Chapter 7 - The Man Who Should Be DeadDavid hit the floor.
Another shot shattered the window.
Martin disappeared behind the shelves.
Police shouted upstairs.
David crawled toward the exit.
Then someone grabbed his shoulder.
He turned.
A man stood behind him.
Older.
Gray-haired.
But unmistakable.
Jonathan Mercer.
His father.
David couldn't breathe.
“Dad?”
The man stared at him.
“I told you never to come here.”
David's voice broke.
“You're alive.”
“I had to be.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“It was the only way.”
“You knew Sarah was alive.”
Jonathan nodded.
“You knew Eleanor was involved.”
“Yes.”
David's anger erupted.
“You let me raise my children while that woman destroyed my family!”
Jonathan's face collapsed with shame.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You failed.”
A gunshot interrupted them.
Martin fired.
Jonathan pushed David aside.
The bullet struck the wall.
Police stormed the basement.
Martin escaped through a hidden passage.
Jonathan stood motionless.
Then he said:
“You have forty-eight hours.”
“For what?”
“Before they come for your children.”
David's blood froze.
“Who?”
Jonathan looked toward the ceiling.
“The people who funded everything.”
“Who are they?”
Jonathan's answer was barely audible.
“The board.”
David stared.
“My board?”
“Not all of them.”
Jonathan pulled a small flash drive from his pocket.
“This contains the names.”
He handed it to David.
“Don't trust anyone.”
Then Jonathan turned toward the police.
David grabbed his arm.
“You're coming with me.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“I can't.”
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“Why?”
“Because I'm already dead.”
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