Chapter 9: What Amelia Saw
Harris stared at his daughter.
The depot seemed to disappear around him.
Rain.
Gunfire.
The bleeding shoulder.
None of it mattered.
Only Amelia's words remained.
He's telling the truth.
Harris shook his head.
“No.””
Amelia cried harder.
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
“I tried to tell you.””
“You said Crowe drugged me.””
“He did.””
“You said they manipulated my memories.””
“They did.””
“Then why did I order Black River?””
Amelia looked toward the duplicate.
“Because before they erased your memories, you gave the order.””
Harris's face went numb.
“That isn't possible.””
The duplicate stepped forward.
“It is.””
Harris aimed his gun.
“Stay back.””
The duplicate stopped.
“You want to know what happened?””
“Yes.””
“Then listen.””
His voice sounded exactly like Harris's.
Nine years earlier, Daniel Harris had discovered Crowe's plan.
Crowe intended to move millions of dollars through a covert military network and blame the theft on Harris.
Harris confronted him.
But Crowe had something Harris didn't know.
A group of senior officers had already been compromised.
Harris realized that if he exposed them, they would destroy the entire operation.
So he created a second plan.
He would pretend to cooperate.
He would authorize Black River.
Then he would secretly redirect the mission to expose Crowe's network.
But something went wrong.
Harris's unit entered the warehouse.
The enemy was waiting.
Someone had leaked their location.
Men died.
The money disappeared.
And Harris was badly injured.
Crowe used the disaster to frame him.
Then came Project Mirror.
The duplicate looked at Amelia.
“You found your father after the operation.””
She nodded.
“He didn't recognize me.””
The duplicate continued.
“He believed Crowe's story.””
Harris whispered:
“Because my memories were altered.””
“Yes.””
“But why did Amelia disappear?””
The duplicate's eyes hardened.
“Because Crowe ordered her killed.””
Harris looked at Amelia.
“You escaped.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you come to me?””
“Because you were surrounded by people working for Crowe.””
Harris lowered his gun.
“I spent nine years thinking you hated me.””
“I spent nine years thinking you'd been replaced.””
The duplicate looked away.
“I protected her.””
Harris stared at him.
“You were the one sending us warnings.””
“Yes.””
“You were the one watching Ruby.””
“To keep Crowe from finding her.””
“Then why threaten me?””
“Because I didn't know if you were still working for him.””
Harris shook his head.
“I wasn't.””
“I know now.””
The duplicate reached into his coat.
Harris raised his weapon.
“Slowly.””
He pulled out a small black drive.
“Everything is here.””
He tossed it onto the floor.
“Crowe's accounts. The original operation logs. The Project Mirror files.””
Reed picked it up.
“Sir, this could expose half the command structure.””
“Then expose it.””
A voice echoed from the darkness.
“Not if I get there first.””
Crowe stepped into the depot.
He was older than Harris remembered.
But very much alive.
He held Amelia's photograph in one hand.
Two armed men appeared behind him.
Harris raised his weapon.
Crowe smiled.
“Daniel.””
“Crowe.””
“You've caused me a great deal of trouble.””
Harris stepped in front of Ruby.
“You hurt my daughter.””
Crowe shrugged.
“She was always too curious.””
Amelia stepped forward.
“You lied to him.””
“I protected the country.””
“You destroyed innocent people.””
“I made difficult choices.””
Harris's voice became cold.
“You erased my memories.””
Crowe smiled.
“You volunteered.””
Harris's expression changed.
“For what?””
“Project Mirror.””
“Why?””
“Because you wanted a way to survive.””
Crowe pointed at the duplicate.
“And it worked.””
The duplicate's jaw tightened.
“You made me believe I was him.””
“I made you useful.””
Harris stared at Crowe.
“Why create me?””
Crowe laughed.
“You weren't created.””
He pointed toward the duplicate.
“He was.””
The world seemed to stop.
Harris looked at the other man.
Crowe continued.
“The man standing beside Amelia is the original Daniel Harris.””
Harris's face went white.
“No.””
Crowe smiled.
“You were the replacement.””
Ruby grabbed Harris's hand.
“Grandpa…”
Harris couldn't move.
Every memory he'd trusted suddenly felt like a lie.
His childhood.
His marriage.
His military career.
His daughter.
Everything.
Crowe lifted his weapon.
“But don't worry, Daniel.””
Harris looked at him.
“You still have one purpose.””
“What?””
Crowe nodded toward Ruby.
“She carries the last piece of the program.””
Harris looked at her backpack.
Ruby stepped backward.
“No.””
Crowe smiled.
“The little girl doesn't even know what her mother hid inside it.””
Amelia suddenly screamed:
“Ruby, run!””
The lights went out.
Gunfire exploded through the depot.
Harris grabbed Ruby.
The original Daniel tackled Crowe.
Reed fired toward the armed men.
Amelia disappeared into the darkness.
Then Harris heard Ruby scream.
“Mom!””
He turned.
She was gone.
And on the floor where Amelia had been standing lay a single bloodstained photograph.
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On the back, five words had been written:
*YOUR REAL FATHER IS ALIVE.*
