Chapter 5: The Doctor Who Lied
Dominic Vale had always believed betrayal had a sound.
A door closing.
A phone call ending.
A voice changing when someone realized they had been caught.
But sometimes betrayal arrived quietly.
Sometimes it walked through your front door wearing a familiar face.
The security monitor showed Marcus Vale standing beneath the stone entrance arch of the manor.
Beside him stood Dr. Adrian Harris.
The man who had looked Dominic in the eyes for eleven weeks and told him everything was normal.
The man who had signed every recovery report.
The man who had just warned him the brace was dangerous.
Dominic stared at the screen.
"He knew.""
Clare looked at him.
"What?""
Dominic didn't answer immediately.
Because saying it aloud made it real.
"The doctor knew.""
Vincent's voice came through the speaker.
"Sir, should I stop them from entering?""
Dominic looked toward the entrance.
"No.""
Clare immediately turned.
"No?""
Dominic's expression remained cold.
"I want them inside.""
"Dominic—"
"If they think they still control this situation, they'll talk.""
Vincent understood.
A person who believed they were safe revealed more than a person who knew they were trapped.
"Understood.""
The security feed disappeared.
Dominic looked at the page in his hand.
The handwritten warning.
The names.
The evidence that someone had been planning something long before the crash.
Then he looked at Ellie.
She was watching him silently.
"Clare.""
"Yes?""
"Take Ellie upstairs.""
Clare didn't move.
"Why?""
"Because whatever happens next, she doesn't need to hear it.""
Clare studied his face.
For a moment, she looked like she wanted to argue.
Then she saw something different in his expression.
Not anger.
Not arrogance.
Fear.
A controlled kind.
The kind of fear a person felt when they realized the enemy might already be inside the walls.
She took Ellie's hand.
"Come on, sweetheart.""
Ellie looked at Dominic.
"Are you going to fix it?""
The question stopped him.
"What?""
She pointed toward his leg.
"Like Daddy fixed things.""
Dominic looked down at the brace.
Then back at her.
"I don't know.""
Ellie nodded.
"Then find the broken part.""
Clare guided her away.
But before disappearing around the corner, Ellie turned back.
"Mr. Vale?""
Dominic looked at her.
"The bad people always hide the part that matters.""
Then she left.
Five minutes later, Marcus and Dr. Harris entered the great room.
Marcus looked calm.
Too calm.
That bothered Dominic more than panic would have.
Dr. Harris looked different.
Sweat on his forehead.
Eyes avoiding contact.
A man carrying guilt.
"Dominic.""
Marcus smiled.
"I heard there was some confusion.""
Dominic stood near the fireplace.
"Interesting choice of words.""
Marcus glanced around.
"What do you mean?""
"You said confusion.""
Dominic picked up the document from the table.
"I call it evidence.""
The smile faded.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Dr. Harris noticed.
Marcus noticed him noticing.
And Dominic noticed both.
A small movement.
A tiny exchange.
A silent conversation.
They were afraid of something.
Good.
"Adrian.""
Dr. Harris looked up.
"Yes?""
"How long have you known the brace was defective?""
The doctor froze.
Marcus answered first.
"Dominic, that's an unfair question.""
Dominic turned toward him.
"I wasn't asking you.""
The room went quiet.
Dr. Harris swallowed.
"I didn't know.""
Dominic stared.
"You expect me to believe that?""
"It's the truth.""
"Then explain why you called me today.""
Dr. Harris looked away.
Because he had no good answer.
Dominic stepped closer.
"You called me because you discovered the brace was recalled.""
"Yes.""
"After eleven weeks.""
"I was trying to confirm—"
"No.""
Dominic's voice sharpened.
"You were trying to hide.""
Dr. Harris shook his head.
"That's not true.""
"Then why did you sign reports saying my recovery was progressing normally?""
The doctor said nothing.
Marcus stepped forward.
"Dominic, you're making accusations without understanding the situation.""
Dominic looked at him.
"Funny.""
A cold smile appeared.
"That's exactly what people say when they hope I never understand.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
The old mask was slipping.
"You're letting paranoia control you.""
"Am I?""
Dominic placed the page on the table.
"Project Continuity.""
Marcus's face changed.
Not much.
But enough.
Dr. Harris looked confused.
"What is that?""
Dominic watched them carefully.
One knew.
One didn't.
Interesting.
"You tell me.""
Marcus stared at the paper.
"I have no idea.""
"Your signature appears on documents connected to it.""
"Then someone forged it.""
Dominic leaned forward.
"Maybe.""
The word surprised Marcus.
Because Dominic didn't accuse him immediately.
He left room for uncertainty.
And uncertainty was dangerous.
Because guilty people rushed to fill empty spaces.
Marcus looked at Dr. Harris.
A mistake.
A small one.
But Dominic saw it.
"You didn't know about this.""
Dr. Harris looked uncomfortable.
"About what?""
"Project Continuity.""
The doctor said nothing.
Marcus answered.
"Because there is nothing to know.""
Dominic smiled faintly.
"There it is.""
Marcus frowned.
"What?""
"The difference.""
Dominic pointed between them.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about.""
Silence.
The room changed.
The conversation was no longer controlled by Marcus.
Dominic could feel it.
For the first time, Marcus looked uncertain.
"Where did you get that page?""
Marcus's question was quiet.
Too quiet.
Dominic looked at him.
"You should be more concerned about what's written on it.""
"I asked where you got it.""
"And I asked why my brother approved medical equipment he didn't understand.""
Marcus's face hardened.
"You always think everyone is against you.""
Dominic laughed once.
No humor.
"No.""
He looked at the page.
"I think people become against me when they believe I won't notice.""
The silence that followed was heavy.
Then Dr. Harris spoke.
"I need to leave.""
Marcus looked at him sharply.
"Adrian.""
"No.""
The doctor shook his head.
"I should never have been involved.""
Dominic turned.
"Involved in what?""
Dr. Harris looked at Marcus.
Then back at Dominic.
His voice lowered.
"The accident.""
Everything stopped.
Dominic didn't move.
"What did you say?""
Dr. Harris closed his eyes.
"I wasn't talking about the crash itself.""
"Then explain.""
The doctor hesitated.
"I treated your injuries after the accident.""
"Yes.""
"But before that...""
He swallowed.
"I was asked to review your medical information.""
"By who?""
Dr. Harris looked toward Marcus.
Marcus immediately stepped forward.
"Adrian.""
But the warning in his voice came too late.
Dominic heard it.
The doctor heard it.
Everyone heard it.
It wasn't a request.
It was a threat.
"By who?"" Dominic repeated.
Dr. Harris looked terrified.
Then he whispered:
"Someone from inside Vale Industries.""
"Name.""
The doctor didn't answer.
Dominic stepped closer.
"Name.""
Dr. Harris's hands trembled.
"I can't.""
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"You can.""
"No.""
The doctor shook his head.
"You don't understand.""
"Then make me understand.""
Dr. Harris looked toward the hallway.
Toward where Clare and Ellie had disappeared.
His expression changed.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for someone else.
"They know about your daughter.""
Dominic went still.
"What?""
Marcus's expression changed too.
For the first time, genuine surprise crossed his face.
"What did you say?""
Dr. Harris looked at him.
"You didn't tell me they were involved.""
Dominic noticed.
Marcus wasn't expecting that.
Important.
Very important.
"Who knows about Ellie?"" Dominic asked.
Dr. Harris didn't answer.
His silence was enough.
Dominic's voice became dangerously calm.
"Who.""
The doctor looked at him.
And finally said:
"The person who started Project Continuity.""
Before Dominic could respond, the lights in the manor went out.
The entire room fell into darkness.
A second later, alarms began screaming.
Vincent's voice came through the security system.
"Mr. Vale!""
Dominic moved toward the sound.
"What happened?""
"The east wing cameras just went offline.""
"Why?""
A pause.
Then Vincent's voice changed.
"Sir...""
Dominic felt his stomach tighten.
"What?""
"Someone is upstairs.""
The emergency lights flickered on.
Dominic turned toward the staircase.
Toward the hallway where Clare and Ellie had gone.
And then he heard it.
A small sound.
A wooden latch clicking open.
Once.
Twice.
Then silence.
Dominic ran.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the brace.
Ignoring everything.
Because upstairs, somewhere in the darkness, his entire empire had become irrelevant.
There was only one thing that mattered.
Finding Ellie.
And when Dominic reached the hallway, he saw the bedroom door slowly opening.
From inside came a man's voice.
"Tell me where your father hid the notebook.""
Dominic stopped.
Because the voice belonged to someone he recognized.
Someone who should not have been there.
Someone who had promised him loyalty for years.
May you like
The voice of his own head of security.
Vincent Hale.
