Chapter 12 - WHAT MY FATHER FEARED
The trapdoor opened into a narrow staircase.
I descended alone.
At the bottom was a small room.
Mrs. Harper stood beside a table.
On it were dozens of files.
She looked exhausted.
"Why?"
She stared at me.
"Because your mother isn't the victim."
I felt anger rising.
"She disappeared for years."
"She chose to."
"She let me believe she was dead."
"Because she knew what your father had done."
"What did he do?"
Mrs. Harper handed me a file.
Inside were photographs.
My father.
Caldwell.
Vanessa.
And Noah's mother.
Then another photograph.
My mother.
Standing beside Caldwell.
I stared.
"She worked with him."
Mrs. Harper nodded.
"At first."
I opened another file.
It contained bank records.
My mother's signature appeared repeatedly.
Money transfers.
Hidden accounts.
Dates.
Names.
I couldn't understand it.
"My mother stole the money?"
"She helped move it."
"Why?"
"To protect Michael."
I looked at her.
"What?"
"Your mother discovered that Caldwell planned to kill him."
"So she helped him escape."
"Yes."
"And my father?"
"Your father thought she betrayed him."
I felt the pieces falling together.
My father believed my mother had chosen Caldwell.
She had actually chosen Michael.
That secret destroyed their marriage.
But it didn't explain Noah.
I opened another file.
Inside was a letter from Vanessa.
Written before Noah was born.
If anything happens to me, protect my son from Caldwell.
I stared at the words.
Mrs. Harper whispered:
"I was ordered to watch Noah."
"By Caldwell."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you hurt him?"
She looked ashamed.
"Because I couldn't."
I stared.
"You helped him."
"Sometimes."
"Then why the rooftop?"
"Caldwell threatened Lily."
I stopped.
"What?"
"He told me if I didn't get the key, Lily would disappear."
I believed her.
Not because she deserved forgiveness.
But because I understood the fear in her eyes.
Then I heard footsteps above us.
Caldwell.
He shouted:
"Harper!"
She looked at me.
"He's here."
I grabbed the files.
"Come with me."
She shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because there's something you still don't know."
"What?"
She pointed toward the far wall.
A hidden door opened.
Behind it was a small room.
Inside was a single chair.
And sitting in it was my father.
Or what looked like my father.
I froze.
The man slowly lifted his head.
He was older.
Weak.
But alive.
His eyes met mine.
"Daniel."
I couldn't breathe.
May you like
My father smiled.
"I've been waiting for you."
