Chapter 14: What Michael Remembered
I had imagined impossible reunions before.
Not with Michael.
With Claire.
Sometimes I dreamed she walked through the front door and told me everything had been a mistake.
This felt exactly like that.
Michael stood slowly.
“You got old.””
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
“So did you.””
His eyes filled.
Then he hugged me.
My brother.
The boy I barely remembered.
The dead child whose photograph had followed me through childhood.
Alive.
His body shook.
“I thought Dad would never let you find me.””
“Dad’s been dead eleven years.””
Michael pulled away.
“I know.””
“You knew?””
“Richard told me.””
I looked around the room.
“Richard visited?””
“Until Claire found me.””
I sat opposite him.
“We need to talk about Claire.””
His expression collapsed.
“She’s dead.””
“Yes.””
“I’m sorry.””
“You knew her?””
“She came here seven years ago.””
Michael touched his scar.
“She told me about the baby.””
“Lily.””
He smiled.
“Lily.””
“You’ve seen her?””
“Photographs.””
He pointed toward the drawings.
“Claire sent them through Dr. Cole.””
My anger shifted.
Not at Michael.
At everyone who had decided what truths I was allowed to know.
“Michael, Richard used your DNA.””
“I know.””
“And Evelyn’s.””
“Yes.””
“You’re Lily’s biological father.””
His eyes dropped.
“Genetically.””
I watched him carefully.
“She’s my daughter.””
Michael immediately nodded.
“I know.””
No argument.
No claim.
Nothing.
“She has a father,” he said.
“Claire made that clear.””
Something in my chest loosened.
“Why didn’t you contact me?””
“Because every time someone tried to help me, Richard found them.””
He rolled up his sleeve.
Old needle scars covered his arm.
“They kept me sedated for years.””
“Dad did this?””
Michael’s face hardened.
“Dad started it.””
“Why?””
“Because I discovered what he and Richard were doing.””
“The illegal trials?””
He nodded.
“I was fourteen. I found records in Dad’s office.””
“What happened in the fire?””
Michael stared out the window.
“I confronted him.””
“Richard says you tried to kill him.””
Michael laughed bitterly.
“Richard always liked rewriting stories.””
“So what happened?””
“Dad grabbed the papers. We fought. A heater fell.””
“The fire was an accident?””
“At first.””
“At first?””
Michael looked at me.
“Dad escaped.””
My skin prickled.
“He left you inside?””
“Yes.””
“But you survived.””
“A groundskeeper pulled me out.””
“Then why tell everyone you died?””
“Because Dad realized death solved his problem.””
I closed my eyes.
My father.
My hero growing up.
Another lie.
“Did Claire know?””
“Eventually.””
Michael reached beneath his mattress.
He removed a sealed plastic envelope.
“Claire told me to give you this if you ever came.””
Inside was a memory card.
“The rest of the evidence?””
Michael nodded.
“Richard’s trials. Your father’s transfers. Everything.””
I took it.
“Then it’s over.””
“No.””
His voice changed.
“What?””
“Richard isn’t the last problem.””
I stared at him.
“Who?””
“Natalie.””
Of course.
“What does she want?””
“Lily.””
My hands tightened.
“Why?””
“Not because she thinks Lily is hers.””
“Then why?””
Michael looked at me.
“Because Lily controls the company.””
“She’s six.””
“But the ownership agreement doesn’t care.””
I remembered Claire’s documents.
My shares combined with Lily’s rights created control.
Michael continued.
“If you die while Lily is a minor, her court-appointed guardian can exercise her voting rights.””
My blood went cold.
“Natalie wants guardianship.””
“She wanted it years ago.””
“How?””
“By becoming Evelyn.””
Everything clicked.
Claire’s sister.
Lily’s supposed aunt.
A natural guardian candidate.
“She planned to remove me.””
“And Claire.””
“She sabotaged Claire’s car.””
Michael nodded.
“According to Claire.””
I stood.
“I need to get back to Lily.””
My phone rang.
Morales.
I answered.
“Daniel, we have a problem.””
“What?””
“Natalie escaped.””
My stomach dropped.
“The woman detained at your house was her assistant. We confirmed it.””
“Where is Natalie?””
“We don’t know.””
I was already moving.
Then Michael grabbed my arm.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“She’ll go somewhere Lily recognizes.””
“Why?””
“Because she won’t take Lily by force if she can convince her to come willingly.””
I called Maria.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
I called the protection detail.
An officer answered.
“Mr. Mercer?””
“Where is Lily?””
A pause.
Too long.
“Officer?””
“We thought she was with you.””
My blood froze.
“What?””
“Maria received a message from your number saying the threat was over.””
“I never sent it.””
“She left with Lily twenty minutes ago.””
“Where?””
“She said she was taking her home.””
I ran toward the exit.
Then my phone buzzed.
A photograph.
Lily standing beside our mansion’s front door.
Alone.
Under it:
DADDY, AUNT EVELYN CAME BACK.
Then another message appeared.
Not from Lily.
From Natalie.
BRING CLAIRE’S EVIDENCE TO THE HIDDEN ROOM.
May you like
COME ALONE.
OR THIS TIME, THE WALL STAYS CLOSED FOREVER.
