Chapter 7: The Father Who Came Back From## Chapter 7: The Father Who Came Back From the Dead
I the Dead
I couldn't move.
couldn't move.
Through the curtains, I watched the man approach the front door.
He had broader shoulders than I remembered from the photographs. His hair was almost completely gray, andThrough the curtains, I watched the man approach the front door.
He had broader shoulders than I remembered from the photographs. His hair was almost completely gray, and he walked with a slight limp.
But I knew his face.
I knew the way he held his head.
I knew the way his left hand rested inside his coat pocket.
It was Richard Brooks he walked with a slight limp.
But I knew his face.
I knew the way he held his head.
I knew the way his left hand rested inside his coat pocket.
It was Richard Brooks.
The man whose funeral I had attended seven years earlier.
The man whose ashes I had watched being lowered into the ground.
The man whose photograph still sat on my office desk.
My father was alive.
.
The man whose funeral I had attended seven years earlier.
The man whose ashes I had watched being lowered into the ground.
The man whose photograph still sat on my office desk.
My father was alive.
Eleanor grabbed my arm.
“Darius, don't open that door.””
I turned toward her.
“What's happening?””
She was shaking.
“Eleanor grabbed my arm.
“Darius, don't open that door.””
I turned toward her.
“What's happening?””
She was shaking.
“Please. You need to listen to me.””
“That's my father outside!””
“Not the man you think he is.””
Vanessa stood nearPlease. You need to listen to me.””
“That's my father outside!””
“Not the man you think he is.””
Vanessa stood near the kitchen doorway, staring at the window.
“Mrs. Brooks, how can you say that?””
Eleanor swallowed.
“Because the man who raised Darius and the man standing outside are not the same person.””
I the kitchen doorway, staring at the window.
“Mrs. Brooks, how can you say that?””
Eleanor swallowed.
“Because the man who raised Darius and the man standing outside are not the same person.””
I felt the floor shift beneath my feet.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“The Richard you knew died seven years ago. The felt the floor shift beneath my feet.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“The Richard you knew died seven years ago. The man outside is Richard's identical twin brother.””
I stared at her.
“My man outside is Richard's identical twin brother.””
I stared at her.
“My father never had a twin.””
“He did.””
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Because Richard's brother was involved in the investigation. father never had a twin.””
“He did.””
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Because Richard's brother was involved in the investigation. Your father believed that revealing his existence would put you in danger.””
I looked toward the front window again.
The man outside was now standing on the porch.
Camille was beside him.
She held something in her hand.
A Your father believed that revealing his existence would put you in danger.””
I looked toward the front window again.
The man outside was now standing on the porch.
Camille was beside him.
She held something in her hand.
A small photograph.
My mother's photograph.
Then the doorbell rang.
Once.
small photograph.
My mother's photograph.
Then the doorbell rang.
Once.
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Don't answer.””
The bell rang again.
Then a familiar voice came through the door.
“Darius. Open up.””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Don't answer.””
The bell rang again.
Then a familiar voice came through the door.
“Darius. Open up.””
My stomach tightened.
The voice was identical to my father's.
“Son, we need to talk.””
IMy stomach tightened.
The voice was identical to my father's.
“Son, we need to talk.””
I walked toward the entrance.
Vanessa grabbed my wrist.
“Wait.””
I looked at her.
She was crying.
“Don't let them separate us.””
I walked toward the entrance.
Vanessa grabbed my wrist.
“Wait.””
I looked at her.
She was crying.
“Don't let them separate us.””
I nodded.
Then I opened the door.
The man standing outside looked directly into my eyes.
For a nodded.
Then I opened the door.
The man standing outside looked directly into my eyes.
For a moment, I saw my childhood.
The Sunday mornings when he made pancakes.
The afternoons he taught me to drive.
The evening he sat beside my hospital bed after I broke my arm.
But this man wasn't my father.
He was the brother my father had hidden.
“Hello, Darius.””
I stepped onto the porch.
“Who are you?””
He gave a sad smile.
“Your uncle.””
I stared at him.
“My uncle?””
He nodded.
“Richard's younger brother. My name is Robert Brooks.””
I looked at Camille.
moment, I saw my childhood.
The Sunday mornings when he made pancakes.
The afternoons he taught me to drive.
The evening he sat beside my hospital bed after I broke my arm.
But this man wasn't my father.
He was the brother my father had hidden.
“Hello, Darius.””
I stepped onto the porch.
“Who are you?””
He gave a sad smile.
“Your uncle.””
I stared at him.
“My uncle?””
He nodded.
“Richard's younger brother. My name is Robert Brooks.””
I looked at Camille.
“What is she doing here?””
Camille adjusted“What is she doing here?””
Camille adjusted her coat.
“I brought him because I knew you wouldn't believe me.””
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe anything you say?””
Robert raised one hand.
“Darius, please. Let me explain.””
“Start with the funeral her coat.
“I brought him because I knew you wouldn't believe me.””
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe anything you say?””
Robert raised one hand.
“Darius, please. Let me explain.””
“Start with the funeral.””
His expression changed.
“I didn't arrange your father's funeral.””
“Then who did?””
“Your father's.””
His expression changed.
“I didn't arrange your father's funeral.””
“Then who did?””
“Your father's closest friend. Arthur Whitaker.””
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was standing behind me.
Robert noticed her.
His eyes narrowed.
“Vanessa.””
closest friend. Arthur Whitaker.””
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was standing behind me.
Robert noticed her.
His eyes narrowed.
“Vanessa.””
She stepped forward.
“Don't say my name.””
He looked almost disappointed.
“Your father made a terrible mistake.””
She stepped forward.
“Don't say my name.””
He looked almost disappointed.
“Your father made a terrible mistake.””
Vanessa's voice trembled.
“You knew my father?””
“I knew Arthur very well.””
Vanessa's voice trembled.
“You knew my father?””
“I knew Arthur very well.””
“Then tell me why my mother spent years believing he was dead.””
Robert looked at Eleanor.
My mother stepped onto the porch.
“Because“Then tell me why my mother spent years believing he was dead.””
Robert looked at Eleanor.
My mother stepped onto the porch.
“Because you helped make it happen.””
Camille immediately turned toward her.
“Eleanor, stop.””
“No,” my you helped make it happen.””
Camille immediately turned toward her.
“Eleanor, stop.””
“No,” my mother replied.
“I've been silent long enough.””
Robert sighed.
“Eleanor, this isn't the time.””
“You always say mother replied.
“I've been silent long enough.””
Robert sighed.
“Eleanor, this isn't the time.””
“You always say that. Seven years ago, you said the same thing when Richard disappeared.””
I that. Seven years ago, you said the same thing when Richard disappeared.””
I looked at him.
“Disappeared?””
Robert lowered his eyes.
“Your father discovered the financial fraud. He confronted the looked at him.
“Disappeared?””
Robert lowered his eyes.
“Your father discovered the financial fraud. He confronted the people responsible. A few days later, he was gone.””
“Gone where?””
“I don't know.””
I stared at him.
“You just people responsible. A few days later, he was gone.””
“Gone where?””
“I don't know.””
I stared at him.
“You just told me he was dead.””
“I told you what I was instructed to tell you.””
My chest tightened.
“By told me he was dead.””
“I told you what I was instructed to tell you.””
My chest tightened.
“By whom?””
Robert looked at Camille.
She shook her head.
“Don't.””
He ignored her.
“By Camille.””
I turned toward my wife.
whom?””
Robert looked at Camille.
She shook her head.
“Don't.””
He ignored her.
“By Camille.””
I turned toward my wife.
She took a step backward.
“What?””
Robert continued.
“Your wife contacted me after Richard disappeared. She said the family needed closureShe took a step backward.
“What?””
Robert continued.
“Your wife contacted me after Richard disappeared. She said the family needed closure. She arranged the funeral documents and helped identify the body.””
I felt sick.
“Whose body?””
He didn't answer.
Eleanor did.
“An. She arranged the funeral documents and helped identify the body.””
I felt sick.
“Whose body?””
He didn't answer.
Eleanor did.
“An unidentified man who died in a separate accident.””
I looked at my mother.
“You knew?””
“I discovered it after the funeral. unidentified man who died in a separate accident.””
I looked at my mother.
“You knew?””
“I discovered it after the funeral. By then, Richard's accounts had been emptied, and I was being watched.””
I turned By then, Richard's accounts had been emptied, and I was being watched.””
I turned toward Robert.
“Why are you here now?””
He reached into his coat.
Camille immediately grabbed his arm.
“Robert, don't.””
He pulled away and removed a small envelope toward Robert.
“Why are you here now?””
He reached into his coat.
Camille immediately grabbed his arm.
“Robert, don't.””
He pulled away and removed a small envelope.
“Because I have something your father left behind.””
He handed it to me.
Inside was a photograph of Richard standing beside Arthur Whitaker.
Both men were smiling.
On the back, my.
“Because I have something your father left behind.””
He handed it to me.
Inside was a photograph of Richard standing beside Arthur Whitaker.
Both men were smiling.
On the back, my father had written:
If Darius ever discovers the truth, give him the original ledger.
I looked at Robert.
“Where is father had written:
If Darius ever discovers the truth, give him the original ledger.
I looked at Robert.
“Where is it?””
He glanced toward the street.
“Not here.””
Camille stepped forward.
“Darius, don't listen to him. He's trying to protect himself.””
I stared at her it?””
He glanced toward the street.
“Not here.””
Camille stepped forward.
“Darius, don't listen to him. He's trying to protect himself.””
I stared at her.
“You brought my uncle here to tell me that?””
“I brought him because I wanted to.
“You brought my uncle here to tell me that?””
“I brought him because I wanted to stop this from getting worse.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
Her eyes filled.
For the first time since I had known her, she seemed genuinely frightened.
“ stop this from getting worse.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
Her eyes filled.
For the first time since I had known her, she seemed genuinely frightened.
“Your father wasn't supposed to die.””
I froze.
“What?””
Camille looked atYour father wasn't supposed to die.””
I froze.
“What?””
Camille looked at Eleanor.
Then at me.
“Richard discovered that money was being transferred out of the investment company. He threatened to expose everyone involved.””
“Who was involved?””
She Eleanor.
Then at me.
“Richard discovered that money was being transferred out of the investment company. He threatened to expose everyone involved.””
“Who was involved?””
She swallowed.
“Robert. Leonard. Arthur. And me.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“My father?””
Camille shook her head.
“ swallowed.
“Robert. Leonard. Arthur. And me.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“My father?””
Camille shook her head.
“Arthur was trying to stop the operation. He was the only one who wanted the money returned.””
Vanessa's eyesArthur was trying to stop the operation. He was the only one who wanted the money returned.””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“Then why did he disappear?””
Camille looked at her.
“Because he discovered something worse.””
“What?””
Camille filled.
“Then why did he disappear?””
Camille looked at her.
“Because he discovered something worse.””
“What?””
Camille hesitated.
Then Robert answered.
“The original investment company wasn't stealing money from the hospitals.””
I frowned.
“What was it doing?””
Robert looked directly at me.
“It was being hesitated.
Then Robert answered.
“The original investment company wasn't stealing money from the hospitals.””
I frowned.
“What was it doing?””
Robert looked directly at me.
“It was being used to finance a private network of shell companies. The money was eventually transferred into accounts belonging to people who had no legitimate connection to the business.””
“Who?””
Robert pointed toward Camille.
“Your wife controlled one used to finance a private network of shell companies. The money was eventually transferred into accounts belonging to people who had no legitimate connection to the business.””
“Who?””
Robert pointed toward Camille.
“Your wife controlled one of those accounts.””
Camille closed her eyes.
“And she wasn't the person at the top.””
The porch fell silent.
I looked at him.
“Who was?””
Robert took a breath.
of those accounts.””
Camille closed her eyes.
“And she wasn't the person at the top.””
The porch fell silent.
I looked at him.
“Who was?””
Robert took a breath.
Then he said a name.
“Richard Brooks.””
I stepped backward.
“No.””
“Your father created the original structure.””
“That's impossible.””
“He started it beforeThen he said a name.
“Richard Brooks.””
I stepped backward.
“No.””
“Your father created the original structure.””
“That's impossible.””
“He started it before he realized what it would become.””
“My father was trying to stop it!””
“Yes. Eventually.””
Robert looked toward the he realized what it would become.””
“My father was trying to stop it!””
“Yes. Eventually.””
Robert looked toward the street.
“But by then, too much money had disappeared.””
I stared at him.
“Where is my father?””
Robert's expression changed.
“He street.
“But by then, too much money had disappeared.””
I stared at him.
“Where is my father?””
Robert's expression changed.
“He's alive.””
My heart began pounding.
“Where?””
Before he could answer, the sound of breaking glass came from inside the house.
Eleanor screamed.
Vanessa's alive.””
My heart began pounding.
“Where?””
Before he could answer, the sound of breaking glass came from inside the house.
Eleanor screamed.
Vanessa turned.
I rushed through the front door.
The kitchen window was shattered.
A man in a dark jacket was climbing through the opening.
Another figure appeared near the hallway.
“Get turned.
I rushed through the front door.
The kitchen window was shattered.
A man in a dark jacket was climbing through the opening.
Another figure appeared near the hallway.
“Get down!”” Leonard's voice shouted from outside.
I grabbed Vanessa and pulled her behind the kitchen island.
My mother was on down!”” Leonard's voice shouted from outside.
I grabbed Vanessa and pulled her behind the kitchen island.
My mother was on the floor beside the table.
I reached for her.
“Mom!””
She was conscious but terrified.
the floor beside the table.
I reached for her.
“Mom!””
She was conscious but terrified.
Then a phone began ringing.
It was Camille's.
She stood in the doorway, staring at the screenThen a phone began ringing.
It was Camille's.
She stood in the doorway, staring at the screen.
Robert looked at her.
“Don't answer that.””
She answered anyway.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
Even from.
Robert looked at her.
“Don't answer that.””
She answered anyway.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
Even from several feet away, I recognized it.
My father's voice.
“Camille, I told you not to bring Darius into this.””
Camille's face crumpled.
“Richard?””
The voice continued several feet away, I recognized it.
My father's voice.
“Camille, I told you not to bring Darius into this.””
Camille's face crumpled.
“Richard?””
The voice continued.
“You have one hour to bring me the ledger.””
Camille looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“Your father is alive,.
“You have one hour to bring me the ledger.””
Camille looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“Your father is alive, Darius.””
May you like
A pause.
“And he knows what happened to your real mother.””
Related Stories
