Chapter 9: The Person I Never Suspected
The name stared back at me.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
Because the person written on that paper was impossible.
It was someone who had been part of my life for years.
Someone I trusted.
Someone my father trusted.
I looked at Diane.
She knew.
She knew before I did.
“You recognize the name,” I said.
She didn’t answer.
“Diane.””
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Yes.””
My fingers tightened around the paper.
“Tell me I’m wrong.””
She looked away.
“I can’t.””
The room felt like it was closing in.
Victor took the paper from me.
He read it again.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You know this person too?””
He nodded slowly.
“That’s why Robert was afraid.””
“Who is it?””
Neither of them answered.
I slammed my hand on the desk.
“Enough.””
The silence broke.
“I have spent my entire life being the only person who didn’t know anything.””
My voice shook.
“My mother. My brother. My father’s secrets. This house.””
I pointed toward Diane.
“You.””
Then Victor.
“You.””
“And now there’s another person?””
I took a breath.
“Tell me.””
Diane finally spoke.
“Your father’s closest friend.””
I felt my stomach drop.
No.
Not him.
“Michael?””
Diane nodded.
The room went silent.
I laughed once.
A broken sound.
“No.””
“Ryan…”
“No.””
Michael Harris.
My father’s attorney.
The man who appeared at the perfect moment.
The man who knew everything.
The man who gave me the letter.
“You’re lying.””
Victor shook his head.
“I wish she was.””
I looked at him.
“You expect me to believe my father’s lawyer was involved?””
Victor stared at me.
“He wasn’t just your father’s lawyer.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What else?””
“He was there when Daniel disappeared.””
The words hit me like a punch.
I grabbed my jacket.
“I’m calling him.””
Diane stepped forward.
“Don’t.””
I stopped.
“Why?””
“Because if he knows you found out, you won’t be safe.””
I looked at her.
“You said the same thing about everyone.””
“Because it’s true.””
I wanted to scream.
But something stopped me.
A memory.
My father.
A few months before he died.
We were sitting in the kitchen.
He was holding his coffee cup with both hands.
He looked older than I had ever seen him.
I asked him if he was scared.
He smiled sadly.
“People think fear comes from knowing something bad will happen.””
He looked at me.
“Sometimes fear comes from knowing exactly who will cause it.””
At the time, I didn’t understand.
Now I did.
I looked at Victor.
“Where is Daniel?””
Victor looked down.
“I don’t know.””
“But you have been searching.””
“Yes.””
“For twenty years?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
His expression changed.
“Because he’s my nephew.””
I stared at him.
“Then why didn’t you find him?””
Victor looked at Diane.
“Because someone erased every trace.””
Diane whispered:
“Robert found one.””
“What?””
She nodded.
“Your father found proof that Daniel was alive.””
My heart raced.
“Where?””
She looked toward the hidden compartment.
“The box.””
I opened it again.
There were still documents I hadn’t checked.
At the bottom was another envelope.
This one was addressed differently.
Not to me.
Not to Diane.
To Daniel.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A current photograph.
Not an old one.
A man standing outside a building.
Older.
Different.
But the eyes were familiar.
My eyes.
My father’s eyes.
I whispered:
“That’s him.””
Victor grabbed the photograph.
His face collapsed.
“Daniel.””
Diane covered her mouth.
For twenty years, everyone thought he was gone.
But he wasn’t.
He was alive.
And on the back of the photograph was a message.
Three words.
May you like
Written by my father.
*He remembers everything.*
