Chapter 21 - The Stranger at the DoorThe stranger arrived at midnight.
Daniel was awake.
Chloe was asleep upstairs.
Three knocks.
Daniel opened the door.
An elderly man stood outside.
Gray coat.
Walking cane.
Sharp eyes.
“You're Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“My name is Henry Cole.”
Daniel didn't recognize him.
Henry handed him a photograph.
Daniel looked at it.
His grandfather.
Thomas Mercer.
Standing beside Henry.
Daniel's expression changed.
“You knew him.”
“I served him.”
“Who was he?”
Henry smiled.
“The man who started everything.”
Daniel stepped aside.
“Come in.”
Henry entered.
He looked around the house.
“You rebuilt.”
“I had to.”
“Your father would be proud.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“My father is dead.”
Henry shook his head.
“No.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“He survived the explosion.”
Daniel stared.
“How do you know?”
“Because I was there.”
“Where is he?”
Henry looked toward the window.
“Planning his return.”
Daniel clenched his fists.
“What does he want?”
“You.”
“Why?”
“Because you're the only person who can unlock the final ledger.”
Daniel looked at Chloe's sleeping photograph on the mantel.
“I destroyed it.”
Henry smiled.
“No.”
He pointed to Daniel's wedding ring.
“It's been with you the entire time.”
Daniel removed the ring.
He examined the inside.
A tiny symbol appeared.
One he had never seen before.
Henry whispered:
“The final ledger is encoded in the ring.”
Daniel stared.
“Who designed it?”
Henry smiled.
“You did.”
Daniel's phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared.
Charles Mercer.
Alive.
Standing in a city Daniel recognized.
New York.
Underneath:
COME ALONE.
Daniel looked at Henry.
“Where?”
“Times Square.”
“Why?”
Henry smiled.
“Because your father wants to offer you a final deal.”
Daniel grabbed his coat.
Chloe appeared at the stairs.
“Where are you going?”
Daniel looked at her.
He couldn't lie.
“My father.”
She understood.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Chloe—”
“You promised.”
Daniel stopped.
She walked toward him.
“You promised you'd come back.”
Daniel smiled.
“I did.”
She took his hand.
“Then let's go.”
They left together.
Outside, a black car waited.
The driver looked familiar.
Marcus.
Alive.
Daniel stopped.
Marcus smiled.
“Miss me?”
Daniel stared.
“How?”
Marcus opened the door.
“Long story.”
Daniel looked at Chloe.
May you like
Then entered.
The car disappeared into the night.
