For the first time since their reunion, he wondered whether Michael had told him the entire truth.
Grant laughed.
"Now we can begin."
"Michael," Walter said quietly. "Tell me what's happening."
Michael avoided his father's eyes.
James pushed him forward.
"Tell him, son."
Walter froze.
"Son?"
James smiled.
"Did you really believe Michael was your biological son?"
The room seemed to disappear around Walter.
"What?"
Emily began crying.
"Don't listen to him!"
James continued.
"Fifteen years ago, your wife discovered that our organization had been using newborn identity records to create false witness identities. She found one particular file."
Walter shook his head.
"You're lying."
"Your wife knew the truth about Michael."
Walter looked at his son.
"Michael?"
Michael finally raised his eyes.
"Dad, there's something Mom never told you."
"What?"
Michael took a deep breath.
"I was adopted."
Walter staggered backward.
"What are you talking about?"
"Mom told me when I was fourteen. She said my biological parents had died before I was old enough to remember them."
James laughed.
"That was only half the story."
He walked toward the center of the courtroom.
"Michael's biological father was one of the original investigators who built the witness protection network. He discovered that Grant was selling protected identities."
Walter stared at Michael.
"And his mother?"
James looked directly at him.
"Your wife, Margaret."
Silence filled the courtroom.
Walter could barely breathe.
"Margaret was his mother?"
Michael nodded slowly.
"She adopted me when I was a baby. She wanted to protect me."
Walter closed his eyes.
For fifteen years, he had believed that the greatest tragedy of his life was losing his son.
Now he realized that he had never known the complete story.
Grant stepped forward.
"Enough family history. The ledger."
Walter looked at him.
"Why is Michael so important?"
Grant's expression hardened.
"Because he knows where the original witness files are hidden."
Michael suddenly looked at Walter.
"Dad, don't give him the ledger."
James raised his weapon.
"Open the briefcase."
Walter slowly reached down.
But instead of opening it, he pressed a small button hidden beneath the handle.
A red light flashed.
Grant noticed it.
"What have you done?"
Walter smiled.
"Something I should have done fifteen years ago."
A loud electronic tone echoed through the courthouse.
Grant looked around.
"What is that?"
Walter stood upright.
"The ledger isn't the only copy of the evidence."
He pulled a small device from his pocket.
"Everything you've said tonight has been transmitted to the federal investigation team."
Grant laughed nervously.
"You expect me to believe that?"
Walter nodded.
"Rebecca has been listening since I entered the building."
For the first time, Grant looked frightened.
He turned toward James.
"Find the transmitter!"
James immediately searched Walter's coat.
But before he could find anything, a voice came through the courtroom speakers.
"Samuel Grant, this is federal agent Rebecca Morgan. Put your weapon down."
Grant looked toward the ceiling.
Then he started laughing.
"You really think you can arrest me?"
The courtroom lights suddenly went out.
A gunshot followed.
Emily screamed.
When the emergency lights came on, Walter was lying on the floor.
Michael rushed toward him.
"Dad!"
Blood was spreading across Walter's shirt.
Michael dropped beside him.
"Stay with me!"
Walter struggled to speak.
"Emily..."
"I'm here, Dad!"
"Get her out."
Michael looked toward the entrance.
James had disappeared.
Grant was also gone.
Only the silver pistol remained on the floor.
Then Rebecca's voice echoed through the corridor.
"Everyone stay where you are!"
Several federal agents rushed into the courtroom.
Rebecca ran toward Walter.
"Call an ambulance!"
Michael held his father's hand.
"You're going to be okay."
Walter tried to smile.
Then he whispered something that made Michael's face change.
"The second ledger..."
Michael leaned closer.
"What?"
Walter struggled to finish his sentence.
"Your mother... hid it... before she disappeared."
His eyes slowly closed.
Three days later, Walter regained consciousness in a hospital.
Emily was sitting beside his bed.
The moment he opened his eyes, she began crying.
"Dad!"
Walter smiled weakly.
"Hello, sweetheart."
She grabbed his hand.
"Don't ever scare me like that again."
"I'll try."
"That's not good enough."
Walter laughed, then winced in pain.
"Where's Michael?"
"He's outside with Rebecca."
"Bring him in."
A few moments later, Michael entered the room.
He looked exhausted.
"Dad."
Walter reached for his hand.
"Did you find it?"
Michael nodded.
"Yes."
He placed a small photograph on the bed.
It showed Margaret standing in front of an old house.
Walter immediately recognized the building.
It was the house where he and Margaret had lived before Emily was born.
"Where did you get this?"
"Rebecca found it among Mom's old belongings."
Michael turned the photograph over.
There was a handwritten message.
If the truth is ever discovered, look beneath the place where our family first began.
Walter stared at the words.
"The old house."
Rebecca entered the room.
"We've already sent a team there."
Walter looked at her.
"Did you find anything?"
Rebecca hesitated.
"Yes."
She placed a photograph on the bedside table.
It showed a small metal box buried beneath the floorboards of the house.
Inside the box were several documents, a USB drive and a letter addressed to Walter.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
My dearest Walter,
If you are reading this, then I have failed to keep our family safe.
There are things I should have told you many years ago.
Michael was never the target.
Emily was.
And the man who ordered her disappearance was someone you trusted more than anyone.
Walter stopped reading.
He looked up.
"Who?"
Rebecca slowly answered.
"Your former partner."
Walter's face went pale.
"Detective Robert Collins?"
Rebecca nodded.
"He's been dead for twelve years."
Michael examined the documents.
Then he noticed a photograph tucked inside the letter.
It showed Robert Collins standing beside Margaret.
But there was something else.
On the back of the photograph was a date.
October 31, 2026.
Walter stared at it.
Today.
"That's impossible," he whispered.
Rebecca turned the photograph over again.
Below the date were five words.
HE NEVER DIED. HE RETURNED.
At 11:47 p.m., Rebecca received a call from her investigation team.