Chapter 21 - THE NIGHT VICTOR DISAPPEARED
Victor vanished at 11:06 p.m.
No warning.
No message.
His phone remained on the kitchen table.
Clara knew immediately.
He had gone voluntarily.
Roman found the note.
I HAVE MERCER. KEEP CLARA HOME.
Clara read it.
Then looked at Roman.
Roman said:
“No.”
“I haven't said anything.”
“I know your face.”
“Get the car.”
“No.”
Clara smiled.
“You want to tell Victor you failed to stop me or explain why I stole your car?”
Roman considered.
“Passenger seat.”
They found Victor at an abandoned church.
Mercer was tied to a chair.
Alive.
Victor stood opposite him.
Clara entered.
“You left me a note?”
Victor looked genuinely guilty.
“That was poorly judged.”
“Poorly?”
Mercer laughed.
Clara ignored him.
“You promised.”
“I know.”
“No disappearing.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Victor looked at Grace’s file.
Mercer had offered him a trade.
His own life for Grace.
Victor planned to kill Mercer and end the threat.
Clara understood.
That frightened her.
“You thought murder would protect us.”
“Yes.”
“Maybe it would.”
Victor looked surprised.
Clara approached.
“But then you’d spend the rest of your life wondering whether Nathan was right about you.”
Victor’s face changed.
Mercer watched them.
Clara continued.
“I don’t need you clean.”
She took Victor’s hand.
“I need you choosing.”
Victor looked at Mercer.
Then untied him.
Mercer blinked.
Victor handed Clara his gun.
“Call the police.”
Mercer smiled.
“You think prison stops this?”
“No,” Clara said.
She looked toward Grace.
“Evidence does.”
Grace had agreed to cooperate with federal investigators.
Her DNA could prove Mercer’s experimental program had specifically targeted Nathan’s genetic line.
Thomas Arden had survived.
Rebecca had records.
The children had testimony.
The case no longer depended on one archive.
It depended on living people.
Mercer finally looked afraid.
Police arrived.
Real police.
Victor remained beside Clara.
As Mercer was removed, he turned.
“Nathan tried this too.”
Clara answered:
“Nathan was alone.”
She looked around.
Victor.
Roman.
Grace.
Rebecca.
Thomas.
May you like
She smiled faintly.
“I’m not.”
