Chapter 6 - THE SECOND PLAN
They reached the east wing before the gas could build.
A portable heater had been placed in Ellie's room with the exhaust hose removed. Someone had stuffed cloth into the sensor.
Clare grabbed her daughter.
"I'm leaving."
Dominic stepped aside.
"You should."
She stared at him.
He looked at Vincent. "Move them somewhere off the system. My private apartment above the west garage."
Clare shook her head. "Why trust that?"
"Because nobody has the key except me."
Ellie held up her latch toy. "And me."
For one second, Dominic almost smiled.
Then Mercer called from the archive.
Patient 417's file contained photographs.
Marcus was alive eight years ago.
Thin. scarred. right ring finger permanently bent from an old break.
One note read:
MEMORY STABILIZATION UNSUCCESSFUL.
TRANSFER AUTHORIZED BY N. MERCER.
Samuel sat down hard.
"My brother transferred him."
"Where?" Dominic asked.
The destination was redacted.
Only a billing code remained.
BLACK HARBOR.
Vincent's phone buzzed.
"Someone just opened your private garage."
Dominic reached inside his coat.
His private key was gone.
Ellie looked toward the dark hallway.
"I saw the doctor take it."
Mercer froze.
"Not me," Ellie said.
A man stepped into the emergency light.
Older than Dominic remembered.
A scar at his temple.
A crooked right ring finger.
Marcus Vale smiled.
"Hello, brother."
Vincent raised his weapon.
Marcus lifted both hands.
Dominic stared at the face he had mourned for nine years.
"I buried you."
May you like
Marcus's smile vanished.
"No. You buried what Father wanted you to bury."
