Chapter 10: The Grandfather Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
"Mom, start talking," Dad demanded.
My grandmother was crying so hard that her words came out unevenly.
"I didn't know what else to do, Marcus. Your father told me it was the only way to protect the family.""
"Protect us from what?""
"From the people investigating Danielle's death.""
Dad gripped the phone.
"You're telling me Frank faked his own death?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because he knew the police would eventually discover what happened to Danielle.""
I looked at Patricia.
She immediately began writing everything down.
Dad paced across the interview room.
"Where is he?""
"I don't know exactly. He calls me from different numbers. But yesterday he told me he was coming to Atlanta.""
"When?""
"Tonight.""
Dad's voice cracked.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me three years ago?""
My grandmother went quiet.
Then she said something that made my chest tighten.
"Because your father threatened to have Ethan taken away.""
I stepped toward the phone.
"Grandma, did Grandpa hurt my mother?""
She started crying again.
"Ethan, sweetheart, I loved your mother. She was like a daughter to me.""
"That isn't what I asked.""
There was a long pause.
Then she whispered:
"Your grandfather was at the house the night Danielle died.""
I closed my eyes.
The recording had been real.
The voice belonged to Frank.
Dad sank into a chair.
"My own father...""
Patricia interrupted.
"Mrs. Williams, do you have anything that proves Frank is alive?""
"Yes. I have photographs, bank statements, and copies of the insurance documents. He made me keep everything.""
"Where are they?""
"In a safe at my house.""
Patricia wrote down the address.
"Don't touch anything. Don't tell Frank we're coming.""
My grandmother agreed.
Before ending the call, she spoke directly to me.
"Ethan, there's something your mother wanted you to have. Your grandfather took it from her before she died.""
"What?""
"A small blue notebook. She called it her protection book.""
I remembered the boxes in the storage unit.
We hadn't found a blue notebook.
"What's inside?""
"Everything. Names, dates, payments. And the reason your grandfather wanted Danielle silenced.""
The call ended.
Dad sat motionless.
For years, he had believed his father was dead.
He had attended a funeral. He had delivered a eulogy. He had watched a closed coffin lowered into the ground.
And all that time, Frank had been alive.
Patricia placed a hand on Dad's shoulder.
"We need to involve federal investigators. This may involve identity fraud, financial crimes, and evidence tampering.""
Dad nodded.
Then he looked at me.
"Ethan, I need you to understand something. If my father is alive, he may try to contact you.""
I stared at him.
"Why me?""
"Because your mother left you something he wants.""
I looked at the flash drive.
"The notebook?""
"Maybe.""
The police arranged protection for my grandmother while Patricia contacted investigators.
At 6:40 p.m., we left the station.
Dad insisted I stay at a secure hotel until the situation was resolved.
I agreed.
But as we approached the parking garage, my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
Your father is telling you the truth about one thing. Frank is alive.
A second message appeared.
But he wasn't the one who killed Danielle.
I stopped walking.
Dad turned.
"What happened?""
I showed him.
He read the message twice.
"Who sent this?""
Another message arrived.
Ask your father what he did at 9:12 that night.
I looked at Dad.
"What happened at 9:12?""
His face changed.
"Nothing.""
"Grandma said Grandpa was at the house at that time. The note in Mom's storage unit had the same time.""
Dad looked away.
"Ethan, not now.""
"Why?""
He swallowed.
"Because I don't remember everything about that night.""
My stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?""
He opened his mouth.
Then his phone rang.
The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number.
Dad answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Hello, Marcus.""
Dad froze.
"Who is this?""
The voice chuckled.
"Your father.""
I could hear the man's breathing through the speaker.
Then he said:
"Stop looking for the notebook. You have no idea what your wife was planning.""
Dad's voice trembled.
"Where are you?""
"Close enough to see you.""
I turned toward the garage entrance.
A black SUV was parked beside the exit.
Its headlights flashed twice.
Then the man spoke again.
"By the way, Marcus, tell Ethan that I still have the original recording of his mother's final conversation.""
The call ended.
The SUV pulled away.
But before it disappeared around the corner, I saw the license plate.
May you like
And I recognized the last four numbers.
They belonged to the car my father had reported stolen six months earlier.
