Chapter 8: The Man Who Recognized My Face
Andrew Cole's address led us to a small house on the outskirts of Marietta.
The neighborhood was quiet. Children rode bicycles along the sidewalks, and an old American flag hung from the porch of the house at the end of the street.
Dad parked beside the curb.
"Are you ready?""
I looked at the front door.
"No.""
He nodded.
"Me neither.""
We walked up the driveway together.
Dad knocked twice.
No answer.
He knocked again.
A man in his late forties appeared behind the glass.
He had gray around his temples and wore a faded Atlanta Braves shirt.
His eyes went directly to me.
Then his face changed.
He opened the door halfway.
"Who are you?""
Dad stepped forward.
"My name is Marcus Williams.""
The man went completely still.
"Marcus?""
"We need to talk.""
Andrew looked at me again.
His jaw tightened.
"How old is he?""
"Eighteen," Dad replied.
Andrew closed his eyes.
For a moment, he looked as if he might collapse.
Then he stepped aside.
"Come in.""
The house smelled of coffee and old books. A baseball game played quietly on the television.
Andrew pointed toward the sofa.
"Sit down.""
Neither Dad nor I moved immediately.
Andrew went into the kitchen and returned with three glasses of water.
He placed one in front of me.
"What's your name?""
"Ethan.""
He stared at my face.
Then he said something unexpected.
"You have Danielle's smile.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Did you know my mother?""
He looked at Dad.
"More than you know.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Why didn't you stay in her life?""
Andrew's expression hardened.
"Because your brother made sure I couldn't.""
My father froze.
"Daniel?""
Andrew nodded.
"That man threatened me. He told me if I ever contacted Danielle again, he'd destroy everything I had.""
"Why would he do that?""
"Because Danielle had discovered what he was doing with the family business.""
I sat forward.
"What did he do?""
Andrew looked at me.
"Your mother discovered that Daniel was using fake invoices to move money through several companies. One of those companies was connected to Vanessa.""
Dad's face darkened.
"How long had Vanessa known Daniel?""
"Years.""
I couldn't believe it.
Andrew continued.
"Danielle asked me to help her collect evidence. I worked in financial auditing back then. She trusted me to examine the records.""
"Why didn't you go to the police?""
"Because we needed proof that couldn't be destroyed.""
He stood and walked toward a bookshelf.
From behind a stack of old photo albums, he removed a small metal box.
"I kept these because Danielle told me to.""
He unlocked it.
Inside were several photographs, letters, and a small flash drive.
One photograph showed my mother standing beside Andrew.
They were holding a baby.
Me.
I picked it up.
My mother looked exhausted but happy. Andrew was looking down at me with tears in his eyes.
"That was taken the day after you were born," he said.
"Why did she keep it?""
"Because she wanted you to know who I was when you were old enough.""
Dad looked at the photograph.
"I raised him.""
Andrew nodded.
"And I'm grateful you did.""
There was no hostility in his voice.
"I never wanted to take him away from you, Marcus. I only wanted to make sure he was safe.""
Dad's shoulders lowered slightly.
"Then why did you disappear?""
Andrew opened a drawer in the metal box.
He removed an envelope addressed to Danielle.
"Because three days after Ethan was born, someone sent me this.""
He handed it to me.
Inside was a photograph of my mother standing beside the hospital entrance.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*STAY AWAY FROM THE BOY IF YOU WANT HIM TO LIVE.*
I felt my fingers go cold.
"Who sent it?""
Andrew shook his head.
"I never found out.""
Dad examined the handwriting.
"This looks like Daniel's.""
Andrew nodded.
"That's what I thought.""
He took the flash drive from the box.
"Danielle made copies of the financial records before she died. She gave me the originals and asked me to hide them.""
"Where are they?"" Dad asked.
Andrew pointed at the drive.
"Some of them are here.""
I looked at him.
"Did you know my mother was going to die?""
His face fell.
"I knew she was in danger. I didn't know how much.""
"Then why didn't you help her?""
Andrew stood abruptly.
"I tried!""
His voice cracked.
"I called her the night of the accident. She told me she was meeting someone. She said she had proof that Daniel had stolen money and that Vanessa was helping him.""
Dad stepped closer.
"Who was she meeting?""
Andrew looked at him.
"Vanessa.""
The room went silent.
I remembered the garage footage.
My mother. Vanessa. Daniel.
All standing together.
Andrew continued.
"Danielle told me she was going to get Vanessa to confess. She said she had something important to exchange.""
"What?""
"A recording.""
Dad's voice dropped.
"Of what?""
Andrew shook his head.
"I don't know. She never told me.""
He connected the flash drive to his laptop.
Several folders appeared.
One was labeled *DANIEL*.
Another was labeled *VANESSA*.
The third simply said *MARCUS*.
Dad frowned.
"Why is there a folder with my name?""
Andrew opened it.
Inside was a video file dated six years earlier.
He pressed play.
The screen showed my mother sitting in a hospital room, holding a piece of paper.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Marcus, if Andrew ever shows you this, then I couldn't tell you the truth myself.""
Dad took a step toward the screen.
My mother wiped her eyes.
"I know you love Ethan. I know you believe I've told you everything about our family.""
She paused.
"But there's another reason Vanessa wants to marry you.""
My father's face went pale.
May you like
Then my mother's next sentence made Andrew cover his mouth.
"Marcus, she's not just after the inheritance. She's trying to find her daughter.""
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