Chapter 6 — The Man Behind the Door
The entire room stopped breathing.
Richard Ashford's words remained hanging in the air.
"Daniel Cross never died."
Claire stared at the silver necklace on the table.
Her hands trembled.
She remembered that necklace.
She had bought it with her first paycheck.
A cheap little gift for a man she believed would spend the rest of his life with her.
Daniel used to wear it everywhere.
Until the night he disappeared.
Until the night she watched his car burn.
Until the night she thought she lost the only person she loved.
But now...
The impossible had become reality.
"He is alive?" Claire whispered.
Richard didn't answer immediately.
That silence told her everything.
Alex noticed.
"Father."
His voice was dangerous.
"What aren't you telling us?"
Richard looked at his son.
"I was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
"From the same people who destroyed Daniel."
Alex stepped closer.
"You keep saying that like someone else is responsible."
Richard looked toward Claire.
"Because someone is."
Before anyone could ask another question—
A loud crash came from the hallway.
Everyone turned.
The library door was slightly open.
Alex moved instantly.
He pushed the door wide.
The hallway was empty.
Only an old portrait had fallen from the wall.
A portrait of the Ashford family.
But something was wrong.
The painting had been moved.
Behind it was a small hidden compartment.
Alex reached inside.
His fingers touched something.
A phone.
An old black phone.
Richard's face changed.
"No."
Alex looked at him.
"You know this?"
Richard didn't respond.
Alex turned on the phone.
The screen immediately lit up.
One message.
One sender.
UNKNOWN
The message contained a video file.
Nobody spoke.
Alex pressed play.
The screen showed a dark room.
A man sat in a chair.
His face was hidden.
But his voice was familiar.
"Hello, Claire."
Claire froze.
The voice.
After fifteen years.
She knew it.
Daniel.
The man on the screen continued.
"I know you are watching this."
He laughed softly.
"You always were good at finding the truth."
Alex looked at Claire.
She couldn't move.
Daniel continued.
"But there is something you never knew."
The video paused.
Then resumed.
"The person who saved you from me..."
A pause.
"Was the same person who helped me disappear."
The screen went black.
Everyone looked at Richard.
Alex slowly turned.
May you like
"Father."
Richard closed his eyes.
