Daniel's hands tightened.
"What really happened?"
Evelyn looked at him.
"She died protecting you."
Silence.
Daniel looked down at the letter.
His father's handwriting seemed different now.
Every word carried a meaning he hadn't understood.
Evelyn reached into her bag again.
This time she removed a photograph.
She placed it on the table.
Daniel picked it up.
The photograph showed a younger man.
His father.
Beside him stood a woman.
She was young.
Beautiful.
And holding a little boy.
Daniel stared at the boy.
It was him.
He knew immediately.
Even though he was only seven.
"What happened here?"
Evelyn pointed to the woman.
"Her name was Sarah."
"She was your mother."
Daniel looked at the picture.
"Why didn't I remember her?"
"You were seven when she died."
"I remember her."
"You remember pieces."
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"She used to sing."
Evelyn smiled.
"Yes."
"She had a red scarf."
"Yes."
"She smelled like jasmine."
Evelyn nodded.
Daniel looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"Because I was there."
He lowered the photograph.
"You knew her."
"She was my closest friend."
Daniel's voice became quiet.
"Then why didn't you find me?"
"I tried."
"Why didn't you contact me?"
"I was ordered not to."
"By whom?"
Evelyn looked toward the entrance.
Daniel followed her gaze again.
A man in a dark suit stood near the reception desk.
He was watching them.
Daniel noticed.
"Who is that?"
Evelyn didn't turn.
"Don't look at him."
Daniel immediately understood.
"Someone is watching us."
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Someone who doesn't want you to know the truth."
Daniel looked at the man.
He wore an earpiece.
His posture was too controlled.
He wasn't a guest.
Daniel knew the type.
Security.
"Why are they here?"
"Because of what I brought."
Daniel looked at her bag.
"What did you bring?"
Evelyn smiled.
"Something your father spent twenty-eight years protecting."
She reached down.
She opened the bag.
Then she removed a thick stack of documents.
Daniel looked confused.
"What are those?"
"Evidence."
"Of what?"
"An operation that was covered up."
She placed another envelope on the table.
"This contains financial records."
Another.
"These are medical reports."
Another.
"These are names."
Daniel stared.
"What names?"
"Everyone involved."
His heart began racing.
"My father?"
"Yes."
"Was he accused?"
"He was blamed."
"By whom?"
Evelyn looked at him.
"The government."
Daniel's face went pale.
"But he was decorated."
"Exactly."
"Then why?"
"Because he saved the wrong people."
Daniel couldn't breathe for a moment.
"What does that mean?"
Evelyn leaned closer.
"Your father discovered that the civilians weren't supposed to be rescued."
Daniel stared.
"Why?"
"Because they had witnessed something."
"What?"
"A weapons shipment."
"Whose?"
"Your government."
Daniel's expression changed.
"No."
"Yes."
"My father would never—"
"He didn't."
"He stopped it."
"Yes."