Chapter 7: The Man Who Came Home
For several seconds, nobody in the room moved.
The screens had gone black, but Harris could still see the man's face.
His face.
The same jawline.
The same scar beneath the left eyebrow.
Even the slight tilt of the head when he listened.
Reed broke the silence.
“Sir…”
Harris raised one hand.
“Don't.””
“That's you.””
“I know.””
“No,” Reed said.
“I mean exactly you.””
Harris stared at the dead monitor.
“Call the medical unit.””
“For what?””
“I want my DNA tested.””
Reed frowned.
“Against what?””
Harris looked at him.
“Against me.””
Ruby sat quietly in the corner, clutching her backpack.
Harris noticed her expression.
“Ruby.””
She looked up.
“Do you recognize that man?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
“He looks like you.””
“I know.””
“But…”
She hesitated.
“He doesn't look like you.””
Harris crouched beside her.
“What do you mean?””
“He looks at people like he's pretending to be nice.””
Harris glanced at Reed.
The comment was childish.
But something about it made his stomach tighten.
“Ruby, what did your mother tell you about me?””
“That you were kind.””
Harris swallowed.
“Anything else?””
“She said you had a scar here.””
Ruby touched the spot beneath her own eyebrow.
Harris's heart stopped.
“Did she?””
“Yes.””
He looked at Reed.
The scar on his face had been there for twenty-two years.
But the man on the screen had it too.
A perfect copy.
“Sir,” Reed said quietly, “there's something else.””
He opened the Black River file again.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Harris unconscious inside the medical room.
Beside his bed stood Crowe.
But in the background was another man.
Reed zoomed in.
Harris stepped closer.
His blood turned cold.
The man was identical to him.
Not older.
Not younger.
Identical.
“That's impossible,” Harris whispered.
Reed shook his head.
“Look at the date.””
Nine years ago.
Harris had been unconscious after the operation.
And yet someone who looked exactly like him was standing in the room.
Then Ruby spoke.
“My mom told me there were two.””
Harris turned.
“Two what?””
“Two Daniels.””
The room went silent.
“Ruby,” Harris said carefully, “when did she tell you that?””
“Last night.””
“What exactly did she say?””
Ruby looked down.
“She said one Daddy came home.””
Harris's throat tightened.
“And the other?””
“She said the other one never came home.””
Reed slowly sat down.
Harris stared at Ruby.
“Did your mother tell you which one I am?””
Ruby's eyes filled with tears.
“No.””
“Why not?””
“She said you had to figure it out yourself.””
Harris's phone vibrated.
A secure message.
*MEDICAL LAB RESULTS READY.*
His pulse quickened.
He opened the attachment.
The report contained only three lines.
*DNA SAMPLE A: DANIEL HARRIS.*
*DNA SAMPLE B: UNKNOWN MALE.*
*MATCH: 99.9987%.*
Reed stared over his shoulder.
“That means…”
“It means whoever that man is,” Harris said, “he's genetically identical to me.””
Ruby looked frightened.
“Is he your brother?””
Harris shook his head.
“I never had a brother.””
Another message arrived.
This one contained an address.
An abandoned train depot on the eastern edge of the city.
Then:
*COME ALONE.*
Harris deleted the message.
Reed immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Harris looked at him.
“My daughter is there.””
“And that's exactly why it's a trap.””
“I know.””
“Then don't walk into it.””
Harris stared at the screen.
“Would you leave your daughter there?””
Reed said nothing.
Harris grabbed his coat.
“We're going.””
“Sir, he specifically said alone.””
“I didn't say I'm going to listen.””
They moved through the headquarters basement toward the motor pool.
Ruby followed.
Harris stopped.
“You stay here.””
“No.””
“Ruby.””
“My mom is there.””
“You're eight years old.””
“She'll be scared if I don't come.””
Harris looked at her.
He wanted to argue.
But he remembered Amelia at seventeen.
The same stubborn eyes.
The same refusal to abandon someone she loved.
“Fine,” he said.
Reed stared at him.
“Sir?””
“She's coming with us.””
They reached the garage.
A military SUV waited.
Before Harris could open the door, every light in the garage flickered.
Then the speakers crackled.
A voice filled the room.
“Daniel.””
Harris looked up.
“Crowe.””
A slow laugh echoed.
“You still think this is about saving Amelia.””
Harris drew his weapon.
“Show yourself.””
“Why?””
“Because I'm tired of hiding.””
The voice became colder.
“You should ask yourself a different question.””
Harris waited.
“Which one of you is the original?””
Silence.
Then the garage doors began closing.
Reed rushed toward the control panel.
“Someone locked us in.””
Harris looked at Ruby.
“Get behind me.””
A vehicle engine suddenly roared.
A black SUV crashed through the opposite security barrier.
Reed fired.
The windshield shattered.
The vehicle kept coming.
Harris pulled Ruby aside as it slammed into a concrete pillar.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
Gray uniform.
Black ring.
Vale.
He raised his hands.
“I'm not here to hurt you.””
Harris aimed his weapon.
“Then why are you here?””
Vale looked at Ruby.
“Because your daughter trusted me.””
Harris lowered his gun slightly.
“Where is Amelia?””
Vale's face tightened.
“She's alive.””
“Where?””
“Not for long.””
Harris stepped forward.
“Take me to her.””
Vale shook his head.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because Crowe isn't holding Amelia.””
Harris's expression changed.
“Then who is?””
Vale looked directly at him.
“You are.””
Harris froze.
“What?””
Vale pointed toward Ruby.
“Your daughter was never kidnapped.””
May you like
He looked at Harris with exhausted eyes.
“She was taken by the man who came home in your place.””
