Marcus looked at the flash drive.
“I don't know.”
Then he saw the photograph.
It showed Daniel standing beside a motorcycle.
The same motorcycle Marcus had seen in the parking lot earlier.
The one Lily had been standing beside.
Marcus stared at the image.
The motorcycle had belonged to Daniel.
But it had been in storage for seven years.
And now it had somehow ended up at Iron Horse Customs.
Marcus suddenly understood.
The motorcycle wasn't just transportation.
It was a hiding place.
Back at the clubhouse, Marcus walked directly toward the motorcycle.
Lily was still asleep.
He didn't want to wake her.
The bike stood beneath the lights.
Black paint.
Chrome details.
Old leather seat.
A machine Daniel had loved.
Marcus crouched beside it.
Ray stood behind him.
“You think it's inside the bike?”
“Something is.”
Marcus examined the motorcycle.
Nothing looked unusual.
He checked the fuel tank.
Empty.
He checked the storage compartment.
Nothing.
He removed the seat.
Nothing.
Then he noticed a small screw.
It was newer than the others.
Marcus stared at it.
“That's not original.”
Ray handed him a tool.
Marcus carefully removed the screw.
A tiny compartment opened beneath the frame.
Inside was a metal cylinder.
Marcus pulled it out.
Ray whispered:
“What the hell?”
Marcus opened the cylinder.
Inside was a memory card.
There was also another note.
Marcus unfolded it.
This one was longer.
Marcus,
If you found this, you already know that I was being followed. I didn't trust the police because someone inside the department was helping them. I couldn't risk giving the evidence to anyone.
Marcus read faster.
Daniel described a network of men who had been using legitimate businesses to hide illegal operations.
But Daniel had also discovered something else.
The group had a leader.
Someone who had been protected for years.
Someone with influence.
Someone who could make evidence disappear.
Daniel never wrote the man's name.
Instead, he wrote:
You'll recognize him by the scar on his left cheek.
Marcus looked at Ray.
“The man Lily described.”
Ray nodded slowly.
“The one who came to her house.”
Marcus felt anger rising.
But he kept reading.
The final part of the note was addressed to Lily.
If you're reading this one day, Lily, it means I wasn't able to protect you myself. I'm sorry.
Marcus stopped.
He couldn't continue for a moment.
Daniel had known his daughter might someday read those words.
He had prepared for a future he hoped would never happen.
Marcus continued.
You have a family. Your uncle Marcus will protect you. Don't be afraid of the people looking for what I hid. They can't use it if they can't find it.
The message ended with one final sentence.
The truth is hidden where our story began.
Marcus frowned.
“Where our story began?”
Ray thought.
“The old garage?”
“No.”
“Your parents' house?”
Marcus shook his head.
Then his eyes widened.
“The first motorcycle.”
Ray stared at him.
“What?”
“Our first motorcycle.”
Marcus remembered.
The motorcycle he and Daniel had built as teenagers.
They had sold it years ago.
But Marcus remembered who had bought it.
A collector.
An old man named Thomas Reed.
Marcus hadn't seen him in twenty years.
“Find Thomas.”
Ray grabbed his phone.
Marcus looked toward Lily.
She had awakened.
She was standing at the doorway.
“Uncle Marcus?”
Marcus turned.
“Why are you awake?”
She rubbed her eyes.
“I heard Dad's name.”
Marcus walked toward her.
“You knew about the motorcycle?”
Lily nodded.
“Dad told me about it.”
“What did he say?”
“He said it was where everything started.”
Marcus felt a chill.
“Did he ever tell you where it was?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Did he tell you anything else?”
Lily thought.
Then she said:
“He told me that when I was old enough, I should ask you about the red star.”
Marcus froze.
“The red star?”
She nodded.
“That's what he called it.”
Marcus suddenly remembered something.
When he and Daniel were teenagers, they painted a tiny red star underneath the motorcycle's fuel tank.
It had been their private symbol.
Nobody else knew about it.
Except Daniel.
Marcus looked at the motorcycle.
Then at Lily.
Someone had been searching for Daniel's secret for seven years.
And now Marcus finally had a path toward the truth.
But before he could speak, every light in the clubhouse went out.
The room became completely dark.
Then came the sound of breaking glass.
Someone had found them.
The first thing Marcus heard was Lily scream.
He moved instantly.
“Stay behind me!”
The emergency lights flickered on.
Men were moving outside.
Ray pulled the curtains shut.
The clubhouse had been surrounded.
Marcus grabbed Lily's hand.
“Basement.”
“But—”
“Now.”
The little girl obeyed.
Several club members moved to secure the doors.
Nobody wanted a fight.
They didn't know how many people were outside.
Marcus understood one thing clearly:
The men weren't there for him.
They were there for Lily.
And whatever Daniel had hidden.
A loud knock came from the main door.
Then a man's voice.
“Marcus Kane.”
Marcus didn't answer.
The voice continued.
“We know the girl is inside.”
Marcus looked at Ray.
Ray shook his head.
Another voice shouted:
“Give her to us, and nobody gets hurt.”
Marcus almost laughed.
He had heard threats like that before.
But tonight was different.
He looked at Lily.
She was frightened.
Marcus crouched beside her.
“Listen to me.”
She nodded.
“Whatever happens, stay with Ray.”
“Where are you going?”
“To finish something your father started.”
Lily grabbed his vest.
“Don't leave.”
Marcus paused.
Then he placed one large hand over hers.
“I'll come back.”
She looked into his eyes.
“Promise?”
Marcus nodded.
“I promise.”
He stood.
Then he walked toward the main entrance.
Ray whispered:
“Marcus, wait.”
Marcus turned.
“What?”
“You don't know how many there are.”
Marcus smiled faintly.
“I don't need to.”
He opened the door.
Three men stood outside.
The largest was nearly as tall as Marcus.
The second was thinner.
The third had a scar running down his left cheek.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
“You.”
The scarred man smiled.
“You finally remember.”
Marcus stepped outside.
“What do you want?”
“The girl.”
“No.”
The man sighed.
“You don't understand what you're protecting.”
Marcus looked at him.
“I understand enough.”