PART 5 — THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
The corridor went silent.
Hailey stared at her mother.
“Jonathan is alive?”
Sarah nodded.
“He has been alive all these years.”
“Where?”
“Close.”
The footsteps stopped.
Carter's voice came again.
“Mother, I know you're down there.”
Edith stepped forward.
“You always were your father's son.”
Carter laughed.
“You have no idea.”
Then another voice spoke.
“Open the door.”
Hailey recognized the voice from old recordings.
Walter.
Her blood ran cold.
Edith stumbled backward.
“No.”
Sarah whispered:
“He found us.”
The door opened.
A tall elderly man stood there.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
A scar across his cheek.
Hailey stared at him.
He looked older than the photograph.
But there was no mistaking him.
Walter Ledbetter.
Carter stood behind him.
Hailey whispered:
“You're supposed to be dead.”
Walter smiled.
“So is your mother.”
Sarah gripped Hailey’s hand.
Walter stepped inside.
“You've caused me a great deal of trouble.”
Hailey stood between him and her mother.
“You tortured Edith.”
“Yes.”
“You imprisoned my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You manipulated Carter.”
Walter looked at his son.
“I educated him.”
Carter lowered his eyes.
Hailey turned to Carter.
“How long?”
He didn't answer.
“How long have you known he was alive?”
“Eight years.”
Hailey stared at him.
“You let everyone believe he was dead.”
“I had no choice.”
“There is always a choice.”
Carter’s face hardened.
“Not when you're dealing with him.”
Walter laughed.
“Exactly.”
Hailey looked at Walter.
“Why did you bring us here?”
“Because I want the ledger.”
“You mean the vault.”
Walter’s expression changed.
“You know about it.”
“Yes.”
“Who told you?”
Hailey said nothing.
Walter looked at Sarah.
Then Edith.
Finally, Carter.
His face darkened.
“Someone betrayed me.”
Carter stepped forward.
“It wasn't me.”
Walter slapped him.
Hard.
Carter stumbled against the wall.
Hailey flinched.
“You're still afraid of him,” she said.
Carter looked at her.
“You have no idea what he can do.”
Walter turned toward Edith.
“Give me the coordinates.”
“No.”
“Your son will die.”
Edith stared at Carter.
Carter shook his head.
“Don't.”
Walter pulled out a gun.
“Your choice.”
Edith looked at Hailey.
Then at Sarah.
She whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Hailey shook her head.
“No.”
Edith suddenly smiled.
“You always were stubborn.”
She walked toward Walter.
“I'll give you the coordinates.”
Walter lowered the gun.
“Good.”
“But first…”
Edith turned her back.
“Come closer.”
Walter approached.
Hailey realized what Edith was doing.
She was positioning herself beneath the security camera.
Her scars were visible.
The numbers.
The map.
Everything.
Walter leaned closer.
Then Edith whispered:
“Look carefully.”
Walter frowned.
“What?”
“The coordinates you want…”
She smiled.
“…were never the real ones.”
Walter froze.
Hailey understood.
The markings on Edith’s back were fake.
A decoy.
Walter had spent forty years searching for something that wasn't there.
“Where is the real ledger?” he demanded.
Edith looked at Hailey.
Walter followed her gaze.
His expression changed.
“You.”
Hailey stepped back.
“What?”
“You have it.”
“I don't.”
Walter smiled.
“Your mother gave it to you when you were eight.”
Hailey suddenly remembered.
The wooden music box.
The tiny brass key.
She had kept it for years.
She thought it was broken.
Walter saw realization flash across her face.
“Where is it?”
Hailey said nothing.
Carter whispered:
“Don't tell him.”
Walter raised the gun.
Carter stepped forward.
“Take me instead.”
Walter looked at him.
“You were always weak.”
Carter lunged.
The gun fired.
The sound exploded through the corridor.
Carter fell.
Hailey screamed.
“Carter!”
Walter turned.
But Sarah suddenly struck him from behind with the metal pipe.
He collapsed.
Edith shouted:
“Run!”
Hailey grabbed Carter.
“He's bleeding!”
“Keep pressure on it!”
They ran.
Behind them, Walter groaned.
But before they reached the stairs, Hailey heard him laugh.
She stopped.
The laughter echoed through the underground corridor.
Then Walter shouted:
“You still don't understand!”
Hailey turned.
Walter was slowly rising.
Blood ran from his forehead.
“You think the ledger is evidence?”
He smiled.
“It isn't.”
Hailey stared.
“What is it?”
Walter answered:
“It's a list of names.”
“Whose names?”
“People who are still alive.”
Hailey felt her blood freeze.
Walter continued:
“And one of those names…”
He pointed directly at her.
“…is yours.”
