Chapter 26 The Final Witness
The alarm did not stop.
It grew louder.
Red lights flashed across the walls of the registry, turning every face into a shifting shadow.
Daniel stood beside the torn document.
Half of it remained in his hand.
The other half lay on the floor.
Marcus stared at him.
“What did you just do?”
Daniel looked at the torn record.
“I followed the instructions.”
Sarah rushed toward the document.
“No.”
She dropped to her knees and picked up both pieces.
Her hands shook.
“This wasn't supposed to happen yet.”
Daniel frowned.
“Then why did it?”
Sarah examined the torn edges.
“Because the document wasn't the key.”
She looked at him.
“You were.”
A heavy silence followed.
Edwin closed his eyes.
“I was afraid of this.”
Marcus turned toward him.
“What does it mean?”
Edwin looked at Daniel.
“The final witness clause was designed for one purpose.”
“What purpose?”
“To stop the trustees from controlling the evidence.”
Daniel looked at the broken record.
“So I didn't destroy it.”
“No.”
Edwin's voice was quiet.
“You released it.”
The intercom crackled.
The chairman spoke again.
“You have made a serious mistake, Daniel.”
Daniel stepped toward the speaker.
“No.”
His voice was calm now.
“I think you have.”
The chairman laughed.
“You don't understand what you've activated.”
“Then explain it.”
A pause.
“You have triggered the release protocol.”
Daniel looked at Sarah.
She nodded slowly.
The chairman continued.
“Every protected record will now be sent to an independent archive.”
Marcus's eyes widened.
“Then Victor can't destroy the evidence.”
“No.”
Sarah looked relieved for the first time.
“But there's a problem.”
Marcus looked at her.
“What?”
“The release protocol needs a living witness to authenticate it.”
Daniel understood.
“Me.”
“Yes.”
The chairman's voice returned.
“And I only need to stop you from completing the authentication.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Then why are you talking to me?”
“Because I wanted you frightened.”
The intercom went silent.
Then the doors began unlocking.
One after another.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“He wants us to leave.”
Sarah shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward the main entrance.
“He wants Daniel outside.”
A gunshot echoed somewhere in the building.
Everyone froze.
Then another.
Marcus moved toward the door.
“Stay here.”
Daniel caught his arm.
“No.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Daniel.”
“You said you'd trust me.”
“I do.”
“Then trust me now.”
Daniel walked toward the entrance.
“I know what he wants.”
Marcus followed anyway.
“I trust you. That doesn't mean I'm letting you walk into danger alone.”
Daniel gave him a tired smile.
“Fair enough.”
They entered the main hall.
The registry appeared empty.
No guards.
No chairman.
No Victor.
Only an open doorway leading into the street.
Daniel stopped.
“Too quiet.”
Marcus nodded.
Sarah whispered,
“They're waiting.”
A vehicle screeched around the corner.
Daniel stepped back.
The car stopped.
The rear door opened.
Claire climbed out.
Charlotte followed.
Evelyn was behind them.
All three were unharmed.
Marcus exhaled.
“Thank God.”
Claire ran toward Daniel.
“Are you all right?”
He nodded.
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
Charlotte embraced Emilia.
Evelyn stood apart.
Her eyes met Daniel's.
“You did it.”
Daniel nodded.
“I hope so.”
She looked at him with pride.
“You finally stopped running.”
Daniel looked away.
“I had good teachers.”
Evelyn smiled.
Then a voice came from the car.
“Touching.”
Victor stepped out.
He was alone.
Marcus moved in front of Emilia.
Victor raised both hands.
“No need.”
Richard appeared behind him.
He had a gun pointed at Victor.
“Move away from my family.”
Victor smiled.
“Your family?”
Richard's expression hardened.
“Yes.”
Victor glanced toward Emilia.
“Even now?”
Richard didn't hesitate.
“Especially now.”
Victor's smile faded.
“Then you will all regret this.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“No.”
Victor looked at him.
“You think tearing that document makes you powerful?”
“No.”
Daniel held up the second half.
“This does.”
Victor's face changed.
Daniel continued.
“The original record contains a clause you never knew about.”
Victor stared.
“What clause?”
Daniel smiled.
“The person who activates the final witness protocol cannot be removed from the trust.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“Impossible.”
Edwin stepped forward.
“It's true.”
Victor looked at him.
“You helped write it.”
“Yes.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
Victor's anger became visible.
“You betrayed me.”
Edwin shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Richard.
“I finally stopped betraying myself.”
A siren sounded in the distance.
Victor glanced toward the road.
Daniel noticed.
“You called them.”
Victor smiled.
“No.”
Sarah looked toward the approaching vehicles.
“Those aren't police.”
Several black cars stopped outside the registry.
Men stepped out.
Marcus tightened his grip.
Victor said,
“You have five minutes.”
“For what?”
“To decide whether you want to fight me.”
Victor pointed toward the cars.
“Or save the people inside.”
Marcus frowned.
“What people?”
Victor's expression became almost sympathetic.
“You haven't checked the basement.”
Sarah went pale.
“The archive.”
Victor nodded.
“The original archive is still underground.”
He looked at Daniel.
“And I have just opened every vault.”
Daniel's face changed.
“Why?”
Victor smiled.
“Because now you have to choose.”
Marcus looked at his brother.
“Choose what?”
Victor answered.
“The evidence…”
He glanced toward the registry.
“…or the people trapped beneath it.”
Then he stepped backward.
“And this time, you don't have enough time to save both.”