Chapter 11: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I didn't go alone.
The message specifically said I should.
That was enough reason not to.
Daniel arranged for two security officers to follow at a distance. Jonathan stayed at the hospital with my mother, while I carried my father's letter inside my jacket.
The old Lakeshore Hotel stood near the river in downtown Cleveland.
It had been closed for years.
Its windows were boarded up, and weeds had grown through cracks in the parking lot.
My father had once worked there.
According to Peter, it was where he had met Richard Bennett before the company became successful.
I parked across the street.
Daniel called me.
"Are you inside?""
"Not yet.""
"Be careful. The building has no active security system.""
"I know.""
"Keep your phone on.""
I crossed the street and pushed through the rusted entrance.
The lobby smelled of damp carpet and old wood.
A broken chandelier hung above the reception desk.
Then I heard a voice.
"Adrian?""
I turned.
A man stood near the staircase.
He was wearing a dark jacket and holding a walking stick.
He looked older than the photograph.
His hair was almost completely gray.
But the scar above his left eyebrow was unmistakable.
The same scar I had seen on the little boy in my father's photograph.
I stopped breathing.
"Daniel?""
He nodded.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then he said:
"You look like him.""
I took a step forward.
"You're alive.""
Daniel gave a tired smile.
"That's what I keep telling people.""
I stared at him.
"Why did you disappear?""
He looked toward the staircase.
"Because Richard Bennett wanted me dead.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Why?""
"Because I found the original financial records. I knew he had stolen from the company, and I knew he had something to do with our father's death.""
"Our father?""
Daniel nodded.
"I know you grew up believing Michael was your father alone. But he was mine too.""
I looked at him.
"Did you know about me?""
"Of course.""
"Why didn't you contact me?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Because the last time I tried, Camille found out.""
I felt a chill.
"Camille?""
Daniel nodded.
"She was my wife.""
"I know.""
He looked surprised.
"Then you know why I couldn't come back.""
"Not yet.""
Daniel sat on an old lobby bench.
I remained standing.
He began speaking.
"When I married Camille, I thought she loved me. We were young. We had a daughter, Sophie. For a while, everything seemed normal.""
I listened.
"Then she started asking questions about my father. She wanted to know about the company, the shares, the old documents.""
"Did you tell her?""
"Yes. I trusted her.""
He looked down at his hands.
"I told her about the inheritance. I told her our father had left something for us. I also told her Richard had been stealing from the company.""
"What happened?""
"She told Richard.""
I stared at him.
"You're certain?""
"I found the messages.""
He pulled out an old phone.
The screen was cracked.
"I saved everything before I disappeared.""
He opened a folder.
There were photographs of text messages between Camille and Richard.
One message read:
Daniel has the original ledgers. He refuses to cooperate.
Richard replied:
Then make him understand what happens when people betray this family.
Camille answered:
I'll handle it.
I looked up.
"Did she hurt you?""
Daniel was silent for a moment.
"She gave me something to drink one night. I woke up in a hospital with a head injury. The doctors told me I had been found near the river.""
I felt sick.
"Was it an accident?""
"No.""
He showed me a photograph of his medical records.
"Someone had attacked me. I survived because a security guard found me before I drowned.""
I stared at the document.
"Why didn't you report her?""
"I tried. But Richard had already told the police I was unstable. He had statements from Camille and two doctors claiming I was abusing medication.""
I remembered the recordings of my mother.
The same pattern.
The same accusations.
The same strategy.
Make the victim appear confused.
Then use that confusion to justify taking control.
Daniel continued.
"I left the country under another name. I knew if Richard found me, he would finish what he started.""
"Where have you been?""
"Canada. Mostly.""
"All these years?""
He nodded.
"And Sophie?""
His expression changed.
"She stayed with Camille.""
I felt a knot form in my stomach.
"Does she know what happened?""
"She was only four when I disappeared. Camille told her I abandoned them.""
I stared at him.
"Where is she now?""
"Twenty-three years old. Living in Chicago.""
"Have you seen her?""
"Once. From a distance.""
He looked away.
"She wouldn't recognize me.""
I didn't know what to say.
For twenty-seven years, I had believed my father's family consisted of my mother, me, and a brother who didn't exist.
Now I was standing in front of a man who had spent most of his adult life hiding from the same people who had been sitting at my dinner table.
"Why contact me now?"" I asked.
Daniel reached into his jacket and removed a small USB drive.
"Because Richard knows I've returned.""
He handed it to me.
"This contains the original ownership records, financial transfers, and a recording from the night our father died.""
My heart began pounding.
"You have the recording?""
Daniel nodded.
"Not the one Peter found. A different one.""
I took the drive.
"What's on it?""
He looked toward the dark hallway.
"Our father explaining who was responsible for the attack.""
I stared at him.
"Who?""
Daniel opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, a sound came from the upper floor.
Footsteps.
Daniel stood immediately.
"Someone followed you.""
I turned toward the stairs.
A shadow moved behind the broken railing.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
"Don't move.""
A man's voice echoed through the lobby.
"Daniel.""
I recognized it.
Richard Bennett.
He stepped into view.
Behind him stood Camille.
She was holding a small black handgun.
My stomach dropped.
"Camille?""
She looked at me.
"Adrian, put the USB down.""
Daniel moved in front of me.
"Don't do this.""
Camille raised the weapon.
"Move, Daniel.""
He shook his head.
"You've already destroyed enough lives.""
Richard descended the stairs slowly.
"Give me the drive, Adrian.""
I looked at him.
"Is this what happened to my father?""
Richard stopped.
For a moment, the old man looked almost amused.
Then he said:
"Your father should have handed over the company when I asked him.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"You killed him.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"I did what I had to do.""
The words hung in the air.
My phone was still connected to Daniel's security line.
I knew our team could hear everything.
But I couldn't risk making a sudden move.
I looked at Camille.
"Did you know?""
Her eyes filled.
"Adrian, please.""
"Did you know he killed my father?""
She lowered the gun slightly.
Richard turned toward her.
"Don't answer him.""
I stared at my wife.
"Did you know?""
Camille swallowed.
Then she whispered:
"I knew Richard was responsible for what happened to Michael.""
I felt my chest collapse.
"And you still married me?""
She began crying.
"I was trying to protect myself.""
"From what?""
Richard stepped toward her.
"Camille, give me the gun.""
She didn't move.
Daniel looked at me.
"Adrian, the drive.""
I slipped it into my pocket.
Richard noticed.
His expression changed instantly.
"Give it to me!""
He lunged forward.
A loud crash echoed through the lobby.
The gun fired.
Daniel fell.
I dropped beside him.
"Daniel!""
He was clutching his shoulder.
Blood spread across his jacket.
Camille stood frozen, the gun still in her hand.
Richard grabbed her wrist.
"Move!""
But before either of them could reach the exit, two security officers burst through the front entrance.
"Police! Drop the weapon!""
Richard tried to run.
Camille dropped the gun.
Daniel groaned beside me.
I pressed my hand against his shoulder.
"Stay with me.""
He looked up at me.
Then he whispered something I would never forget.
"Adrian... the recording isn't the only thing on that drive.""
"What else?""
He struggled to breathe.
"A list of every person Richard paid.""
The officers restrained Richard.
Camille was placed against the wall.
Then one of the officers approached me.
"Sir, we need to take your statement.""
I looked at Daniel.
"He's been shot. Get an ambulance.""
The officer nodded.
As the paramedics arrived, Daniel caught my sleeve.
"There's one more thing.""
"What?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Your father didn't die protecting the company.""
I leaned closer.
"Then what was he protecting?""
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
"Your mother.""
