Chapter 13: The Father Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My father had been dead for twenty years.
I'd watched his casket lowered into the ground when I was fifteen. I'd stood beside my mother while relatives offered condolences. I'd spent years visiting his grave on his birthday.
And now David Mercer was telling me he'd walked into the Rowan Works boardroom.
"David, repeat that.""
His breathing was uneven.
"Mrs. Rowan, there's a man downstairs claiming to be your father. He says his name is Thomas Bennett.""
I gripped the phone.
"That's impossible.""
"He's carrying identification, family photographs, and a document signed by Edward Bennett.""
"Have you seen him?""
"Yes.""
"What does he look like?""
David paused.
"Exactly like the photographs in your grandfather's office.""
I looked at Eleanor.
She had gone completely pale.
"Leah," she whispered.
I covered the phone.
"What?""
She swallowed.
"Your father wasn't buried.""
The words struck harder than anything Grant had said.
"What do you mean?""
Eleanor looked toward Margaret Ellis.
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Thomas disappeared after your father's funeral arrangements were made. Your mother believed he had died. Edward arranged the burial under extraordinary circumstances.""
I shook my head.
"No. I saw his coffin.""
"It was closed," Eleanor replied.
I remembered.
The funeral director had told us that my father's injuries made viewing impossible.
I'd never questioned it.
I looked at the phone.
"David, don't let anyone leave that boardroom. I'm coming.""
I ended the call.
Margaret Ellis stepped forward.
"Leah, you need to understand that Thomas was involved in the original trust arrangements.""
"Why was he declared dead?""
"Because he discovered that William Rowan was diverting money from the Bennett holdings. He was threatened. Edward arranged for him to disappear before the situation became dangerous.""
I felt sick.
"My mother spent twenty years believing her husband was dead.""
Margaret nodded.
"And your mother never knew the entire truth.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Did you?""
She shook her head.
"No. I only discovered Thomas was alive six months ago.""
I stared at her.
"And you didn't tell me?""
"I couldn't. He was still being watched.""
I turned away.
For the first time in twelve years, I wanted to scream.
Instead, I picked up my handbag.
"Take me to him.""
The Rowan Works lobby was crowded when I arrived.
Employees stood near the reception desk, whispering.
Two security guards waited beside the elevators.
David hurried toward me.
"Mrs. Rowan.""
"Where is he?""
"Executive boardroom.""
"Is he alone?""
"Yes.""
I stepped into the elevator.
The doors closed.
My reflection stared back at me.
I looked exhausted.
My hair was loose, my makeup had faded, and my hands were shaking.
When the doors opened, I walked straight toward the boardroom.
The door was open.
A man stood at the head of the table.
He was older, thinner, and had silver hair.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
The same blue eyes I'd seen in childhood photographs.
He turned.
"Leah.""
My handbag slipped from my shoulder.
I couldn't speak.
He took one step toward me.
"Sweetheart.""
I raised my hand.
"Don't.""
He stopped.
I looked at his face.
"You let me bury you.""
His eyes filled.
"I know.""
"You let Mom spend twenty years mourning you.""
"I didn't have a choice.""
"You let me grow up believing I had no father.""
He lowered his head.
"Your grandfather told me staying away was the only way to keep you safe.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone in this family seems to have an excuse for lying.""
He nodded.
"You have every right to hate me.""
I looked at the chair at the head of the table.
The same chair Sloane had occupied that morning.
"Why are you here?""
Thomas placed a leather folder on the table.
"Because someone activated the original succession clause.""
I stepped closer.
"David says you're claiming ownership.""
"No.""
He opened the folder.
"I'm claiming something much more important.""
Inside was a document bearing my grandfather's signature.
It named Thomas Bennett as the original custodian of the family trust.
But the final paragraph contained something unexpected.
The custodian had no right to ownership.
His only responsibility was to protect the beneficiary.
I looked up.
"Then who is the beneficiary?""
Thomas smiled sadly.
"You.""
He handed me another document.
It was dated twenty years earlier.
My mother's signature appeared at the bottom.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
"She knew?""
"Yes. Catherine discovered the original conspiracy shortly before she died. She arranged for the trust to pass directly to you.""
I stared at the paper.
"Then why did she leave everything unresolved?""
"Because she knew someone inside Rowan Works was helping William. She couldn't identify everyone before she died.""
I remembered the list.
Fourteen names.
David Mercer.
I looked toward him.
"David, what did my mother know about you?""
His face tightened.
Thomas answered before he could.
"David wasn't one of the conspirators, Leah.""
I frowned.
"Then why did she circle his name?""
"Because he was the person she trusted to identify the final beneficiary.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Who is the final beneficiary?""
He opened the last page.
There was a handwritten name.
Not mine.
Not Eleanor's.
Not Grant's.
It was a name I had never seen before.
*Daniel Bennett.*
Thomas closed the folder.
"Leah, your mother had another child.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
He nodded.
"Your younger brother.""
Before I could ask another question, the boardroom doors opened.
A young man in his late twenties entered.
He carried a small envelope.
His eyes were wet.
He looked directly at me.
"Hi, Leah.""
May you like
Then he said something that made my knees weaken.
"Mom told me you'd know where to find the key.""
