He went silent. She stepped closer. \u201cWhat records?\u201d \u201cThe ones from the storage unit.\u201d Beatrice\u2019s expression changed in an instant. Pure terror. \u201cDestroy them.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d \u201cDestroy them now.\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d \u201cSimon, listen to me.\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d \u201cYour father died because of those files.\u201d \u201cWhich is exactly why I\u2019m not destr0ying them.\u201d \u201cSimon\u2014\u201d \u201cI\u2019m done being scared of ghosts.\u201d Beatrice looked toward the window. \u201cThey aren\u2019t ghosts.\u201d Something moved outside. The silver sedan pulled away from the curb.<\/p>\n
I watched it disappear around the corner. My pulse slowed slightly. Then my phone chimed. A text. Unknown number. I stared at the screen. There was an image attached. I opened it. My entire body went cold. It was a photograph of me. Standing in Beatrice\u2019s upstairs window. Taken seconds earlier.<\/p>\n
Beneath it were six words. YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT THIS BURIED. I showed Beatrice. She covered her mouth. Grandma Rose started crying. Simon said through the phone, \u201cWhat happened?\u201d I read him the message. There was silence. Then Simon whispered, \u201cMason, get out.\u201d This time, I listened. I grabbed the letters. Beatrice tried to stop me. \u201cLeave those.\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re safer here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing is safe here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shoved the bundles inside my jacket.<\/p>\n
Then I noticed something beneath them.<\/p>\n
A small black cassette tape.<\/p>\n
There was handwriting across the label.<\/p>\n
KENNETH \u2014 FOR MASON & SIMON.<\/p>\n
I picked it up.<\/p>\n
Beatrice saw it.<\/p>\n
Her face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew this was here.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stepped toward me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMason, give me the tape.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n
I placed it in my pocket.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m taking it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMason.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grandma Rose stood between us.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet him go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice stared at her mother.<\/p>\n
Then at me.<\/p>\n
Something defeated entered her expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think the truth will make you feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n
I walked toward the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked back at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it will finally make me feel like my life belongs to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I left.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t go home.<\/p>\n
Simon and I agreed to meet at his apartment, but halfway there he changed the location.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot my place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He directed me to an old workshop owned by one of his engineering colleagues.<\/p>\n
It was closed on Sundays.<\/p>\n
When I arrived, Simon was already waiting.<\/p>\n
The moment I stepped inside, he locked the door behind me.<\/p>\n
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.<\/p>\n
Then he hugged me.<\/p>\n
Hard.<\/p>\n
My brother rarely hugged anyone.<\/p>\n
That was when I realized how frightened he was.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou okay?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSame.\u201d<\/p>\n
We moved into the back office.<\/p>\n
A laptop sat on the table beside several file boxes.<\/p>\n
I stared at them.<\/p>\n
\u201cKenneth\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon nodded.<\/p>\n
I removed the letters from my jacket.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd these are Amelia\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
His expression tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe never a.ban.don.ed us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon looked down.<\/p>\n
For years, my brother had claimed he didn\u2019t care about our biological parents.<\/p>\n
Standing there now, he looked like the little boy with the blue blanket again.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she want us?\u201d<\/p>\n
I handed him the first letter.<\/p>\n
He read silently.<\/p>\n
His jaw tightened. Then his eyes filled.<\/p>\n
He turned away.<\/p>\n
I pretended not to notice.<\/p>\n
After a while, he asked, \u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n
I told him everything.<\/p>\n
Daniel.<\/p>\n
The investigation.<\/p>\n
Kenneth\u2019s suspicious de:ath.<\/p>\n
Amelia believing Daniel was alive.<\/p>\n
The photograph left in Kenneth\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
Then he opened one of the boxes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found something that matches that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He removed a folder.<\/p>\n
Inside were photocopied bank transfers. Corporate names. Account numbers.<\/p>\n
None of it meant anything to me.<\/p>\n
Simon pointed to one company.<\/p>\n
VALE-HART CONSULTING.<\/p>\n
\u201cVale,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel Vale.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s Hart?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s where it gets strange.\u201d<\/p>\n
He opened the laptop.<\/p>\n
\u201cI searched old corporate records.\u201d<\/p>\n
He showed me a scanned registration document.<\/p>\n
Two directors were listed.<\/p>\n
DANIEL VALE.<\/p>\n
KENNETH HART.<\/p>\n
I stared at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHart?\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cKenneth\u2019s original surname.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe changed his name before he married Beatrice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
I read the record again.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Kenneth and Daniel didn\u2019t just work together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey owned a company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
A horrible possibility formed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeatrice lied again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered what Grandma Rose said.<\/p>\n
Kenneth discovered financial crimes.<\/p>\n
Daniel helped him.<\/p>\n
But what if that wasn\u2019t the whole story?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if Kenneth was involved?\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon closed the laptop.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019ve been trying to figure out.\u201d<\/p>\n
I reached into my pocket.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found this.\u201d<\/p>\n
I placed the cassette tape on the table.<\/p>\n
Simon stared at the label.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Mason and Simon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have anything that can play it?\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave me a look.<\/p>\n
\u201cEngineering workshop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Five minutes later, he returned with an old cassette recorder from a storage cabinet.<\/p>\n
We sat across from each other.<\/p>\n
The machine looked absurdly small.<\/p>\n
Such a tiny thing to hold a dead man\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n
Simon inserted the tape.<\/p>\n
He pressed PLAY.<\/p>\n
Static filled the room.<\/p>\n
Then Kenneth spoke.<\/p>\n
My father.<\/p>\n
Seventeen years de:ad.<\/p>\n
His voice cracked through the speaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re hearing this, then I failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n
Kenneth continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cMason. Simon. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Static.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are things I should have told you.\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice sounded tired.<\/p>\n
Frightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kept telling myself I had more time.\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need you to understand first that your mother loved you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmelia did not a.ban.don you.\u201d<\/p>\n
My throat tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe gave you to me because she believed I could protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Static.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe that was her greatest mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
I leaned closer.<\/p>\n
Kenneth took a breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel Vale was your biological father.\u201d<\/p>\n
We already knew that.<\/p>\n
Then he said, \u201cHe was also my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon shot upright.<\/p>\n
I froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
The tape continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy younger half brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at Simon.<\/p>\n
That made Kenneth\u2026<\/p>\n
Our uncle.<\/p>\n
Our adoptive father had been our biological uncle.<\/p>\n
Kenneth\u2019s recorded voice continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel and I started Vale-Hart together. We were young and stupid. We accepted money from men we should never have met.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon whispered, \u201cJesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe told ourselves it was business. We asked no questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Static.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen Daniel wanted out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth\u2019s voice trembled.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had Amelia. He had the boys. He wanted a real life.\u201d<\/p>\n
I covered my mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agreed to help him collect evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
A long silence.<\/p>\n
Then Kenneth said, \u201cBut someone betrayed us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon leaned closer to the recorder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was our accountant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Static.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
A noise sounded on the tape.<\/p>\n
Like Kenneth shifting papers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Beatrice tells you she knew nothing, do not believe her.\u201d<\/p>\n
My blood went cold.<\/p>\n
Simon stared at me.<\/p>\n
Kenneth continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeatrice knew more than I realized.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt dizzy.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe knew Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Static crackled.<\/p>\n
Then Kenneth said the sentence that changed everything again.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe knew Daniel before she knew me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon slowly turned toward me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
The tape continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how deep her involvement goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth\u2019s voice became quieter.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I found payments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Static.<\/p>\n
\u201cPayments to an account in her maiden name.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart hammered.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe says Daniel sent them.\u201d<\/p>\n
A long pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe her.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tape suddenly clicked.<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d Simon said.<\/p>\n
I shook the recorder.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe the tape ended.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then another sound emerged.<\/p>\n
Kenneth again.<\/p>\n
Much quieter.<\/p>\n
As though he had returned later.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne more thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon and I froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Daniel is alive\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Static swallowed several words.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026do not trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The recording distorted.<\/p>\n
Then Kenneth said, \u201cAnd do not assume Amelia is innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the machine.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tape hissed.<\/p>\n
Kenneth\u2019s voice weakened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe it was someone inside the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Click.<\/p>\n
The tape stopped.<\/p>\n
Simon and I sat motionless.<\/p>\n
For several seconds, the only sound was the faint buzzing of the fluorescent lights.<\/p>\n
Then Simon said, \u201cInside the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
I rubbed my forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeatrice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho else?\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to hear it.<\/p>\n
Not after finally discovering she had loved us.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad literally said not to assume she was innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe also said he didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood and paced the room.<\/p>\n
My entire life had turned into shifting ground.<\/p>\n
Every time I thought I had found a solid truth, it disappeared beneath me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s something else,\u201d Simon said.<\/p>\n
I stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
He reached into his backpack.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mentioned Amelia thought Daniel was alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI found this in the storage unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
He handed me a photograph.<\/p>\n
It was old.<\/p>\n
Slightly faded.<\/p>\n
A man stood outside a train station.<\/p>\n
Tall.<\/p>\n
Dark hair.<\/p>\n
Gray eyes.<\/p>\n
I stared at his face.<\/p>\n
I knew that face.<\/p>\n
Not exactly.<\/p>\n
But pieces of it.<\/p>\n
My nose.<\/p>\n
Simon\u2019s jaw.<\/p>\n
The shape of both our eyebrows.<\/p>\n
On the back of the photograph, Kenneth had written:<\/p>\n
DANIEL \u2014 PRAGUE \u2014 2011.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was alive,\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n
Simon nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another photograph was underneath.<\/p>\n
Amelia.<\/p>\n
I knew instantly.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t need anyone to tell me.<\/p>\n
Brown hair.<\/p>\n
Gray eyes.<\/p>\n
She was standing beside Daniel.<\/p>\n
The date was the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut she wrote to us saying she had just found him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the photograph.<\/p>\n
Something felt wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho took this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon opened his mouth.<\/p>\n
Then stopped.<\/p>\n
Neither of us had thought of that.<\/p>\n
The photograph had been taken from across the street.<\/p>\n
Secretly.<\/p>\n
Someone had been following them.<\/p>\n
Simon took out another document.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found a hotel receipt in the same folder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKenneth\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSame city.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSame date?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo days later.\u201d<\/p>\n
My pulse began racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cKenneth was dead by 2011.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room went silent.<\/p>\n
I grabbed the receipt.<\/p>\n
The date was clear.<\/p>\n
March 14, 2011.<\/p>\n
Kenneth supposedly died in 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I said.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be another Kenneth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at the signature.\u201d<\/p>\n
I did.<\/p>\n
I knew that handwriting.<\/p>\n
I had just seen it on the cassette.<\/p>\n
Kenneth Hart.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon sat back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ran the receipt number through the hotel archive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou contacted them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough an old corporate records request.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reservation existed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe someone used his name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
My phone rang.<\/p>\n
We both jumped.<\/p>\n
Unknown number.<\/p>\n
Simon shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The phone kept ringing.<\/p>\n
I stared at it.<\/p>\n
Then something came over me.<\/p>\n
Anger.<\/p>\n
I answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n
No one spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Static.<\/p>\n
Then a man\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n
Old.<\/p>\n
Rough.<\/p>\n
\u201cMason?\u201d<\/p>\n
Every hair on my body stood up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is this?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sound like him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike who?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
My blood went cold.<\/p>\n
Simon moved closer.<\/p>\n
I switched the call to speaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
The man breathed slowly.<\/p>\n
Then he said, \u201cYour mother told me you found the tape.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon and I stared at each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAmelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
My knees nearly gave out.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s alive?\u201d<\/p>\n
The man ignored the question.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to destroy everything Simon took from the storage unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon\u2019s face hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
The voice continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe files. The photographs. Especially the ledger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon went still.<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat ledger?\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
The man on the phone laughed softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo he didn\u2019t tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at Simon.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was going to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat ledger?\u201d<\/p>\n
The caller spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk your brother whose name he found inside it.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
Simon grabbed the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough. Who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
The man became quiet.<\/p>\n
Then he said, \u201cYou boys should have listened to Beatrice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The call ended.<\/p>\n
For several seconds, I stared at Simon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat ledger?\u201d<\/p>\n
He walked toward the boxes.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI found an account ledger hidden beneath the floor panel in the storage unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you didn\u2019t tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know what it meant.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose names are in it?\u201d<\/p>\n
He opened a box.<\/p>\n
Then stopped.<\/p>\n
His entire body stiffened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
He began moving files frantically.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ledger.\u201d<\/p>\n
He emptied the box.<\/p>\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did you last see it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked toward the locked workshop door.<\/p>\n
No one had entered.<\/p>\n
At least not while we were there.<\/p>\n
My phone chimed again.<\/p>\n
Another message.<\/p>\n
Unknown number.<\/p>\n
This time there was no photograph.<\/p>\n
Only an address.<\/p>\n
And beneath it:<\/p>\n
MIDNIGHT.<\/p>\n
COME ALONE.<\/p>\n
IF YOU WANT TO MEET AMELIA.<\/p>\n
Simon read it over my shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the message.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe might be alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr it\u2019s a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth can be true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt says alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n
My phone chimed again.<\/p>\n
A second message.<\/p>\n
WE KNOW SIMON IS WITH YOU.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
IF HE COMES, SHE DIES.<\/p>\n
Simon swore.<\/p>\n
I stared at the address.<\/p>\n
It was less than forty minutes away.<\/p>\n
An abandoned industrial area near the river.<\/p>\n
I should have called the police.<\/p>\n
I should have walked away.<\/p>\n
But after twenty years of lies, I couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Not when Amelia might be waiting at the other end.<\/p>\n
Not when answers were finally within reach.<\/p>\n
Simon grabbed my shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cMason, don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf she went through everything they say she did\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t even know who\u2019s texting you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
He let go.<\/p>\n
For several seconds, we stared at each other.<\/p>\n
Then Simon said, \u201cThere\u2019s something I didn\u2019t tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course there is.\u201d<\/p>\n
He ignored that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ledger wasn\u2019t just financial records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNames.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose names?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople connected to Vale-Hart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKenneth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBeatrice?\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
I swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon hesitated.<\/p>\n
Then nodded again.<\/p>\n
My stomach sank.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
He went silent. She stepped closer. \u201cWhat records?\u201d \u201cThe ones from the storage unit.\u201d Beatrice\u2019s expression changed in an instant. Pure terror. \u201cDestroy them.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d \u201cDestroy them now.\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d \u201cSimon, … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,21,22,1,5,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aita","category-daily-article","category-reddit-stories","category-story","category-story-daily","category-viral-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6402"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6411,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6402\/revisions\/6411"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}