Eli took it.
The photograph showed three younger men.
Daniel Carter.
Raymond Ellis.
And a third fighter.
Eli recognized him immediately.
"That's Victor Shaw."
Derek's father.
Raymond nodded.
"Yes."
Eli looked at the photograph.
Then at Derek.
The past had just walked into the present.
Victor Shaw had once been a celebrated fighter.
He was also Derek's father.
Thirteen years earlier, he had been accused of using illegal techniques during a major tournament.
Daniel Carter had reported him.
The accusation destroyed Victor's career.
But Victor always claimed Daniel had fabricated evidence.
The academy split into two sides.
Raymond had defended Daniel.
Others had defended Victor.
Then Daniel disappeared.
Eli looked at Raymond.
"Did my father lie?"
"No."
Derek heard the answer.
His face changed.
"My father said Daniel ruined his life."
Raymond looked at him.
"Your father made his own choices."
Derek shook his head.
"You knew?"
"I knew the truth."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you were twelve."
Derek stepped backward.
His anger wasn't aimed at Eli anymore.
It was aimed at the past.
Then Marcus spoke.
"What does this have to do with today?"
Raymond looked at Eli.
"Everything."
The photograph had been stored for thirteen years.
But there was something behind it.
A folded document.
Eli opened it.
His father's handwriting covered the page.
If anything happens to me, the truth is in the Westbridge locker.
Eli looked at Raymond.
"What locker?"
Raymond knew immediately.
"Number seventeen."
They went there together.
Inside was a small video cassette.
And one sentence:
Play this only when Eli is old enough.
Eli stared at the tape.
He was sixteen.
He was old enough.
The old video played on a dusty television.
Daniel Carter appeared on screen.
He looked younger.
Stronger.