Chapter 9: The Man Behind the Murder
I went to Harbor Point with Detective Brooks.
Not alone.
Not without protection.
The apartment building stood near the river, surrounded by old warehouses and neglected parking lots.
Unit 406 was on the fourth floor.
The door was unlocked.
Inside, the apartment was almost empty.
A small table.
Two chairs.
A photograph of me as a child.
And a man standing beside the window.
My father.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
He looked older than the photograph.
His hair was almost entirely gray.
His face was thinner.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
“Owen.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
He looked down.
“I know.””
“No. You don't.””
I stepped forward.
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“I was trying to keep you safe.””
“You abandoned me.””
He flinched.
“I had no choice.””
“Everyone has a choice.””
He lowered his head.
Then he handed me a folder.
Inside were bank records, corporate agreements, and photographs of Edward Hale.
The final document was a confession.
My father's signature appeared at the bottom.
“I didn't kill Robert,” he said.
“Then who did?””
“Edward ordered it. Vanessa administered the medication.””
I stared at him.
“And you knew?””
“I suspected. I didn't have proof.””
“Why didn't you go to the police?””
He looked toward the window.
“Because Edward controlled the company, the records, and the people who could have testified.””
“You could have protected Robert.””
“I tried.””
“Not hard enough.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
I opened the confession.
It explained that Edward had used Northstar to move illegal shipments through the underground corridor beneath Robert's property.
Robert had discovered the operation and threatened to expose it.
Edward wanted the riverfront land because it provided direct access to the distribution network.
Vanessa had been recruited to manipulate Natalie and obtain the trust.
Martin had created fraudulent legal documents.
My mother had unknowingly signed a false declaration.
And Daniel had been forced into hiding after refusing to cooperate.
“Why did Edward want Sophie?””
My father looked at me.
“Because Robert placed the controlling shares into her trust.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because he knew Edward would never stop trying to take the company.””
I stared at the document.
“Then why did Robert make you a beneficiary?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Because he believed I deserved a second chance.””
I felt anger rising.
“A second chance? You left your family for twenty-four years.””
“I know.””
“Your grandson—”
“My granddaughter.””
I froze.
“What?””
Daniel looked at the photograph of Sophie.
“I saw her once. Outside your house. I didn't approach because Vanessa was watching.””
My hands tightened.
“You knew about her?””
“Yes.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I was afraid.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone was afraid. Natalie was chained to a post. Sophie was kidnapped.
My mother was manipulated. And you were afraid?””
My father lowered his head.
Then he said something I wasn't expecting.
“Edward didn't just threaten me. He threatened to tell you the truth about your birth.””
I stared.
“What truth?””
Daniel reached into the folder.
He removed a hospital record.
My name appeared at the top.
My date of birth.
My mother's name.
And beneath it, a second name.
Robert Carter.
I looked up.
“What is this?””
Daniel's voice cracked.
“Robert wasn't just Natalie's father-in-law.””
I couldn't breathe.
“He was your biological father.””
The room went silent.
I stared at the paper.
Then at Daniel.
“You're lying.””
“No.””
“My mother said—”
“She knew.””
I stepped backward.
“Why would she hide that?””
Daniel sat down.
“Robert and Margaret had a relationship before she married me. When you were born, she told Robert you were his son. He wanted to raise you, but Margaret chose to stay with me.””
I looked at the hospital record again.
My entire life had been built on a lie.
Robert had known.
That explained the way he had treated me.
The way he had trusted me with the vault.
The way he had written my name in his final letter.
He hadn't simply considered me family.
He had been my father all along.
Daniel wiped his eyes.
“I found out years later. I was angry. I made terrible choices. Edward used that anger to control me.””
I looked at him.
“Did you ever love me?””
He nodded.
“Always.””
“But you let me call you Dad.””
“Yes.””
I turned away.
There was nothing I could say.
Then Detective Brooks entered the room.
He had been listening from the hallway.
“Mr. Carter, I need you to come with us.””
My father stood.
“Why?””
Brooks held up a document.
“Your testimony is needed in the Robert Carter murder investigation.””
Daniel nodded.
“I'll cooperate.””
Then he looked at me.
“One more thing.””
“What?””
“Edward didn't disappear.””
Brooks frowned.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel opened the final folder.
Inside was a shipping manifest.
A departure time.
A destination.
And a company name.
*NORTHSTAR RIVER TERMINAL — 12:15 A.M.*
Daniel pointed to the last line.
“Edward is leaving tonight.””
I looked at the clock.
11:42 P.M.
Brooks immediately called his team.
Then my phone rang.
Natalie.
I answered.
“Owen?””
“What's wrong?””
Her voice trembled.
“Someone came to the hospital.””
My blood turned cold.
“Who?””
“A man wearing a security uniform. He said he was taking Sophie to another room.””
“Where is she?””
“I stopped him.””
“Where are you now?””
“In the nurses' station. The police are here.””
I closed my eyes.
“I'm coming.””
Then Natalie whispered:
“Owen, he left something behind.””
“What?””
“A photograph of Sophie.””
I gripped the phone.
“What was written on it?””
Natalie swallowed.
“Tell your father the truth is still buried.””
The call ended.
I looked at Daniel.
He had gone pale.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Edward knows.””
