Mysteries of the Untold - The Kate Hardy Mystery Stories

Three

I saw a distant light on at the end of the staircase, as if somebody had left in a hurry. What would I find at the bottom of these stairs? Would it be the answers I have been looking for since my fathers unexpected death, or will I find myself with even more questions than I have already? All I knew was that it was a risk I was willing to take. Besides, what was the worst that could happen?

As I lowered one foot in front of the other down the old rickety staircase, getting closer to the light, I began to feel a knot forming in my stomach.  I paused, looking down at the last step in fear. I took a deep breath and continued my way down. When I reached the bottom, I was introduced into an entirely new world. What was it that I was looking at exactly? What was it that I was looking for? 

Examining the room I was finally able to identify where the light was coming from as computer monitors covered almost every inch of the wall, nothing to display besides a loop of soundless static. I continued my way in, hoping that with each step I took would lead me to one more answer to every question I had running through my head. In front of me sat a control table, buttons and keys that would access the truth. In that moment, I let my fingers do the talking and began hitting the keys until something began playing on the monitors in front of me.

"If you're watching this, it probably means that I'm dead." the voice of my father said, as it echoed through-out the room. 

I looked up, in disbelief. Dad?

"At this moment you probably have a lot of questions, and I want you to know that I wish I could answer all of them for you. But the truth is Katie, I'm a liar."

I sat down in the chair in front of me, preparing for this earth shattering experience my father had left for me.

"I need you to know that everything I did in my life was to protect you and your mother. I never wanted to lie to you or to warp the truth for you in any way, but I had to do what I needed to do to shield you from what I am about to tell you now. I don't know how old you are as you watch this, my hope is that I was able to at least watch you graduate or find the love of your life. Heck, maybe I'm preparing for the worst and right now we are sitting at the kitchen table watching your kids run around, happy. But you and I both know that your mothers death changed me, it made me look at life in an entirely different way and that's why I know... I am dead. But, no matter what they say Katie, I did not die of natural causes or an accident, I was murdered to keep my mouth shut about a covert government agency... and so was your mother."