Chapter 8: The Father Who Was Buried Twice
I didn't leave the warehouse with answers.
I left with more questions than I'd ever had.
Natalie and Sophie were taken to a hospital under police protection.
I gave my statement.
Then Eleanor showed me the original shareholder agreement.
It was twenty-four years old.
The first page listed three founders.
Daniel Carter.
Robert Carter.
Edward Hale.
My father's name was printed beside a fifty-one-percent ownership interest.
Robert held thirty percent.
Edward held nineteen.
According to the agreement, Daniel had disappeared after a vehicle accident in 2002.
His shares had been placed in a temporary trust.
But the transfer documents were incomplete.
Eleanor pointed to the final page.
“Robert never legally transferred your father's shares.””
“Why not?””
“Because he believed Daniel was still alive.””
I stared at her.
“Do you have proof?””
She removed a photograph.
It showed an older man standing outside a small apartment building.
Silver hair.
A slight limp.
My father's face.
I sat down.
“Where was this taken?””
“Harbor Point. Unit 406.””
I remembered the address from Robert's photograph.
Then my phone rang.
My mother.
I answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“Mom, tell me the truth.””
She started crying.
“Your father survived the accident.””
I closed my eyes.
“How long have you known?””
“Twenty-two years.””
The answer hit harder than I expected.
“Twenty-two years?””
“He contacted me two years after the accident. He said he had been forced into hiding.””
“By whom?””
“Edward Hale.””
I looked at Eleanor.
She was listening.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because your father told me that if I spoke, you would be in danger.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You let me grow up believing he was dead.””
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“You were protecting yourself.””
My mother went silent.
Then she said:
“Robert knew Daniel was alive. He tried to bring him home. But Edward threatened to expose the company's illegal operations.””
“What did Dad do?””
“He disappeared again.””
“Did he poison Robert?””
My mother began sobbing.
“I don't know.””
“Did he?””
“I saw Vanessa with the medication bottle. I saw her enter Robert's room. But I never saw Daniel.””
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
“Then why did you sign the false declaration?””
“Because Vanessa told me Robert had authorized the transfer. She said I would receive money to settle your father's old investment.””
“And you believed her?””
“I wanted to believe her.””
I ended the call.
Eleanor placed another folder in front of me.
“There's something you need to see.””
Inside was a photograph of Robert in his hospital bed.
Vanessa stood beside him.
My mother stood near the window.
And behind the curtains was a shadow.
A man's reflection in the glass.
I enlarged the image.
The man had a familiar face.
My father.
I stared.
“He was there.””
Eleanor nodded.
“Three days before Robert died.””
I felt sick.
“Then he knows what happened.””
“Possibly.””
“Where is he?””
“We don't know.””
A message appeared on my phone.
Unknown number.
*HARBOR POINT. UNIT 406. COME ALONE.*
I showed Eleanor.
She immediately shook her head.
“No.””
“It's my father.””
“Or someone pretending to be him.””
I looked toward the hospital corridor.
Natalie was sitting with Sophie.
My daughter had finally fallen asleep.
I couldn't risk bringing danger to them again.
But I needed answers.
Detective Samuel Brooks arrived twenty minutes later.
He examined the photograph.
Then he looked at Eleanor.
“We have a problem.””
“What?””
“Edward Hale has disappeared.””
I stared.
“How?””
“His lawyers say he was released from questioning. But he never arrived home.””
Eleanor frowned.
“Was he under surveillance?””
“Yes.””
“Then someone helped him.””
Brooks nodded.
“And we have another development.””
He opened his briefcase.
Inside was a photograph of a white sedan parked outside Harbor Point.
The driver was my mother.
The passenger was my father.
Brooks looked at me.
“Your mother met Daniel Carter this morning.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Where is she now?””
“We're trying to locate her.””
Then Brooks placed another photograph on the table.
It showed a small envelope beneath the windshield of the sedan.
Written across it were three words.
*FOR OWEN ONLY.*
I opened the photograph.
The envelope contained a handwritten note.
Son, I know what they told you.
But I didn't kill Robert.
I know who did.
At the bottom was an address.
May you like
And a time.
*Tonight. 11:30 P.M.*
