’s lips parted.
“Rachel…”
I couldn’t speak.
The name on the certificate was unmistakable.
*Mason Reed.*
May you like
Captain Reed.
My biological father.