CHAPTER 28 THE ROOM BENEATH THE GRAVE
Blackwood Cemetery had been sealed since the estate fire.
Nathan entered through the eastern gate with Claire, Vanessa, Evelyn and Subject Seven.
Gabriel was supposed to meet them there.
He never arrived.
Vanessa checked her phone.
“The hospital security team just called.”
“What happened?” Claire asked.
“Gabriel returned to the hospital.”
“That’s impossible,” Nathan said. “He was driving behind us.”
“He entered the secured nursery and tried to take Subject Seven.”
Everyone looked at the baby in Evelyn’s arms.
Claire understood.
“Gideon.”
The man on the hospital camera had used Gabriel’s face again.
Or Gabriel had lied about which brother returned from the lighthouse.
Nathan looked toward the road.
No other car followed them.
The mausoleum stood at the center of the cemetery.
Cole’s name had been carved above the entrance.
Inside, seven stone compartments lined the wall.
Each contained a small circular opening.
Nathan placed Subject Seven’s bracelet against the seventh compartment.
A hidden light scanned it.
The stone wall moved aside.
Stairs descended beneath the grave.
Claire went first.
The underground room contained medical equipment, archived blood samples and dozens of recordings.
A cradle stood beneath a single lamp.
It was empty.
Nathan found a folder bearing his name.
Inside was a photograph of Margaret holding him as a newborn.
Behind her stood Veronica.
A handwritten note had been attached.
MATERNAL SUBJECT RELEASED AFTER DELIVERY.
Nathan turned toward Margaret’s old photograph.
His hands shook.
A voice came from the doorway.
“She was never supposed to raise you.”
Veronica stepped into the room.
She no longer wore Vanessa’s face or Margaret’s clothes.
She looked older than she had at dinner.
But her eyes were the same.
Nathan faced her.
“Are you my mother?”
Veronica studied him for a long moment.
“I carried you.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“It is the only answer that matters.”
“Why did Cole take me?”
“Because he wanted a son who could inherit the Whitmore name without carrying Whitmore blood.”
Nathan looked toward Claire.
“Why?”
“Cole believed the family bloodline was diseased.”
Evelyn tightened her hold on Subject Seven.
“Where is Claire’s daughter?”
Veronica’s expression changed.
“She was never supposed to be taken by Vera.”
Claire moved forward.
“You ordered it.”
“I ordered the child moved from the hospital before Margaret could claim guardianship.”
“You burned the delivery floor.”
“That was Gideon.”
“Where is she?”
“Vera stopped following my instructions.”
A gunshot exploded through the underground room.
Veronica dropped to one knee.
Blood spread across her shoulder.
Margaret stood at the top of the stairs with a weapon in her hand.
Nathan stared at her.
Margaret aimed again.
“That woman is not Veronica.”
Veronica laughed through the pain.
May you like
Margaret’s face twisted.
“Veronica died six years ago.”
