CHAPTER 7 – The Detective's Biggest Secret
The parking lot erupted into chaos.
Every officer instinctively reached for their weapons.
The detective didn't move.
He simply stared at Sophia with an expression no one could read.
Ryan's voice cracked.
"What... did she just say?"
Sophia laughed despite the handcuffs digging into her wrists.
"I told you."
"You've all been chasing the wrong monster."
The detective finally spoke.
"That's enough."
But Sophia only smiled wider.
"No... now it's your turn."
She slowly turned toward Emily.
"Ask him why he always arrived before every anonymous tip."
Emily's heart pounded.
She looked at the detective.
He remained silent.
The old firefighter frowned.
"Is it true?"
The detective took a deep breath.
"My name isn't Daniel Brooks."
Everyone froze.
"My real name..."
"...is Daniel Hayes."
Ryan frowned.
"Why does that matter?"
Evelyn suddenly gasped.
Her face turned ghostly white.
"Hayes..."
"No..."
"It can't be..."
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"My father was Victor Hayes."
The name hit Evelyn like a bullet.
She stumbled backward.
Emily caught her before she collapsed.
Ryan looked between them in confusion.
"Who is Victor Hayes?"
Evelyn whispered,
"The man who owned the land beside your parents' house."
"The man the police never questioned."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"My father confessed everything to me before he died."
Silence.
"He admitted paying someone to set the fire."
Ryan felt sick.
"So... Sophia was telling the truth?"
Daniel looked him straight in the eyes.
"Only half of it."
"I've spent twenty-five years pretending to be an ordinary detective."
"I joined the police for one reason."
"To destroy the man who ordered your parents' murder."
Ryan stared at him.
"You knew all this time?"
Daniel nodded.
"I just couldn't prove who gave the final order."
Sophia burst into laughter again.
"You still don't know."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"I do now."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a sealed evidence envelope.
"I received this yesterday."
Inside was a faded cassette tape recovered from an abandoned storage unit.
"The recording was made the night before the fire."
The detective pressed Play.
A distorted male voice filled the parking lot.
"Burn the house... but leave the boy alive. I'll need him someday."
Ryan felt every drop of blood leave his body.
He recognized that voice.
Impossible.
His hands began shaking uncontrollably.
"No..."
Emily looked at him.
"Ryan... what's wrong?"
Ryan whispered,
"I've heard that voice before..."
"...every Christmas..."
"...every birthday..."
"...my entire childhood."
Everyone stared at him.
Ryan slowly turned toward Evelyn.
Tears streamed down his face.
"It wasn't the detective's father..."
"It was..."
Just then, a black helicopter descended overhead.
The wind roared across the parking lot.
As it landed, an elderly man in an expensive gray suit stepped out, smiling calmly as if nothing had happened.
Ryan fell to his knees.
May you like
His voice was barely audible.
"...Father?"
