Chapter 8 - THE MAN WHO SAVED HER
Evelyn couldn't breathe.
"That's impossible."
Kendrick replayed the recording.
Same voice.
Samuel Cross.
Retired NYPD detective.
Former organized crime investigator.
Evelyn shook her head.
"He found me after the crash."
"Then he didn't find you by accident."
"He put me in a safe house."
"So Barrett always knew where you were."
"No."
"He helped you change your identity?"
"Yes."
"Then he built Willa Hart."
Evelyn stepped away.
Memories rearranged themselves brutally.
Samuel telling her not to investigate.
Samuel warning that the Ashfords would kill her.
Samuel convincing her to move every year.
Samuel always knowing where she was.
"Oh my God."
Kendrick grabbed his phone.
"Find Samuel Cross."
His men started searching.
Evelyn sat down.
"He was at my father's funeral."
Kendrick looked at her.
"He told me nobody had recovered the bodies because the fire was too hot."
Her eyes filled.
"He told me I couldn't go home."
Kendrick crouched in front of her.
"Evelyn."
"He made me afraid of you."
"Maybe he had reason."
She almost laughed.
"Comforting."
"I'm not pretending I'm a good man."
"No?"
"No."
His gaze held hers.
"But I didn't kill your family."
She whispered, "I believe you."
That surprised both of them.
A phone rang.
Unknown number.
Evelyn answered.
"Hello?"
Samuel's voice.
"Evie."
She closed her eyes.
Kendrick signaled for silence.
"Uncle Sam."
"Don't go to Pier 19."
Her hand tightened.
"You knew."
A long pause.
"I'm sorry."
"How long?"
"Evelyn—"
"HOW LONG?"
"From the beginning."
Tears rolled down her face.
"Why keep me alive?"
"Because your father hid something Barrett needed."
"The key."
"Yes."
"You knew about the locket."
"No. Daniel was smarter than us."
Samuel sounded tired.
"For six years, Barrett believed you might eventually lead him to it."
"So you watched me."
"Protected you."
"You murdered my family."
"I didn't."
"You worked for the man who did."
Silence.
Then Samuel said:
"I was there the night of the fire."
Evelyn stopped breathing.
"I was supposed to kill all four of you."
Kendrick's eyes darkened.
Samuel continued.
"But I couldn't kill a seventeen-year-old girl."
"You shot at my car."
"I shot the tire."
"My brother called me while the house was burning."
Samuel's voice broke.
"I know."
"What happened to him?"
No answer.
"Samuel."
"Your brother wasn't inside."
Evelyn stood so fast the chair fell over.
"What?"
Kendrick stared.
Samuel whispered:
"Lucas survived."
Evelyn's entire world stopped.
"My brother is alive?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Barrett has him."
The call disconnected.
Evelyn stared at the phone.
For six years she had mourned her younger brother.
Remembered his laugh.
His ridiculous music.
The way he stole food from her plate.
Now Samuel was telling her Lucas had been alive all along.
Kendrick grabbed his coat.
"We're going to Pier 19."
Evelyn wiped her tears.
"You said I wasn't going."
"I changed my mind."
"Why?"
"Because Barrett just gave us another reason to burn his empire down."
They reached the garage.
Titan waited there.
Beside him stood Penny.
Kendrick stopped.
"What are you doing here?"
Penny looked at Evelyn.
Then whispered:
"He's going to hurt her."
Kendrick crouched.
"Who?"
Penny's eyes filled with tears.
"Uncle Barrett."
Kendrick's heart broke.
"You remember him from Mommy's accident?"
Penny nodded.
Everyone went silent.
Then she whispered the sentence Kendrick had waited three years to hear.
May you like
"He was in the car behind us."
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