Daniel had not noticed him before.
The man was looking directly at him.
Daniel's instincts screamed.
He reached for his backpack.
The man began walking toward him.
Daniel stood.
The man stopped.
Then he smiled.
“You're Michael's son.”
Daniel's blood went cold.
“Who are you?”
The man said nothing.
He reached into his coat.
Daniel stepped back.
Suddenly Samuel appeared between them.
“Don't.”
The man's smile disappeared.
Samuel stood straight.
“You're not supposed to be here.”
The man looked at him.
“Neither are you.”
Elena appeared behind Samuel.
Her face had changed.
“Get off this train.”
The man laughed.
“At the next station?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Samuel stepped forward.
The man reached inside his coat.
Elena moved quickly.
“Samuel!”
But before anything happened, the train entered another tunnel.
The carriage went completely dark.
Daniel heard a struggle.
A crash.
Someone shouted.
Then the lights returned.
The man was gone.
Samuel was standing beside Daniel.
Elena was holding the emergency phone.
Daniel looked around.
“How?”
Samuel pointed toward the rear door.
“He jumped into the next carriage.”
Daniel's heart pounded.
“Who was he?”
Samuel looked at him.
“One of the men your father was running from.”
Daniel's hands shook.
“Why would he come after me?”
Samuel's answer was simple.
“Because you have something they need.”
Daniel looked at the watch.
“This?”
“No.”
Samuel looked at the envelope.
“That.”
Daniel stared at it.
“The letter?”
“Yes.”
“But it doesn't say anything important.”
Samuel shook his head.
“Read it again.”
Daniel unfolded the letter.
He read it slowly.
Then he noticed something.
The first letter of each sentence.
D.
O.
N.
T.
T.
R.
U.
S.
T.
Daniel's eyes widened.
“It's a code.”
Samuel nodded.
Daniel read the letters again.
“DON'T TRUST…”
He stopped.
“There are more.”
He looked at the remaining lines.
“DON'T TRUST…”
His eyes moved to the final sentence.
“ANYONE.”
Elena whispered,
“Your father knew.”
Daniel looked at Samuel.
“Who was he warning me about?”
Samuel did not answer.
Daniel looked at Elena.
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Daniel stared at them.
“Someone does.”
Samuel looked down.
Then he said,
“Your father didn't trust me.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“He trusted me with the evidence.”
Samuel's voice was calm.
“But he didn't trust me with everything.”
Daniel stepped back.
“Why?”
“Because he knew I had a weakness.”
“What weakness?”
“My family.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Someone threatened your family?”
Samuel nodded.
“Your father knew.”
“And he still gave you the evidence?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he had no choice.”
Daniel sat down.
The train moved through another stretch of countryside.
The sunlight had begun to fade.
Daniel looked at the watch.
“What happens tomorrow?”
Samuel answered,
“We go to the signal tower.”
“We?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your father wanted me to take you there.”
Daniel looked at him.
“How do you know?”
Samuel reached into his uniform pocket.
He removed a second envelope.
Daniel stared.
“My name is on that.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you give it to me earlier?”
“Because I had to be certain.”
“Certain of what?”
“That you were really Daniel.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“You thought I was an impostor?”
“No.”
Samuel looked toward the man who had disappeared.
“I thought they might send someone pretending to be you.”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“They could do that?”
“They have done worse.”
The train slowed.
A voice announced the next station.
Daniel looked out the window.
Darkness was beginning to cover the countryside.
Samuel sat beside him.
“Get some sleep.”
“I can't.”