The man they erased
386 Words
The private conference room at the bank was locked from the inside.
Only Edward, Oliver, Tracy, Marcus, and Inspector Reed remained.
Edward sat heavily in a chair, the threatening note still in his hand.
"For twenty-five years," he began, "I believed I was protecting everyone by keeping this secret."
Tracy's voice trembled.
"Then please... no more lies."
Edward nodded.
"Your biological father was never a Lancaster."
Oliver exchanged a surprised glance with Marcus.
"Who was he?" Oliver asked.
Edward looked at the old photograph from the safety deposit box.
"His name was Gabriel Stone."
The name meant nothing to Tracy.
But Marcus suddenly stiffened.
"I've heard that name before."
Everyone turned to him.
Marcus opened his laptop and searched an old archive.
A faded newspaper article appeared.
Business Reformer Gabriel Stone Dies in Mysterious Car Accident.
Marcus looked up.
"The accident happened twenty-five years ago."
Edward's voice grew heavy.
"It wasn't an accident."
The room fell silent.
"Gabriel discovered Project Phoenix while auditing several corporations—including Lancaster Holdings. He was determined to expose everyone involved."
Tracy's eyes filled with tears.
"My father..."
"He fell in love with your mother," Edward continued. "When Phoenix learned she was carrying his child, they marked all three of you."
Oliver leaned forward.
"Who gave the order?"
Edward hesitated.
"I never learned the identity of Phoenix."
Inspector Reed frowned.
"Then why hide Tracy?"
"Because Gabriel made me promise."
Edward reached into his coat and removed an old pocket watch.
"This belonged to him."
He handed it to Tracy.
Inside the cover was an engraving:
'For my daughter, Tracy. No matter what happens, find the truth.'
Tears rolled down Tracy's cheeks as she held the watch close.
Just then, Marcus's laptop emitted a sharp alert.
His face drained of color.
"We've got a problem."
"What is it?" Oliver asked.
Marcus turned the screen toward them.
Someone had remotely accessed Ethan's flash drive.
A new file had appeared.
The title read:
IF YOU ARE WATCHING THIS, PHOENIX HAS WON.
Oliver clicked the file.
The video began to play.
A hooded figure slowly removed their mask.
Everyone in the room gasped.
It wasn't Uncle Richard.
It wasn't Vanessa.
It wasn't Adrian.
The face on the screen belonged to someone they all trusted.
Inspector Naomi Reed.
She looked directly into the camera and smiled.
- Writer
