Two men entered the room.
One pointed a gun at Helen.
The other grabbed Rebecca.
Daniel fired.
The first attacker fell.
The second dragged Rebecca toward the exit.
Daniel pursued him.
But when he reached the hallway, the door slammed shut.
He heard a vehicle starting outside.
Then silence.
Rebecca was gone.
An hour later, Daniel stood alone in the hospital parking lot.
Marcus arrived.
He looked exhausted.
"Any news?"
Daniel shook his head.
Then his phone vibrated.
A video appeared.
It showed Rebecca sitting in a dark room.
Her hands were tied.
A man stood behind her.
His face was hidden.
A distorted voice spoke.
"You have something that belongs to us."
Daniel stared at the screen.
The man continued.
"Bring the original ledger to the old courthouse. Midnight. No police. No partners."
The video ended.
A second message appeared.
And Daniel... bring your father.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Arthur."
Marcus nodded.
"They know we found the ledger."
Daniel slowly put his phone away.
There was no more time for hiding.
The next meeting would determine who survived.
Midnight was approaching.
Daniel stood inside the abandoned railway station, holding a small bag containing copies of the original ledger.
He had made one decision.
He would not hand over the only evidence they had.
Instead, he had created several copies and hidden them in different locations.
If something happened to him, the truth would still come out.
Marcus stood several meters away.
They had agreed to separate.
Marcus would search for Lily.
Daniel would find Rebecca and Arthur.
But before they could begin, a familiar voice spoke behind him.
"You're making a terrible mistake."
Daniel turned.
Captain Richard Hayes stood near the entrance.
Two armed men were beside him.
Daniel slowly raised his hands.
"Where are they?"
Hayes smiled.
"Straight to the point. I always liked that about you."
"Where is Rebecca?"
"Safe."
"Where is Arthur?"
Hayes didn't answer.
Daniel stepped forward.
"If you hurt them—"
"You're in no position to make threats."
Hayes approached.
"You've been investigating things you don't understand. Your father made the same mistake."
Daniel stared at him.
"Why did you kill him?"
Hayes sighed.
"Your father was a good man. That's what made everything difficult."
"Answer the question."
"Thomas discovered the transfers. He wanted to expose everyone involved. He thought the department would protect him."
Hayes looked away.
"But the department was already compromised."
Daniel tightened his grip on the bag.
"So you burned his house."
Hayes nodded.
"I gave him several opportunities to walk away."
"He was my father."
"And he loved you. That's why he chose to remain silent."
Daniel felt anger rising.
"You destroyed our family."
Hayes looked directly at him.
"Your family was already broken. I simply made sure it stayed that way."
Then he extended his hand.
"Give me the ledger."
Daniel placed the bag on the ground.
Hayes opened it.
Inside were several pages.
He looked through them.
Then his expression changed.
"Where's the original?"
Daniel said nothing.
Hayes grabbed him by the collar.
"Where is it?"
Daniel stared at him.
"Somewhere you'll never find it."
Hayes struck him.
Daniel fell against the wall.
The captain signaled to his men.
"Take him."
Before they could move, the station lights suddenly came on.
Marcus appeared on the upper walkway.
"Police! Drop your weapons!"
Several officers entered from the opposite entrance.
Hayes turned in disbelief.
"What is this?"
Marcus raised his weapon.
"You're under arrest."
Hayes laughed.
"By whose authority?"
A voice came through the station speakers.
"Mine."
Daniel recognized it.
Deputy Commissioner Collins.
He walked into the station with several officers.
He was alive.
The wound from the courthouse had not killed him.
Hayes stared at him.
"You should be dead."
Collins shook his head.
"Not tonight."
He held up a small recording device.
"Everything you just said has been recorded."
Hayes looked around.
For the first time, he appeared afraid.
But the situation was far from over.
One of the armed men suddenly grabbed Daniel and placed a weapon against his head.
"Nobody move!"
The officers froze.
Marcus slowly lowered his weapon.
"Let him go."
The man pushed Daniel toward the exit.
Hayes took advantage of the confusion.
He grabbed the bag and ran toward the rear entrance.
Marcus pursued him.
A gunshot echoed through the station.
Daniel dropped to the floor.
The armed man was hit by an officer.
But Hayes had escaped.
Twenty minutes later, Daniel sat inside an ambulance.
His forehead was bleeding, but he was conscious.
Marcus approached.
"We lost him."
Daniel looked up.
"Did you find Lily?"
Marcus nodded.
"She's safe. She's with my sister."
Daniel closed his eyes in relief.
Then he asked:
"Rebecca?"
Marcus hesitated.
"We found the place where they were holding her."
"Was she there?"
"No."
Daniel looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Someone moved her before we arrived."
Daniel felt his heart sink.
Then a paramedic approached.
"Officer Carter, someone left this for you."
It was a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Rebecca was standing beside an older man.
Daniel recognized him immediately.
Arthur Mitchell.
But there was something strange about the picture.
Arthur was not wearing prison clothes.
He was standing inside what looked like an ordinary house.
On the back was a handwritten message.
Your father is alive.
Daniel stared at the words.
He read them again.
Then again.
His father.
Thomas Carter.
The man who had supposedly died fifteen years earlier.
The man whose funeral Daniel had attended.
The man whose death had shaped his entire life.
Marcus looked at the photograph.
"Daniel..."
Daniel slowly stood up.
"I need to find him."
Marcus shook his head.
"This could be another trap."
Daniel looked directly at him.
"Then I'll walk into it."