Chapter 6: Jonathan
I didn't tell Emily.
I didn't tell Tom.
And I certainly didn't call the police.
Not yet.
Because whoever had been sending those messages knew where I was, knew what I had found, and knew things that only someone close to Claire could know.
I spent the night staring at Jonathan's photograph.
At first, I searched his face for mine.
The eyes.
The jaw.
The shape of his nose.
But the longer I looked, the less certain I became.
A photograph can make strangers look like family.
Or family look like strangers.
At 6:12 a.m., I received another message.
**7:00 a.m. — St. Vincent's parking garage.
Level 3. Come alone.**
No explanation.
No signature.
I went.
The parking garage smelled like wet concrete and gasoline.
I parked on Level 3.
For five minutes, nothing happened.
Then a gray SUV pulled into the space across from me.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
He was in his fifties.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
He looked directly at me.
"Mark Bennett?""
"Who are you?""
"My name is David.""
"David what?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"It matters to me.""
He looked around.
"You're being watched.""
"By who?""
"Daniel.""
"Where is he?""
"Closer than you think.""
I stepped toward him.
"Who is Jonathan?""
David's expression changed.
"Claire told you?""
"Yes.""
"Then she finally ran out of lies.""
"Tell me the truth.""
He looked at me for a long moment.
"Jonathan is alive.""
"I know.""
"And he's been alive his entire life.""
My throat tightened.
"Where?""
David shook his head.
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
"Because if Daniel finds him, he'll kill him.""
"Why?""
"Because Jonathan knows what happened.""
"What happened?""
David looked toward the elevator.
"Your brother discovered Daniel was stealing money from a company.""
"Richard Hale's company?""
"Yes.""
My stomach dropped.
"What was Richard involved in?""
"Everything.""
"Why did he send me to Seattle?""
"To get you out of Portland.""
"So they could take the baby.""
David nodded.
I felt the ground disappear beneath me.
"Why?""
"Because Jonathan was evidence.""
"Evidence of what?""
"Daniel had been using people. Fake accounts. Stolen identities. Money transfers.""
"The twenty thousand.""
"Part of it.""
"Then why did Claire give him the money now?""
"Because Daniel found Jonathan.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
"Someone told him.""
"Who?""
David hesitated.
"Your wife.""
I shook my head.
"Claire didn't know where Jonathan was.""
"She knew more than she admitted.""
"Where is he?""
David reached into his coat.
He pulled out a folded piece of paper.
An address.
I opened it.
A small house in Beaverton.
"He's there?""
"Not anymore.""
"Then why give me the address?""
"Because that's where he lived until yesterday.""
My pulse jumped.
"What happened yesterday?""
"He disappeared.""
I looked up.
"Daniel?""
"Maybe.""
"Maybe?""
David's expression hardened.
"You need to understand something, Mark.""
"What?""
"This isn't just about Claire.""
"I know.""
"No. You don't.""
He stepped closer.
"Your daughter is involved.""
My heart stopped.
"Emily?""
"Yes.""
"How?""
"Because Jonathan has been trying to contact her.""
I thought about the strange fear in Emily's face when Claire left.
The things she hadn't told me.
The secrets she'd carried.
"Why would he contact Emily?""
David looked at me.
"Because she's his sister.""
I felt the words physically.
"My daughter has a brother.""
"Yes.""
"And she doesn't know.""
"Not officially.""
I backed away.
"How long has he known about her?""
"His entire life.""
"How?""
"Claire told him.""
"When?""
David didn't answer.
"David.""
"Three years ago.""
I felt betrayed all over again.
"Claire knew where he was for three years?""
"She knew how to reach him.""
"And she never told me?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because she was afraid you'd remember.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
"Because it's true.""
"What did I do?""
David looked at me.
"You didn't hurt Jonathan.""
"Then what?""
"You tried to save him.""
The words stopped me.
"What?""
"Your brother had the baby.""
"Michael?""
"Yes.""
"He was taking him somewhere?""
"To a safe house.""
"Then what happened?""
"Daniel caught him.""
"Did Daniel kill him?""
"We don't know.""
"His car crashed.""
"Yes.""
"Accident?""
David's silence answered.
I closed my eyes.
For twenty-two years, I'd believed my brother had died in an accident.
Now I knew it might have been murder.
"And Jonathan?""
"Michael got him away.""
"How?""
"He handed him to someone.""
"Who?""
"Claire.""
I opened my eyes.
"Claire had the baby?""
"Briefly.""
"Then what?""
"She gave him to someone else.""
"Who?""
David looked toward the exit.
"We don't have time.""
"You brought me here.""
"And now I'm telling you to leave.""
"Not without answers.""
He sighed.
"Jonathan was raised by a couple who had no idea where he came from.""
"His name?""
"Jonathan Bennett.""
"All these years?""
"Yes.""
"How did he learn the truth?""
"Claire.""
"When?""
"Three years ago.""
"And he contacted Emily?""
"Recently.""
"Why?""
"Because he wanted his family.""
That sentence hurt more than I expected.
My family.
A son I'd never known.
A daughter who didn't know she had a brother.
A wife who had spent decades protecting a secret.
I pulled out my phone.
"I need to see Jonathan.""
David shook his head.
"You need to find Emily first.""
"She's at home.""
"Not anymore.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
He showed me his phone.
A photograph.
Emily leaving my house.
She was carrying a backpack.
"When was this?""
"Twenty minutes ago.""
I called her.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
I called Tom.
No answer.
Then a text came from Emily's phone.
*Dad, I'm sorry. I have to meet him.*
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
*Mom told me the truth.*
Then another.
*I know where Jonathan is.*
My hands shook.
I called immediately.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then someone answered.
But it wasn't Emily.
A man's voice said, "Mark.""
I knew it instantly.
Daniel.
"Where is my daughter?""
"Safe.""
"If you touch her—"
"I'm not going to hurt her.""
"Then put her on.""
A pause.
Then Emily's voice came through.
"Dad?""
"I'm here.""
"Don't come.""
"Where are you?""
She started crying.
"I found Jonathan.""
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"Where?""
"He's with me.""
"Emily, tell me where you are.""
She hesitated.
Then whispered, "At the old house.""
"What old house?""
"The one Mom told me never to visit.""
I knew exactly which house she meant.
The farmhouse outside Portland where Claire's father had lived before he died.
The house we hadn't visited in eighteen years.
"Emily, listen to me.""
"I know what happened.""
"What?""
"I know why Mom left.""
"Tell me.""
Her voice cracked.
"Because Jonathan isn't the only thing she stole from you.""
I felt the world go quiet.
"What do you mean?""
There was a long silence.
Then Emily said:
"Dad, you had another child.""
The call ended.
I looked at David.
He was already staring at me.
"Another child?""
He nodded.
"That's what Daniel wanted you to find.""
"Who?""
David swallowed.
"We don't know.""
My phone buzzed.
A final message appeared.
*Come to the farmhouse alone.*
Then another.
*Bring the photograph of Michael's watch.*
May you like
And beneath it was a sentence that made me realize this had never been about twenty thousand dollars.
*Your brother didn't die trying to save Jonathan. He died trying to save you.*
