Chapter 13: The Third Man
The room went silent after Raymond's confession.
I stared at him.
“Who was there?””
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
My husband answered instead.
“Your father.””
I felt my stomach twist.
“My father was there when Terrence was born?””
“Yes.””
“And who else?””
My husband looked at Raymond.
Raymond finally spoke.
“Daniel Price.””
Lennox's face crumpled.
“My uncle.””
I turned toward her.
“You knew?””
“I knew Daniel was involved,” she whispered.
“I didn't know everything.””
Terrence stood perfectly still.
“So what are you saying?””
Raymond took a breath.
“Your mother was unconscious after the delivery.””
I looked at him.
“I was?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Your father gave you something.””
My husband stepped closer.
“He wanted to make sure you couldn't remember the night.””
I backed away.
“You're telling me my father drugged me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Raymond looked at Terrence.
“Because he needed to hide who the baby's biological father was.””
Terrence's face hardened.
“Who?””
Nobody answered.
He slammed his fist against the table.
“Who is my father?””
My husband closed his eyes.
“You are.””
Terrence stared at him.
“What?””
“You're my son.””
Raymond shook his head.
“No.””
My husband turned.
“I was married to Margaret.””
“That doesn't make you the father.””
“I was there.””
“So was Daniel.””
I looked between them.
“What are you two hiding?””
Raymond's voice became barely audible.
“Daniel was the biological father.””
The words seemed impossible.
I looked at Terrence.
Then at my husband.
Then at Raymond.
“My son…”
Terrence stepped backward.
“No.””
Lennox began crying.
“Terrence, I'm sorry.””
He turned on her.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“You married me knowing all of this?””
“I didn't know at first.””
“And when you found out?””
“I stayed because I thought I could protect you.””
He laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying they protected me.””
I looked at my husband.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Daniel threatened to expose you.””
“Expose me for what?””
“For knowing.””
“I didn't know anything!””
“Exactly.””
Raymond suddenly reached into his coat.
The officers immediately raised their weapons.
“Don't move!””
Raymond slowly removed a small cassette tape.
“I need you to hear this.””
He placed it on the table.
My husband recognized it.
“No.””
Raymond looked at him.
“She deserves to know.””
He pushed the tape toward me.
An officer found an old recorder in one of the evidence boxes.
I pressed play.
Static filled the kitchen.
Then my father's voice.
“Raymond, the boy cannot know.””
A younger Raymond answered.
“He'll ask questions.””
“He won't remember the night.””
“And Margaret?””
“She'll believe the story we give her.””
A third voice entered.
Daniel.
“What about me?””
My blood ran cold.
My father answered.
“You will disappear.””
Daniel laughed.
“You can't make me.””
“I don't have to.””
A sound followed.
A gunshot.
Then screaming.
The recording ended.
Lennox covered her mouth.
Terrence stared at the recorder.
“That was Daniel.””
Raymond nodded.
“He survived that night.””
My husband whispered, “And spent decades hunting us.””
I looked at Raymond.
“You said Daniel was dead.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
“Because I thought he was coming for Terrence.””
My son turned toward me.
“Mom…”
Before he could continue, every light in the house went out.
The officers shouted.
A window shattered.
Something struck the wall beside my head.
Then a voice came from outside.
“Margaret!””
I knew that voice.
Daniel.
He was alive.
And he was calling my name.
“Bring me my son.””
Terrence grabbed my hand.
I pulled him behind me.
Daniel shouted again.
“You've been lied to for thirty-nine years. Tonight, you're going to hear the truth.””
May you like
Then the back door opened.
And someone stepped into the darkness.
