Chapter 10: The Man Who Died
I stared at the photograph until the screen blurred.
My father was alive.
Not a memory.
Not an old photograph.
Alive.
Taken that morning.
Sarah stood beside me, studying the image.
“Daniel, look at his hand.””
I zoomed in.
My father's left hand rested on the arm of the chair.
There was a distinctive silver ring on his finger.
I knew that ring.
He had worn it every day of my childhood.
But there was something else.
A hospital bracelet.
I looked at the timestamp again.
7:42 a.m.
That was less than an hour before I had come home and found Rebecca pouring ice water over Lily.
My father was alive while my daughter was being threatened.
I called the number back.
It went straight to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
“Whoever sent this wants us to know he survived,” Sarah said.
“Or wants us to think he did.””
Margaret shook her head.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“You believe him?””
“I believe your father.””
“You've met him?””
Margaret lowered her eyes.
“Once.””
Rebecca suddenly grabbed her arm.
“Don't.””
Margaret pulled free.
“I've stayed quiet long enough.””
Rebecca whispered, “You don't know what he'll do.””
“I know what he already did.””
I stepped between them.
“Tell me everything.””
Margaret took a shaky breath.
“Your father didn't die naturally.””
Sarah stiffened.
“What happened?””
“His plane crashed.””
I frowned.
“That was seven years ago?””
“Yes.””
“The official report said mechanical failure.””
“It wasn't.””
Margaret looked at the photograph.
“Vivian arranged the crash.””
Rebecca closed her eyes.
I stared at her.
“You knew.””
“I knew there was a plan,” she whispered.
“You knew my father was alive?””
“No.””
Margaret shook her head.
“Neither did Rebecca.””
I looked at her.
“Then why were you both involved?””
Margaret's voice cracked.
“Because Vivian threatened Lily.””
Sarah immediately moved toward her.
“Why Lily?””
“Because Vivian knew Sarah's records were hidden through the family foundation.””
Sarah's expression changed.
“She thought Lily knew where they were.””
“She was three.””
“I know.””
Margaret looked at me.
“She didn't care.””
A noise came from downstairs.
We all froze.
Then came the sound of the front door opening.
I reached for the fireplace poker.
“Who is it?””
No answer.
Footsteps crossed the foyer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Sarah whispered, “Daniel.””
I raised one finger.
Stay back.
The footsteps stopped outside the nursery.
Then a man's voice spoke.
“Son.””
The poker nearly fell from my hand.
I opened the door.
My father stood in the hallway.
Older.
Thinner.
A scar ran across his forehead.
But it was him.
I couldn't speak.
He looked at me.
“You've grown older.””
I laughed once, breathless.
“You're dead.””
“I was supposed to be.””
Sarah stepped beside me.
He looked at her.
“Sarah.””
She stared at him.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“You knew I survived.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you find me?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Because the people hunting you were inside my own company.””
I shook my head.
“You let me bury you.””
“I had no choice.””
“You always had a choice.””
He flinched.
I stepped closer.
“You watched me mourn you for seven years.””
“I watched because every person who got close to me became a target.””
Sarah pointed toward him.
“And Lily?””
His face softened.
“I've watched her from a distance.””
I felt rage rising.
“You watched your granddaughter grow up without knowing you existed?””
“I protected her.””
“No.””
My voice broke.
“You abandoned all of us.””
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he reached inside his coat.
“I came back because Vivian made one mistake.””
He handed me a folder.
“She believes the money is still in my foundation.””
I opened it.
Inside was a list of accounts.
At the bottom was one handwritten line.
*Final transfer scheduled tonight.*
I looked up.
“Where is Vivian?””
My father stared toward the window.
“She knows you're holding the documents.””
“And?””
“She won't run.””
“Why?””
He looked at Sarah.
“Because she has something she knows you won't leave behind.””
A scream came from the driveway.
We rushed to the window.
Lily's wheelchair sat outside.
Empty.
My heart stopped.
Then my father's phone rang.
He answered.
Vivian's voice came through the speaker.
“You should have stayed dead, Charles.””
My father closed his eyes.
Vivian continued.
“Because now your son has something worth taking.””
A photograph appeared on my phone.
May you like
Lily was sitting in the driver's seat of a parked car.
And someone was holding a knife against the glass beside her face.
