"Do you know what's on it?"
"No."
"Then we're going to find out."
They walked toward an old computer in the back office.
Jack inserted the drive.
The screen remained black.
Then a video appeared.
Daniel Carter sat in a chair.
He looked older.
Tired.
There was blood on his forehead.
Mia stopped breathing.
Her father looked directly into the camera.
"Mia."
She covered her mouth.
Jack stood beside her.
Daniel continued.
"If you're watching this, then something went wrong."
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
"I need you to understand something."
Daniel leaned closer.
"I never abandoned you."
Mia whispered, "Dad."
"I know you may hate me."
He looked down.
"I deserve that."
Jack closed his eyes.
"But everything I did was to keep you alive."
The video flickered.
Daniel looked frightened.
"Jack will tell you some of the truth."
Jack stared at the screen.
"But there are things even Jack doesn't know."
The video froze.
Then Daniel spoke again.
"The traitor is closer than you think."
Mia looked at Jack.
The video ended.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then the computer screen displayed one final line.
TRUST NO ONE AT REAPER'S HOLLOW.
The Betrayal
The message changed everything.
By noon, Jack had locked down the garage.
Nobody entered.
Nobody left.
Every member of Reaper's Hollow was questioned.
One by one.
Frank Doyle.
Eddie Shaw.
Cal Mason.
Ricky Boone.
Tommy Vance.
Every man who had worn the patch for more than five years.
Jack asked the same questions.
Where were you three years ago?
Who knew Daniel was investigating Hale?
Who knew about Mia?
Who knew about the metal box?
Most answered immediately.
Some became angry.
One became defensive.
But one man said almost nothing.
His name was Cole Barrett.
Cole had been with the club for twenty years.
He was Jack's vice president.
His closest friend.
His brother.
He had stood beside Jack during funerals.
Fights.
Hospital visits.
Club wars.
He had been there when Daniel first joined.
Jack trusted him with his life.
Which was why Mia didn't trust him.
Cole sat across from Jack in the office.
"You're really questioning me?"
Jack stared at him.
"Yes."
Cole laughed.
"After twenty years?"
"That's why I'm asking."
Cole leaned back.
"You think I betrayed Daniel?"
"I think someone did."
"You think it's me?"
"I think nobody is above suspicion."
Cole's eyes hardened.
"Not even you?"
"Especially me."
Cole stared at him.
Then he stood.
"You've changed."
Jack remained seated.
"Maybe."
"That girl walks in wearing a patch she hasn't earned, carrying some mystery box, and suddenly you're willing to turn this club inside out."
Jack's voice was quiet.
"She's Daniel's daughter."
Cole shook his head.
"You don't know that."
Jack stood.
"I do."
"How?"
"Because Daniel told me."
Cole laughed.
"Daniel is dead."
"Maybe."
Cole stared at him.
Jack stepped closer.
"And until I see his body, I'm not calling him dead."
Cole looked away.
That tiny movement didn't escape Jack.
Neither did the fear.
Jack had seen fear in men before.
Cole wasn't afraid of him.
He was afraid of something else.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Cole shook his head.
"Nothing."
Jack's eyes narrowed.
"Look at me."
Cole did.
Jack studied his face.
Then the door opened.
Mia stood there.
"Sorry."
Jack looked at her.
"What is it?"
"I found something."
She held up the old photograph.
"The one with Thomas Reed."
Jack frowned.
"What?"
"Look at the background."
Jack took it.
Mia pointed.
Behind the seven men was a building.
A sign.
MERCER AUTO & MARINE.
Jack's old family business.
He looked closer.
On the side of the building was a small window.
Someone was standing there.
A woman.
Jack recognized her.
Lena Carter.
Mia's mother.
But there was something else.
A man stood beside her.
Jack's face drained of color.
Cole stepped forward.
"What?"
Jack looked at him.
"You."
Cole froze.
The photograph showed Cole speaking to Lena.
Three years before Mia had been born.
Jack stared at the image.
"What were you doing with Lena?"
Cole didn't answer.
Mia looked between them.
"You knew my mother?"
Cole swallowed.
"Yes."
"How?"
Cole looked at Jack.
"Daniel asked me to protect her."
Jack's eyes narrowed.
"Protect her from what?"
Cole finally spoke.
"Hale."
Mia stepped closer.
"Did you know about me?"
Cole nodded.
"Yes."
Mia stared at him.
"How long?"
"Since before you were born."
Her face tightened.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
Cole's voice broke.
"Because Daniel asked me not to."
Jack looked furious.
"You knew where she was."
"Yes."
"You knew she was alive."
"Yes."
"You knew she was raising Mia."
"Yes."
"And you never told me?"
Cole looked at him.
"Because you were being watched."
Jack stepped forward.
"By who?"
Cole whispered:
"Hale."
The room became silent.
Cole continued.
"Every person connected to Daniel was monitored."
Mia's voice trembled.
"Then how did you know where I was?"
Cole hesitated.
Jack saw it.
"Answer her."
Cole closed his eyes.
"I didn't."
Mia frowned.
"What?"
"I lost track of you."
"How?"
"Your mother moved."
"When?"
"After Daniel disappeared."
Mia stared at him.
"She didn't move."
Cole looked confused.
"What?"
"She died."
Cole froze.
"How?"
"Car accident."
Cole's face changed.
"When?"
Mia told him.
Cole stepped backward.
"That's impossible."
Jack watched him.
"Why?"
Cole looked at Jack.
"Because Lena called me two days after Daniel disappeared."
Mia stopped breathing.
"She was alive?"
Cole nodded.
"She told me someone was following her."
"Who?"
"Hale."
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
"But the police said—"
Cole interrupted.
"Your mother wasn't in the accident."
Mia stared at him.
"Then who was?"
Cole's voice dropped.
"A woman they believed was Lena Carter."
Mia felt the room spin.
Her mother had not died.
At least not then.
The death certificate had been false.
The funeral had been real.