Chapter 73 - THE SECRET ROOM
Elena led us downstairs.
There was a hidden room beneath the house.
Inside were boxes.
Documents.
Photographs.
Maps.
Names.
I saw my grandfather's name.
Eleanor's.
Andrew Cole's.
Julian's father's.
But then I saw another name.
MICHAEL REED.
I looked at my father.
“Why is your name here?”
He shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Elena answered.
“Because I investigated him.”
My father looked at her.
“You investigated me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't know who I could trust.”
She opened a file.
Inside were records of my father's movements.
Every hotel.
Every bank account.
Every meeting.
I felt uneasy.
“You were watching him?”
“I had to.”
“He was protecting me.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because your father disappeared before I did.”
My father stared.
“What?”
Elena looked at him.
“You told me you were going to protect Emily.”
“I did.”
“You told me you'd come back.”
“I tried.”
“You disappeared.”
“Because your father threatened me.”
Everyone became silent.
My grandfather looked away.
Elena continued.
“He told Michael that if he came back, Emily would die.”
My father nodded.
“He was right.”
I looked at my grandfather.
“You threatened my father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I believed Elena had betrayed us.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“I never betrayed anyone.”
She opened another file.
Inside was a photograph of a young man.
I recognized him.
Andrew Cole.
But beside him was someone else.
A much younger version of my grandfather.
And beside them—
my father.
The three men were standing together.
I looked at Michael.
“You knew Cole.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I worked with him.”
My heart sank.
“Were you part of the network?”
“No.”
May you like
Elena answered:
“He infiltrated it.”
