Chapter 11 - Daniel Whitlock
Daniel was alive.
Seventy-two years old.
Living under the name David Dane.
He had been calling Lucas because Lucas was his biological grandson.
And he had been trying to warn him about Vance.
That changed everything we thought we knew about Daniel.
We traced the calls to a property outside Pueblo.
We arrived before dawn.
Daniel was waiting.
He looked so much like my father that for one second I forgot Arthur was dead.
Then Daniel limped.
Different man.
Different eyes.
Walter walked toward him.
“Dad.”
Daniel embraced him.
No hesitation.
Lorraine looked away.
Tessa didn't care about reunions.
“Where is my son?”
Daniel pointed toward the mountains.
“Vance has an old clinic.”
“Address.”
He gave it immediately.
Then explained.
Arthur hadn't institutionalized Daniel because Daniel attacked him.
Daniel had discovered their father's obsession with genetic succession and tried exposing it.
Their father had Daniel declared unstable.
Arthur believed the lie for years.
Later, he discovered the truth.
By then Daniel had escaped with Lenora.
They had Walter.
But Lenora became obsessed with reclaiming what she believed their son had been denied.
Daniel wanted out.
Lenora wanted revenge.
They separated.
Then Vance entered the picture.
“Why didn't you stop Lucas's embryo transfer?”
“I didn't know until after.”
Daniel spent years watching from a distance.
Arthur paid Walter to protect Lucas because he trusted Daniel's son more than his own security network.
It was the closest the brothers came to reconciliation.
Then Arthur died.
“Who killed him?”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Vance.”
Proof?
Yes.
Arthur had discovered Vance was using fertility records to extort wealthy families.
Arthur threatened exposure.
Vance altered Arthur's heart medication.
Daniel had recordings.
Finally, something that could survive court.
Then I asked the question that mattered.
“Where's Lenora?”
Daniel looked toward Lorraine.
“With Vance.”
Lorraine whispered:
“She took Lucas.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Vance took him against her orders.”
Lenora wanted Lucas alive and controlled.
Vance wanted something else.
“He needs Lucas's blood.”
Tessa went pale.
“For what?”
Vance had an adult son with a rare inherited illness.
The boy had been conceived using genetic material from the same manipulated family lines.
Lucas was potentially a highly compatible donor.
This was no longer only inheritance.
Vance intended to use him medically.
“How invasive?”
Daniel didn't answer.
That was enough.
We moved.
Police were contacted.
Federal agents too.
I didn't care who got credit.
I wanted Lucas.
Then Daniel caught my arm.
“Grant.”
“What?”
“Vance knows you're coming.”
“Good.”
“No.”
He looked genuinely afraid.
“The clinic isn't where he hides.”
“Then what is it?”
“A trap.”
I stared.
“For me?”
Daniel shook his head.
“For Noah.”
Behind us, Tessa screamed.
We turned.
Noah was gone.
His jacket lay beside the SUV.
On the ground was Tessa's phone.
The screen displayed a live video.
Lucas sat inside a bright medical room.
Beside him was Vance.
Then the camera widened.
A second empty chair stood beside Lucas.
Vance smiled.
“One twin is useful.”
May you like
Pause.
“But together, they're priceless.”
