CHAPTER 11 — THE WOMAN WHO NEVER EXISTED
The two railcars stopped nose-to-nose inside the narrow tunnel.
The opposite door opened first.
A woman stepped out wearing a dark gray coat.
She appeared to be in her sixties.
Silver hair.
Sharp eyes.
Perfect posture.
Nathan's face lost all color.
"It can't be..."
The woman smiled gently.
"It's been a long time."
"Nathan."
Amelia looked between them.
"Who is she?"
Nathan answered almost in a whisper.
"Evelyn Cross."
"My father's oldest partner."
"I attended her funeral twenty years ago."
Evelyn laughed softly.
"So did everyone else."
She handed Amelia a worn notebook.
"Ethan asked me to disappear after my fake death."
"I stayed hidden because someone had to protect the Lantern Circle while your father protected Brooks Global."
She looked directly into Amelia's eyes.
"The Sovereign Council isn't one organization."
"It's a network operating in dozens of countries."
"They've spent years infiltrating governments, corporations, charities, and even law enforcement."
"They don't steal companies."
"They steal trust."
Amelia opened the notebook.
Inside were names.
Hundreds of names.
Some belonged to respected public figures.
Others belonged to people inside Brooks Global.
One name was circled in red.
Daniel Harper.
Amelia's heart skipped a beat.
Daniel?
The attorney who had stood beside her since Ethan's funeral?
Before anyone could react, Nathan's phone rang.
Daniel's number.
Nathan answered.
Only silence.
Then Daniel quietly spoke.
"I'm sorry."
"I never wanted it to happen this way."
The call ended.
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At that exact moment, every access code protecting Brooks Global was remotely disabled.
Someone on the inside had opened every door.
