Chapter 8: The Man Behind the Lies
I left the chapel with Rachel and Nora beside me.
Ryan followed.
My mother stayed behind with the officers.
The drive to the police station felt endless.
Nobody spoke.
Nora sat in the back seat, holding Rachel's hand.
Every few minutes, I looked at her through the rearview mirror.
She had already lost six years with her mother.
I wasn't going to let another person disappear from her life.
When we arrived, Detective Miller met us at the entrance.
"He's in Interview Room Three.""
I swallowed.
"Is he really my father?""
Miller looked at me.
"That's something you'll have to discuss with him.""
I pushed open the door.
And there he was.
Thomas Carter.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakably the man who had taught me to throw a baseball in our backyard.
He stood slowly.
"Ethan.""
I couldn't move.
He took one step toward me.
"My boy.""
I shook my head.
"Don't.""
His eyes filled.
"I know you have questions.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Questions? You think I have questions?""
I pointed toward him.
"I buried you!""
Thomas lowered his head.
"I know.""
"I stood beside your grave!""
"I know, son.""
"I spent years telling Nora stories about her grandfather!""
He began crying.
"I know.""
I stepped closer.
"Then tell me why you let us believe you were dead.""
Thomas looked toward Rachel.
"Because I discovered what Vanessa and Daniel were planning.""
Rachel nodded.
"He helped me after the accident.""
I turned toward her.
"You knew he was alive?""
"Not until four months ago.""
Thomas sat down.
"Vanessa had been working with Daniel for years. They were using forged documents to steal properties from elderly clients and vulnerable families.""
I frowned.
"Why would they target us?""
"Because your grandfather left you something valuable.""
He reached inside his jacket and removed an old photograph.
It showed a large brick building in downtown Columbus.
I recognized it immediately.
The Carter Building.
My father had owned it before transferring the property into the family trust.
Thomas continued.
"Your grandfather discovered a hidden financial account connected to that building. It contains the proceeds from decades of property investments.""
"How much?""
Thomas looked at me.
"Nearly eighteen million dollars.""
I stared at him.
Ryan whistled quietly.
Rachel looked horrified.
"That's why they needed the trust.""
Thomas nodded.
"Vanessa knew about the account. Daniel had been trying to gain access for years.""
I sat down.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I received threats.""
"From Vanessa?""
"From Daniel. He told me they knew where you lived, where Nora went to school, and when Rachel took her evening walks.""
Rachel's face tightened.
Thomas continued.
"Then I discovered they had arranged for Rachel's car to be tampered with.""
I looked at him.
"Who did it?""
Thomas took a long breath.
"Daniel arranged it. Vanessa approved it.""
"And Mom?""
He closed his eyes.
"Margaret helped them.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"How could she?""
Thomas looked at me.
"She was afraid of losing the lifestyle she had become accustomed to. Daniel convinced her that if the properties were transferred, she would receive a substantial payment.""
I remembered the insurance policy.
"And the two million dollars?""
Thomas nodded.
"That was supposed to be her reward.""
I stood.
"So you disappeared to protect us?""
"Yes.""
"While I raised Nora believing her mother was dead?""
Thomas's expression broke.
"I made a terrible mistake.""
I stared at him.
"That isn't an answer.""
He looked down.
"I thought if I stayed away, they'd leave you alone. I believed I could gather enough evidence to bring them down without putting you in danger.""
Rachel spoke quietly.
"But they kept controlling my life.""
Thomas nodded.
"I know. And I will spend the rest of my life trying to make that right.""
I couldn't look at him.
Then he reached into his jacket again.
This time, he removed a small blue notebook.
The cover was worn.
A brass clasp held it shut.
Rachel immediately recognized it.
"The ledger.""
Thomas placed it on the table.
"Everything is here. Payments, forged signatures, names, dates.""
I opened the cover.
The first page contained a list of bank transfers.
The second listed property transactions.
Then I saw a name.
Margaret Carter.
Beside it was a payment of $250,000.
I turned the page.
Another payment.
Then another.
But one entry caught my attention.
It was dated three days before Rachel's accident.
The amount was $75,000.
The recipient wasn't my mother.
It was Ryan.
I slowly looked up.
"Ryan?""
My brother stepped closer.
"That's not what you think.""
I turned the ledger toward him.
"You received seventy-five thousand dollars?""
Ryan looked at Thomas.
Then he nodded.
"Yes.""
My hands began shaking.
"From Daniel?""
Ryan nodded again.
"Yes.""
I stood.
"You took money from them?""
"I needed it.""
"For what?""
Ryan looked at Rachel.
Then he whispered:
"To pay someone who had proof that your father was still alive.""
Thomas's face changed.
"Ryan, what are you talking about?""
My brother reached into his pocket.
He placed a small photograph on the table.
It showed Thomas standing outside a hospital.
But behind him was another man.
A man wearing a dark suit.
Ryan pointed at the photograph.
"That's the person who helped Dad disappear.""
I examined the face.
Then my heart stopped.
It was my father's former business partner.
A man who had supposedly died in a boating accident ten years earlier.
Ryan leaned closer.
"His name is Victor Hayes.""
Thomas stood abruptly.
"Where did you get that photograph?""
Ryan looked at him.
"Because Victor contacted me last week.""
The room fell silent.
"Why?"" I asked.
Ryan swallowed.
"Because he said he knew who actually tampered with Rachel's car.""
Thomas grabbed the edge of the table.
"That's impossible.""
Ryan shook his head.
"He has the original footage.""
May you like
Then he looked directly at me.
"And he wants to meet you tonight.""
