Chapter 11: The Man Who Never Left
“Eric Pierce abandoned Vanessa when Caleb was two.””
That was the story I'd been told.
He didn't send birthday cards.
Didn't call.
Didn't pay attention.
Whenever Caleb asked about him, Vanessa said, “Some people choose themselves.””
I had believed her.
Now Patricia couldn't look me in the eye.
“Where is Eric?””
“I don't know.””
“Is he alive?””
“Yes.””
“Does Caleb know?””
“No.””
Caleb was still in the hallway.
His face went blank.
“My dad's alive?””
Patricia covered her mouth.
I wanted to pull the words back.
Too late.
Caleb walked into the kitchen.
“You said he left.””
Patricia stood.
“Caleb—”
“You said he didn't want me.””
“That was what your mother told you.””
“Was it true?””
Nobody answered.
He looked at me.
“Daniel?””
I hated that he trusted me enough to ask.
“I don't know the whole truth.””
His eyes filled.
“Does he know where I am?””
Patricia whispered, “Yes.””
Caleb flinched.
That one word hurt him more than a speech could have.
“Then why doesn't he come?””
Patricia sat again.
“Because your mother wouldn't let him.””
“What?””
“After their divorce, things got ugly.””
She looked at me.
“Eric wasn't perfect. They fought constantly. There were legal disputes. Eventually Vanessa got primary custody.””
“And?””
“Eric moved to Colorado.””
“Did he stop contacting Caleb?””
“He stopped contacting Vanessa directly.””
That wasn't an answer.
“Patricia.””
“He sent letters through Lauren.””
I looked at the photograph.
“His sister.””
“Yes.””
“What happened to them?””
Patricia started crying again.
“Vanessa threw them away.””
Caleb ran upstairs.
A door slammed.
I started after him.
Patricia caught my sleeve.
“Give him a minute.””
I pulled away.
“He's ten. He's just learned another adult built his childhood around a lie.””
I found Caleb sitting beside the bed.
He had his knees pulled against his chest.
“I don't want to talk.””
“Okay.””
I sat on the floor several feet away.
For a minute, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered, “Did my dad send birthday cards?””
“I don't know.””
“Grandma does.””
I waited.
“Mom said Grandma bought them.””
He rubbed his eyes.
“What if some were from him?””
“I don't know.””
He looked at me.
“Everybody keeps saying that.””
“I'd rather tell you I don't know than lie.””
That made him quiet.
Finally he whispered, “I helped Emily because I knew what it felt like.””
“What felt like?””
“When somebody says a person doesn't want you.””
My chest tightened.
I moved closer.
Caleb leaned against me.
He cried without making a sound.
Later, after Patricia agreed to let the relevant professionals handle questions about Caleb's immediate care, I returned to Marcus's house.
Emily ran toward me.
“Daddy!””
I lifted her.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
Then she looked behind me.
“Where's Caleb?””
“With his grandma right now.””
“Is he coming?””
“Not tonight.””
Her face fell.
She whispered, “Can we save his strawberry?””
I smiled despite everything.
“Yes.””
That evening, Samuel called.
“We've confirmed something about Hawthorne.””
“What?””
“Lauren Pierce invested in it.””
“I know.””
“There's more. The LLC's registered mailing address changed three months ago.””
“To where?””
He read the address.
I wrote it down.
Patricia had mentioned Colorado.
The address was in Denver.
“Eric?””
“We don't know.””
Then Samuel added, “But there's a second company registered there.””
“Name?””
“Pierce Restoration Group.””
A search showed its managing member.
Eric Pierce.
Vanessa's supposedly vanished ex-husband.
I stared at the screen.
Why would Vanessa build a business connected to her ex-husband's sister?
Why would the business share an address connected to him?
And why hide it from me?
My phone rang from an unknown number.
I answered.
“Daniel Carter?””
“Yes.””
A man's voice.
“My name is Eric Pierce.””
I stood.
Marcus looked over.
“Where did you get my number?””
“Lauren.””
My grip tightened.
“Where is Vanessa?””
“With me.””
Silence filled the room.
“You need to explain that.””
“She showed up about two hours ago.””
“Why?””
“She wanted money.””
I almost laughed.
“Of course.””
Eric continued.
“She said Hawthorne was collapsing and she needed me to cover what Lauren put in.””
“Did you?””
“No.””
“Why is your business address connected to Hawthorne?””
“Because Lauren used my office as a mailing address when she invested. I didn't know the full situation.””
I paced.
“Did you know about Emily?””
A pause.
“Your daughter?””
“Yes.””
“Not until tonight.””
“What did Vanessa tell you?””
“That you're trying to destroy her.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did she tell you she was denying Emily meals?””
Silence.
Then Eric said, “No.””
“Did she tell you she tried to access Emily's trust?””
Another silence.
“No.””
“Did she tell you she forged my signature?””
“Daniel, I don't know what's true yet.””
“Fair.””
I forced myself to breathe.
“Then don't take my word for it. Let the evidence speak.””
Eric lowered his voice.
“There's something you need to know too.””
“What?””
“Vanessa didn't come here only for money.””
My stomach tightened.
“What else?””
“She brought a suitcase.””
I looked at Marcus.
“She plans to leave?””
“I think so.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Then Eric said, “But I looked inside the suitcase.””
My skin went cold.
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa went to shower and I heard something vibrating inside.””
“A phone?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“A tracking tag.””
I frowned.
Eric continued.
“And underneath the clothes was a folder.””
“What kind?””
“Documents.””
My heart hammered.
“Whose name?””
May you like
He went quiet.
Then he said, “Emily's.””
