"He was a county investigator at the time. He helped move Grace through the evidence network."

Vanessa looked toward the ledger.

"Why would he take a child?"

"Because he wanted the original verification codes."

"And did he get them?"

Helen shook her head.

"No."

"Then where was Grace?"

Helen looked at her.

"With me."

Vanessa froze.

"You hid her?"

"I raised her."

The words seemed to strike the room like another gunshot.

Vanessa stared at the woman.

"You raised my sister?"

Helen nodded.

"Yes."

"While I believed she was dead?"

"I had no choice."

Vanessa stepped closer.

"You had twelve years to tell me."

"I couldn't."

"Why?"

"Because the people who took Grace never stopped looking for her."

Vanessa's voice rose.

"You let me spend twelve years believing I had no family!"

Helen lowered her eyes.

"I know."

"You let me believe my father was dead."

"He was supposed to be."

"You let me build an entire life around a lie."

Helen looked up.

"Because the alternative was losing both of you."

Vanessa shook her head.

"No. The alternative was telling me the truth."

Helen's expression hardened.

"Would you have protected her?"

Vanessa paused.

"Yes."

"Would you have walked away from the FBI?"

"Yes."

"Would you have trusted anyone?"

Vanessa said nothing.

Helen continued.

"Your father knew the answer. He knew you would risk everything to find her. That's why he created the second identity."

Vanessa looked at the photograph.

"Where is Grace now?"

Helen hesitated.

Then answered.

"She's closer than you think."

PART 19 — THE WOMAN WHO SHOT DANIEL MITCHELL

Vanessa's phone rang again.

The same unknown number.

She answered.

"Who is this?"

The woman on the other end sounded exhausted.

"Did you find the photograph?"

Vanessa looked at Helen.

"Yes."

"Then you know."

"Are you Grace?"

A pause.

"Yes."

Vanessa closed her eyes.

"Where are you?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"Because they're listening."

Vanessa looked at the computer.

"Who?"

"Everyone."

"Grace, I need you to listen carefully. Are you safe?"

The woman laughed bitterly.

"Was I ever?"

Vanessa felt a tightness in her chest.

"Why did you say you shot Daniel?"

"Because I did."

Helen suddenly stepped forward.

"Don't believe her!"

Vanessa raised her hand.

"Quiet."

Grace continued.

"He was going to kill you."

Vanessa looked at the photograph.

"What happened in Room 17?"

"I was there."

"Why?"

"Because I followed him."

"Who?"

"Daniel."

Vanessa looked toward Helen.

Grace continued.

"He told me he was going to destroy the original archive. He said the only way to protect us was to erase every record."

Vanessa frowned.

"That doesn't make sense."

"It does if you understand what he was planning."

"What was he planning?"

"To disappear with the evidence."

Vanessa stared.

"Why?"

"Because he didn't trust anyone. Not the FBI. Not the police. Not even Helen."

Helen shook her head.

"That's not true."

Grace's voice became sharper.

"Tell her what happened after he was shot."

Helen looked away.

Vanessa turned toward her.

"What happened?"

Helen remained silent.

Grace answered.

"Daniel survived."

Vanessa stared.

"What?"

"He survived the shooting. He was taken to a private medical facility."

Vanessa looked toward the corridor where the man claiming to be Daniel had disappeared.

"Then who was the man in the archive?"

Grace paused.

"That's the problem."

"What problem?"

"The man you saw wasn't Daniel."

Vanessa's stomach tightened.

"Who was he?"

Grace answered quietly.

"His name is Peter Mitchell."

Helen looked up sharply.

Vanessa turned toward her.

"Peter?"

Helen said nothing.

Grace continued.

"He was Daniel's younger brother."

Vanessa looked at the photograph again.

The man in the corridor had looked like Daniel.

But not exactly.

The hair.

The voice.

The way he held himself.

She had been so overwhelmed by the possibility that her father was alive that she had not examined the details.

"Where is my father?"

Grace's voice became softer.

"I don't know."

"Is he alive?"

"I believe so."

"Then why did you shoot him?"

"I didn't shoot him."

Vanessa froze.

"You just said—"

"I shot Peter."

The room became silent.

Grace continued.

"He was the one who tried to kill you in Room 17."

Vanessa slowly looked at Helen.

"Why did you tell me I killed Daniel?"

Helen looked down.

Grace's voice hardened.

"Because she needed you to believe that you were responsible."

Vanessa felt anger rising.

"Why?"

"Because guilt was easier to control than fear."

Helen finally spoke.

"I was trying to protect you."

Vanessa turned.

"Stop saying that."

Helen's eyes filled with tears.

"I know what I did."

"Then tell me the truth."

Helen looked at the photograph.

"Your sister is right."

Vanessa stared.

Helen continued.

"Peter Mitchell was the man who entered Room 17. Grace shot him. Daniel was already gone."

"Where?"

Helen looked toward the computer.

"To find the original Nightfall archive."

Vanessa turned back to the phone.

"Grace, where can I find you?"

The woman hesitated.

Then she said:

"Look beneath the courthouse."

The call ended.

PART 20 — THE BASEMENT BENEATH THE COURTHOUSE

The federal courthouse was nearly empty when Vanessa arrived.

It was close to midnight.

The main entrance was locked, but Bell had obtained authorization to access the lower administrative levels.

Vanessa walked beside him.

Helen was being held in a secure vehicle outside.

Ethan had been moved to a protected location.

Foster followed with two additional agents.

The courthouse basement contained storage rooms, maintenance corridors, and old records facilities.

Vanessa studied the floor plan.

"Which section?"

Bell pointed.

"Old evidence annex."

They approached a steel door.

A faded sign read:

ARCHIVE ACCESS — AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.