Chapter 10: The Father I Never Knew
I left the warehouse before anyone could stop me.
Maya called my name.
Jonathan said something.
I didn't hear either.
The only thing I could hear was my own heartbeat.
My father.
The man who taught me honesty.
The man who told me stories about heroes.
The man who spent my childhood telling me that the truth mattered.
Had lied to me my entire life.
When I arrived home, he was waiting.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
"Dad.""
He looked at my face.
And immediately understood.
"Jonathan told you.""
I stopped.
Not denial.
Not confusion.
Acceptance.
That hurt more.
"Tell me he lied.""
My father closed his eyes.
"I can't.""
The words destroyed something inside me.
"Why?""
He sat down.
"I was trying to fix it.""
"Fix what?""
"The damage.""
"What damage?""
He looked older than he had yesterday.
"Your mother.""
I waited.
He looked at the floor.
"She didn't die because she found out about the Mercers.""
My heart stopped.
"Then why?""
"Because she found out about me.""
The room became silent.
I couldn't understand.
"What does that mean?""
My father took a shaky breath.
"Before I met your mother, I worked for Charles Mercer.""
I stared.
"No.""
"I helped him.""
"With what?""
"Covering mistakes.""
The word was too small.
Mistakes.
People like Charles didn't make mistakes.
They made choices.
"You helped him hide crimes.""
My father nodded.
"Yes.""
I stepped away.
"How could you?""
"Because I was afraid.""
The answer made me angry.
"Everyone was afraid.""
My voice broke.
"Everyone was afraid except me. Everyone knew except me.""
"I tried to get out.""
"But you didn't.""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"I didn't.""
Rain began falling outside.
The same sound as the night Evelyn came.
The same feeling.
Everything collapsing.
"My mother found out.""
"Yes.""
"What did she do?""
"She wanted to expose them.""
"And you stopped her?""
"No.""
He shook his head.
"I helped her.""
That surprised me.
"What?""
"I helped her gather evidence.""
"Then why lie?""
"Because Daniel found out.""
The room went cold.
"Daniel?""
My father nodded.
"Your mother discovered what he had done to Jonathan.""
"And?""
"He threatened her.""
My hands curled into fists.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because after your mother disappeared, Daniel came to me.""
"Disappeared?""
I froze.
"You said she died.""
My father looked devastated.
"I didn't know if she was dead.""
I stared.
"What?""
"I saw her leave that night.""
The truth was becoming unbearable.
"She left to protect you.""
My voice became quiet.
"Where is she?""
My father looked at me.
And for the first time in years, I saw real fear.
"Claire.""
"Where is my mother?""
He reached into a drawer.
Pulled out a photograph.
A woman standing beside a small house.
Older.
Alive.
My breath disappeared.
"She's been alive all this time.""
My father nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where?""
He looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
"She's been closer than you think.""
The doorbell rang.
Nobody moved.
My father looked terrified.
Not because someone had arrived.
Because he knew who it was.
I walked toward the door.
My hand reached for the handle.
Then a voice came from outside.
A woman's voice.
A voice I had heard only on a damaged cassette.
"Claire.""
I froze.
The voice continued.
"I know you have questions.""
My fingers tightened around the handle.
"Open the door.""
I looked back at my father.
His eyes filled with tears.
May you like
Because after twenty-eight years of believing my mother was gone...
She was standing on the other side.
