Chapter 7: The Father Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I couldn't stop looking at the photograph.
The man standing outside the bank had gray hair, a thinner face, and deep lines around his mouth.
But I knew those eyes.
I had seen them every morning of my childhood.
I had seen them in the mirror.
They belonged to David Harris.
The man I had buried twelve years earlier.
"Michael?"" Emily whispered.
I couldn't answer.
My mother was sitting on the edge of the bed, crying into her hands.
"Mom, tell me this isn't real.""
She shook her head.
"I wish I could.""
I turned the photograph over.
There was an address written in black ink.
A small town in Pennsylvania.
Beneath it was a telephone number.
I looked at my mother.
"How long have you known?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I didn't know he was alive. I only knew your grandfather never believed the death certificate was genuine.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I had no proof.""
I held up the photograph.
"You have proof now.""
My mother looked at the picture.
"Your grandfather received that photograph shortly before he died. He asked me to hide it.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed Thomas was watching him.""
Emily stood up.
"This is too much. We need to call the police.""
I nodded.
But before I could move, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Michael Harris?""
A man's voice.
Older.
Careful.
"Yes.""
"This is Richard Cole.""
The attorney.
I immediately put the call on speaker.
"Why are you calling me?""
"I understand you've been examining documents belonging to the late Mr. Harris.""
"Which late Mr. Harris?""
Silence.
Then he said, "Your father.""
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"What do you know about him?""
"More than you realize.""
"Is he alive?""
Another pause.
"Mr. Harris, I strongly advise you not to pursue this matter without legal representation.""
"That's not an answer.""
"Your mother signed documents authorizing certain estate arrangements.""
"She says she never understood what she signed.""
"That is unfortunate.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did you help Thomas steal money from my grandfather?""
His voice became colder.
"Be very careful with accusations.""
"Did you?""
He ended the call.
I stared at the screen.
Emily shook her head.
"He's protecting someone.""
"He's protecting himself.""
My mother stood and walked toward the wardrobe.
"There is something else.""
She removed a small jewelry box from the top shelf.
Inside was a gold watch.
My father's watch.
The one we had supposedly placed in his coffin.
I stared at it.
"Why do you have that?""
"Your grandfather gave it to me two days before he died.""
She opened the watch.
Inside the cover was a tiny engraving.
A date.
And a set of initials.
D.H.
"Your father wore this every day," she whispered.
"Your grandfather told me that if I ever found out David was alive, I should give him the watch.""
I took it.
It was heavier than I remembered.
Something rattled inside.
I opened the back carefully.
A folded piece of paper was hidden beneath the mechanism.
It contained a short message.
If you found this, Thomas has finally gone too far. Do not trust the death certificate. Find the woman at the Pennsylvania address. She knows where I am.
There was a name.
*Evelyn Carter.*
I looked at Emily.
"We're going to Pennsylvania.""
My mother immediately shook her head.
"No.""
"Mom—"
"Thomas will know.""
"How?""
She looked at the photograph.
"Because he was the one who arranged your father's funeral.""
The words struck me.
"What?""
My mother nodded slowly.
"Your father disappeared after a terrible argument with Thomas. Three days later, Thomas told us he had been killed in an accident.""
"Where was the body?""
She closed her eyes.
"They said it was too badly damaged for identification.""
I stepped backward.
"Did you see him?""
"No.""
"Did you identify him?""
"No.""
I felt anger rise in my throat.
"And you accepted that?""
She began crying harder.
"Thomas showed me photographs. He brought a death certificate. He told me the police had confirmed everything.
I was devastated, Michael. I wasn't thinking clearly.""
I looked at the watch.
For twelve years, I had mourned a man who might have been sitting somewhere, living under another name.
I couldn't decide whether I wanted to hug him or scream at him.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Vanessa.
*Please don't go looking for David.*
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
*You don't understand what happened the night he disappeared.*
Then a third.
*Your father wasn't innocent.*
Emily read the messages over my shoulder.
"She's trying to scare you.""
"Maybe.""
I typed a reply.
*Tell me where Thomas is.*
The response came immediately.
*At our house.*
I looked toward the door.
"He's there right now?""
*Yes. And he wants the photograph.*
I called Vanessa.
She answered in a whisper.
"Michael?""
"Put Thomas on the phone.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"He's threatening me.""
I froze.
"What do you mean?""
"He says if I don't give him the original trust documents, he'll tell the police what happened to the money.""
"Then tell the police.""
"Michael, you don't understand. I signed things.""
"What things?""
She began crying.
"Things that could send me to prison.""
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa, you need to tell me everything.""
There was a sudden crash.
Then Thomas's voice.
"Give me that phone!""
Vanessa screamed.
The call ended.
Emily grabbed her coat.
"We're calling the police.""
I nodded.
But before I could dial, another call came through.
This time, the number was familiar.
Our home telephone.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Michael.""
I stopped breathing.
"Who is this?""
A long silence.
Then the voice said:
"It's your father.""
My knees nearly gave way.
"David?""
"Don't call me that.""
"Where are you?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"Are you alive?""
A bitter laugh came through the speaker.
"Apparently, I am.""
I looked at my mother.
She had heard him.
Her hands were covering her mouth.
"Why didn't you come home?"" I demanded.
"Because I couldn't.""
"Why?""
"Because the people you trusted made sure I couldn't.""
I swallowed.
"Was Thomas involved?""
"Yes.""
"And Vanessa?""
Silence.
Then my father said something I would never forget.
"Michael, Vanessa is not the reason I disappeared.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Then who?""
My father's voice dropped.
"Your mother.""
The call disconnected.
I turned toward her.
May you like
She was standing motionless.
And the expression on her face told me that this secret was far older than the inheritance.
