Chapter 4: The Father Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
For four years, I had visited my father's grave every Father's Day.
I had placed flowers beside his headstone, told him about Ava's first steps, and cried when I couldn't explain why his granddaughter would never know him.
Now a man who looked exactly like him was standing in the doorway beneath my swimming pool.
Same silver hair.
Same crooked nose.
Same deep-set blue eyes.
Even the small scar beneath his chin was there.
“Dad?”” I whispered.
The man smiled sadly.
“Hello, son.””
Danielle grabbed my arm.
“Marcus, don't go near him.””
I couldn't move.
My father had died when I was thirty-two. I remembered the funeral. I remembered the closed casket, the priest, and Richard Lawson standing beside me as I lowered flowers onto the coffin.
I remembered everything.
Or at least, I thought I did.
“That's impossible,” I said.
My father stepped into the light.
“Richard told you I was dead. He told everyone.””
“Where have you been?””
“Trying to stay alive.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you come home?””
His expression changed.
“Because the people who wanted me dead were living in my house, managing my company, and raising your daughter around the same people who helped destroy your marriage.””
Danielle stood up unsteadily.
“Don't believe him, Marcus.””
My father looked at her.
“Danielle, I understand why you hate me.””
“Hate you?”” She laughed bitterly.
“You watched them drag me into this place.””
His jaw tightened.
“I had no choice.””
“You always had a choice!””
Lily hid behind Danielle.
I stepped between them.
“Enough. Both of you. I want the truth.””
My father nodded toward the corridor.
“Then we need to leave before Richard locks down the facility.””
“Richard is outside?””
“He's upstairs. He knows you've found this room.””
I looked toward the ceiling.
“How?””
“Cameras. Microphones. Every room has them.””
My stomach twisted.
“Then he's heard everything we've said?””
My father didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
A metallic click sounded behind us.
The electronic door began closing.
My father rushed forward and grabbed the handle.
“Move!””
I lifted Danielle's arm over my shoulder while Lily followed close behind.
We made it into the corridor just before the door slammed shut.
My father pulled a small black device from his pocket and pressed a button.
A section of the wall opened.
Behind it was a narrow service passage.
“Go!”” he ordered.
I helped Danielle inside.
“Dad, wait.””
He looked at me.
“I need to know why you let me bury a stranger.””
His eyes filled with something I hadn't seen in years.
Shame.
“I'll explain everything when we're safe.””
“That isn't good enough.””
“Marcus, please. Not now.””
A loud bang echoed behind us.
Someone was hitting the locked door.
My father pushed me forward.
We moved through the narrow passage until we reached a metal staircase leading upward.
At the top was a small maintenance room.
My father opened the door.
We emerged behind the pool equipment shed.
The afternoon sun nearly blinded me.
Detective Hayes was standing beside a police cruiser, speaking into his radio.
He spun around when he saw us.
“Marcus!””
Then he looked at Danielle.
His radio slipped from his hand.
“Good Lord.””
Danielle stumbled toward him.
“Detective, Richard is here. He's inside the house.””
Hayes immediately reached for his weapon.
“Where?””
Before anyone could answer, the back door opened.
Richard Lawson stepped onto the terrace.
He was wearing the same navy suit he'd worn at my father's funeral.
He carried a glass of iced tea.
“Robert,” he said pleasantly.
“I wondered how long it would take you to find them.””
Hayes raised his weapon.
“Hands where I can see them!””
Richard sighed.
“Still dramatic after all these years.””
Then he looked at me.
“Marcus, your father has been telling you stories again.””
My father stepped forward.
“Richard, it's over.””
Richard laughed.
“Is it?””
He placed his glass on the terrace table.
Then he pulled a photograph from his jacket.
It showed Ava standing in the garden beside Mrs. Patterson.
My heart stopped.
Richard tapped the photograph.
“Your daughter is a lovely little girl.””
I lunged toward him.
Hayes caught my shoulder.
“Don't!””
Richard smiled.
“That's what I thought. You still react before you think.””
“Where is Ava?””
“Safe, for now.””
Danielle began shaking.
“Don't touch her.””
Richard glanced at her.
“You've caused enough trouble already.””
He turned back toward me.
“There's something your father hasn't told you, Marcus.””
My father went pale.
Richard lifted the photograph.
“Ask him why your birth certificate was amended when you were three years old.””
I looked at my father.
“What is he talking about?””
My father closed his eyes.
Richard smiled.
“Ask him who your real father is.””
Then a gunshot exploded from inside the house.
Everyone turned.
May you like
And Mrs. Patterson came running onto the terrace, screaming.
“Mr. Marcus! They've taken Ava!””
