Chapter 8: What My Father Buried
My father sat at the edge of the desk.
For once, he didn't look like the powerful man whose name appeared on buildings across the city.
He looked like an old man who had run out of lies.
I stood in front of him.
“Tell me everything.””
He looked at the photographs.
“Your mother wasn't killed.””
My chest tightened.
“Then why did you tell us she died?””
“She wanted you protected.””
“From who?””
“Her own family.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It will.””
Nia stepped closer.
“Start at the beginning.””
My father looked at her.
Then nodded.
“Your mother discovered the theft before Marcus did.””
I stared.
“She discovered it?””
“Yes.””
“Who was stealing?””
He hesitated.
“A group of investors had been moving money through companies connected to ours.””
“Why?””
“To buy influence.””
“Influence over what?””
“Everything.””
He stood and walked toward the wall.
“The company was worth billions. Whoever controlled the board controlled the assets.””
I frowned.
“So Mom found financial fraud.””
“More than fraud.””
He pointed to a photograph.
“She discovered that someone inside our family was helping them.””
“Who?””
“I never found out.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it is true.””
I looked at the photographs.
“Then why did Marcus disappear?””
“Because he found the same evidence.””
“Seven years ago.””
“Yes.””
“And Mom?””
“She came back.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“She returned after years away.””
“Where had she been?””
“Protecting you.””
“From what?””
“People who wanted the evidence.””
I felt dizzy.
“My mother was alive while I was mourning her?””
“Yes.””
“Did she ever see me?””
My father closed his eyes.
“Once.””
“When?””
“The night of Marcus's accident.””
My breath stopped.
“She was there?””
“She watched from across the road.””
“Why didn't she come to me?””
“Because Marcus told her not to.””
“Why?””
“Because he believed someone was watching you.””
I looked at Nia.
She was crying silently.
I turned back.
“You let me believe my mother and brother were both dead.””
“I thought it was the only way to keep you safe.””
“You didn't keep me safe.””
My voice cracked.
“You kept me ignorant.””
My father looked down.
Then he said something that made everything worse.
“Your mother is alive.””
I stared at him.
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“She disappeared again.””
“When?””
“Six years ago.””
I looked at the hidden room.
“That's when Marcus disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“They left together?””
“I believe so.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
I stepped toward him.
“Then why did you say Mom was the reason Marcus disappeared?””
“Because Marcus was protecting her.””
“From whom?””
My father looked at the door.
“From the person who caused the accident.””
A cold silence filled the room.
“Who?””
He didn't answer.
Nia noticed something on the desk.
“Adrian.””
She picked up a small envelope.
My name was written on it.
My handwriting.
But I hadn't written it.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Marcus.
My mother.
And a third person.
Vanessa.
I stared at the picture.
“That's impossible.””
Nia took it.
“When was this taken?””
There was a date on the back.
Two years ago.
I looked at my father.
“Why was Vanessa with them?””
His face changed.
“I don't know.””
I called Vanessa.
She answered immediately.
“Adrian?””
“Where are you?””
“I told you. I'm at the hotel.””
“Were you with Marcus?””
Silence.
“Vanessa.””
“Yes.””
My father closed his eyes.
“When?””
“Two years ago.””
“With my mother?””
Another silence.
“Yes.””
My hands began to shake.
“Why?””
“I was helping them.””
“Helping them do what?””
“Stay hidden.””
“From whom?””
“Adrian, I can't say.””
“You've said that too many times.””
“I know.””
“You knew my brother was alive.””
“Yes.””
“You knew my mother was alive.””
“Yes.””
“And you still went on a date with me?””
Her voice cracked.
“I didn't know who you were at first.””
“What?””
“I knew your last name, but I didn't know you were Marcus's brother.””
“Then why did you react when you saw the wheelchair?””
She started crying.
“Because the moment I saw you, I knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That you were Adrian.””
I looked at Nia.
Vanessa continued.
“Marcus told me never to get close to you.””
“And you did anyway.””
“I didn't know how else to find out if you were safe.””
“You used me.””
“No.””
“You lied to me.””
“Yes.””
“That's still using me.””
“I know.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where is Marcus?””
“I don't know.””
“Where is my mother?””
“I don't know.””
“Then what do you know?””
Vanessa was silent.
Finally she said, “The person hunting your family isn't trying to kill Marcus anymore.””
My stomach dropped.
“Then who are they after?””
“You.””
The call ended.
My father stood abruptly.
“Get out.””
“What?””
“Now.””
“Why?””
He looked at the hallway.
“Because if Vanessa knows you're the target…”
A gunshot exploded upstairs.
Nia screamed.
My father grabbed my wheelchair and pushed me toward the hidden exit.
Another shot.
Glass shattered.
Calvin shouted from upstairs.
“MOVE!””
We rushed through the underground passage.
I could hear footsteps above us.
My father opened a steel door.
We entered a small garage beneath the house.
A second vehicle waited there.
Old.
Black.
My father threw me the keys.
“Drive.””
“What about you?””
“I'll hold them.””
“No.””
“Adrian!””
“I’m not leaving you.””
He stared at me.
Then his expression softened.
“You're finally acting like your mother.””
A gunshot echoed from the house.
My father pushed the door shut.
“Go.””
I started the car.
Nia climbed beside me.
We drove into the night.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then Nia said, “There's something you need to see.””
She opened her phone.
She had taken a photograph of the picture with Vanessa.
But she'd zoomed in on the background.
Behind my mother and Marcus stood a familiar building.
A church.
I recognized it.
It was the church where my father had held my mother's funeral.
Nia pointed at the corner of the image.
“There.””
A man stood behind them.
I zoomed in.
My blood ran cold.
It was Daniel Reeves.
My father's attorney.
The man who had told me Marcus was alive.
The man who claimed he knew nothing.
And in his hand was a photograph.
I zoomed in again.
The photograph showed me.
Sleeping.
May you like
In my bedroom.
Taken from inside my own house.