Chapter 6 - THE ARCHITECT
The emergency lights flickered on.
Richard Morgan stood at the end of the hallway.
He wasn't holding a gun.
But two men stood behind him.
Claire stared.
“You.”
Richard sighed.
“I was hoping we could avoid this.”
“You've been working with them.”
“I've been trying to protect you.”
“By framing me?”
“By keeping you alive.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“My father died.”
Richard's expression changed.
“I know.”
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Richard looked at Lauren.
“Your brother knows.”
Lauren shook her head.
“No.”
Richard looked at Claire.
“Mark tried to warn your father.”
“About Meridian Circle?”
“Yes.”
Claire's heart tightened.
“Then why did he threaten me?”
“Because he was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
Richard answered:
“The Architect.”
Claire looked at him.
“Who is he?”
Richard didn't respond.
Then Lauren whispered:
“My mother.”
Claire froze.
“Patricia?”
Lauren nodded.
Richard looked away.
“Patricia isn't the Architect.”
“Then who?”
Lauren shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Richard stepped closer.
“Patricia takes orders.”
“From whom?”
“The same person who ordered your father's death.”
Claire's voice broke.
“Who?”
Richard looked directly at her.
“Your father knew.”
Claire remembered the notebook.
THE BENNETTS ARE NOT THE REAL THREAT.
She suddenly understood.
Her father had known Patricia was only a middleman.
But why had he protected Claire from the truth?
Richard continued.
“The Architect has been inside your family for years.”
Claire felt a chill.
“Who?”
Richard looked toward Samuel.
Claire turned.
Samuel's expression was unreadable.
Richard said:
“Ask your attorney.”
Claire stared at Samuel.
“What does he mean?”
Samuel didn't answer.
Richard suddenly threw a small device onto the floor.
A recording began.
Her father's voice.
“If Claire is listening to this, Samuel Green has probably already told her enough to become dangerous.”
Claire looked at Samuel.
Her heart dropped.
The recording continued.
“Samuel, if you failed to keep her away from the archive, you know what happens next.”
The recording stopped.
Claire stared at him.
“You knew.”
Samuel lowered his eyes.
“I knew your father suspected someone.”
“You knew about the archive.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about Mark.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wasn't sure who was compromised.”
Claire stepped backward.
“Are you?”
Samuel looked at her.
“No.”
Richard interrupted.
“Not yet.”
Claire turned.
“What does that mean?”
Richard said:
“Samuel was recruited by Meridian Circle years ago.”
Claire's stomach turned.
Samuel shook his head.
“I infiltrated them.”
Richard laughed.
“That's what they all say.”
Samuel looked at Claire.
“Your father trusted me.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because your father knew the truth would make you a target.”
Claire felt trapped between them.
Then Lauren spoke.
“There's something none of you understand.”
Everyone turned.
“The Architect isn't trying to steal Northbridge.”
Claire frowned.
“Then what?”
“Northbridge is worthless without the archive.”
Richard nodded.
“Exactly.”
Lauren continued:
“The archive contains something worth far more than money.”
“What?”
“A list.”
“Of what?”
“People.”
Claire stared.
“Names of everyone who helped Meridian Circle.”
Richard added:
“Judges. Prosecutors. Bankers. Politicians. Corporate executives.”
Claire looked at the archive.
“So if this goes public…”
“Half the organization falls,” Richard said.
“And the other half?”
“They come after you.”
The building shook.
A loud explosion sounded downstairs.
Richard's men ran toward the stairs.
Samuel grabbed Claire.
“Move.”
They rushed through a side corridor.
Behind them, glass shattered.
Claire looked back.
Fire was spreading through the lobby.
Someone had set the building on fire.
They escaped through a loading dock.
Outside, police sirens approached.
But Richard wasn't with them.
Claire turned.
“Where's Richard?”
Samuel looked toward the burning building.
“Gone.”
Claire noticed something in her hand.
A small flash drive.
She hadn't remembered picking it up.
A note was attached.
ASK WHY YOUR FATHER NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT YOUR BIRTH.
Claire froze.
Samuel saw it.
“Don't.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“Don't open that.”
“Why?”
“Because once you know, there's no going back.”
Claire stared at the drive.
“What does my birth have to do with Meridian Circle?”
Samuel was silent.
Then he finally said:
“Everything.”
Claire felt the ground disappear beneath her.
“My father was my father.”
“Yes.”
“Then what's the secret?”
Samuel looked at her.
“You weren't born into the family you think you were.”
Claire's face went pale.
“What?”
Before Samuel could explain, his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then whispered:
“She's alive.”
Claire stared.
“Who?”
May you like
Samuel looked at her.
“Your mother.”
