Chapter 5
I couldn't look away from the photograph.
“Your father wasn't killed,” Marcus said.
I looked at him.
“He was poisoned.”
My hands went numb.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“But the photograph—”
“Proves Linda had access to his medication.”
I stared at the bottle.
“What happened to my father?”
“He survived.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“He survived the first attempt.”
“Then why did everyone tell me he died?”
“Because he disappeared afterward.”
“Where is he?”
Marcus didn't answer.
My heart started pounding.
“Marcus.”
“He's alive.”
I couldn't breathe.
“My father is alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Marcus walked to the window.
“That's what we've been trying to find out.”
“Who's we?”
He turned.
“Your father. Me. Nathan.”
“Nathan?”
“My brother.”
I froze.
“Derek's brother?”
“Yes.”
“Derek has two brothers?”
“One.”
I stared at him.
“You're Nathan?”
He nodded.
I remembered the message.
Marcus Hale.
But the family had always called Derek's older brother Nathan.
Something didn't fit.
“Then who are you?”
He smiled sadly.
“My real name is Michael Hale.”
I stared at him.
“The name on the documents was an alias.”
“Why?”
“Because Linda was looking for me.”
“Why?”
“Because I had the original proof.”
“What proof?”
He opened a safe.
Inside was a flash drive.
“Your father's confession.”
We plugged it into the computer.
My father's face appeared.
Older.
Tired.
Alive.
I covered my mouth.
“Emily.”
I couldn't answer.
He looked directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, then Linda has already told you I abandoned you.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“I didn't.”
He paused.
“I left because she threatened to hurt you.”
My chest tightened.
“I wanted to come back.”
He swallowed.
“But I couldn't risk leading her to you.”
He explained everything.
Linda had been moving company money.
Derek had helped her.
Dr. Sloan had falsified medical records.
The trust had been created to protect me.
And my father had disappeared because Linda discovered he had proof.
Then he said something I wasn't prepared for.
“Derek did not know everything.”
I stared at the screen.
“He knows about the trust.”
“He knows about the money.”
“But he does not know what Linda did to me.”
I looked at Michael.
“What does that mean?”
He shook his head.
“We need to find your father.”
The recording continued.
“If Derek ever lays a hand on you, leave immediately.”
My eyes filled again.
“He will tell you that I am dead.”
“He will tell you that you have nowhere to go.”
“He will tell you that Linda owns the house.”
“He will lie.”
The screen went black.
I sat there silently.
Then my phone rang.
Derek.
I didn't answer.
It rang again.
Then again.
Finally a message appeared.
Where are you? Mom says you left with groceries.
I stared at the screen.
Another message.
Come home. We need to talk.
Then one more.
You don't want to make me angry, Emily.
I showed Michael.
He looked at me.
“Don't go back alone.”
I shook my head.
“I have to.”
“Why?”
“Because they think I'm still afraid.”
I stood.
Michael grabbed my arm.
“Emily.”
I looked at him.
“I've spent three years being afraid.”
I picked up the folder.
“Today I'm going home.”
When I arrived, the house was full.
The birthday guests had started arriving.
Linda stood beside the cake.
Derek was near the dining room.
He smiled when he saw me.
“Finally.”
I walked inside.
Linda looked at my hands.
“Where are the groceries?”
I closed the door.
“I didn't buy them.”
Her smile disappeared.
Derek stepped forward.
“Emily.”
I looked directly at him.
“I know about the trust.”
His face changed.
Linda went completely still.
May you like
And then I said the one sentence that made both of them realize the game was over.
“I know my father is alive.”
