Chapter 10: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I read Daniel's message three times.
Then I looked at my mother.
"Tell me exactly what you saw that night.""
Evelyn was trembling so badly that Robert pulled out a chair for her.
"I went to the hospital because Sarah had asked me to bring Noah's favorite blanket. She was having a difficult evening, and Marcus, you were supposed to be at home with Noah.""
I nodded slowly.
"I remember.""
"I arrived around nine. Vanessa was already there.""
My stomach tightened.
"Vanessa?""
"Yes. She was standing near the nurses' station, talking to someone. I thought she was visiting a friend.""
"Did she recognize you?""
"She pretended she didn't.""
My mother looked down at her hands.
"Then I went into Sarah's room. She was awake, but she looked frightened. She kept asking me whether I had brought the blanket.""
"Did she say anything about Vanessa?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She told me to take Noah and leave immediately.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"She said someone had been asking questions about her medication. She believed someone was trying to make her condition worse.""
Robert leaned forward.
"Did she identify that person?""
"No. She was exhausted. She kept looking toward the door.""
My mother took a breath.
"Then Vanessa came into the room. She told me she needed to speak with Sarah privately.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"And you left?""
"I went into the hallway. I thought she was helping.""
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"About fifteen minutes later, I saw a man leaving Sarah's room.""
"Who?""
"I couldn't see his face clearly. He wore a dark coat and carried a leather folder.""
"Then why did you say it was my father?""
She looked at me.
"Because I recognized his watch.""
My breath caught.
My father had owned a distinctive gold watch with a cracked leather strap.
He had worn it until the day he supposedly died.
"Mom, that watch was buried with him.""
"I know.""
"How could you have seen it?""
"I saw the same watch on the man's wrist.""
Robert exchanged a glance with me.
"Did you speak to him?""
"No. He walked past me without saying anything.""
"And then?""
"Vanessa came out. She told me Sarah had become confused and that the doctors needed to work without interference.""
My mother started crying again.
"I believed her.""
I walked toward the window.
My father, Richard Hale, had supposedly died in a boating accident when I was fourteen.
His body had never been recovered.
The authorities had eventually declared him legally dead.
My mother had received a life insurance payment.
We had held a funeral with an empty coffin.
For twenty-three years, I had believed that chapter of my life was closed.
Now someone was telling me he might have been alive when Sarah died.
"Robert, find out whether my father had any surviving financial accounts.""
"I'll have someone investigate.""
"And I want Daniel found.""
Robert nodded.
"He agreed to meet you?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
"Then we go together.""
Before leaving, Robert took the USB drive and made a second encrypted copy.
He also arranged for the hospital records to be independently examined.
When he left, I sat beside Noah.
He was drawing a picture of our house.
There were three figures in front of it.
Me.
Him.
And my mother.
He had drawn Lily beside him.
I smiled.
"That's a nice picture.""
Noah held it up.
"Can we put it on the refrigerator?""
"Absolutely.""
He hesitated.
"Can Grandma stay with us?""
I looked toward Evelyn.
She was standing near the doorway.
"That's something we need to work out, buddy.""
He frowned.
"She didn't make me stand against the wall.""
I swallowed.
"No, she didn't.""
"She gave me pancakes.""
My mother turned away, crying.
I placed a hand on Noah's shoulder.
"Your grandma loves you.""
He nodded.
Then he returned to his drawing.
Later that evening, I received a call from an old family friend named Peter Lawson.
He had known my father for decades and had been the man who identified his personal belongings after the boating accident.
"Marcus, I heard you've been asking questions about Richard.""
I sat down.
"Who told you?""
"Your mother.""
I glanced toward Evelyn.
"What do you know?""
Peter was silent for several seconds.
Then he said, "Your father didn't die in that accident.""
My blood ran cold.
"How do you know?""
"Because I saw him six months later.""
"Where?""
"At a private club outside Boston. He was using another name.""
I stood.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"I was paid to stay quiet.""
"By whom?""
Peter exhaled.
"Richard.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you know he was involved with Vanessa?""
"Not at first. But I saw them together years later.""
"How many years?""
"About a year before Sarah died.""
I felt sick.
"Why would my father be meeting my wife?""
"She wasn't your wife then.""
I looked at the clock.
"Peter, I need you to tell me everything.""
"I can't do that over the phone.""
"Then meet me.""
"Tomorrow. Ten in the morning. I'll send you an address.""
The call ended.
I stood motionless.
Then I noticed Noah watching me from the couch.
"Dad?""
I turned.
"Yes, buddy?""
"Are you looking for Grandpa?""
I froze.
"Why do you ask?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Vanessa showed me a picture of him once.""
My heart began pounding.
"When?""
"Last month.""
"What did she say?""
He hesitated.
"She said he was watching over us.""
I knelt beside him.
"Did she tell you where she saw him?""
Noah nodded.
"At the house.""
I stared at him.
"What house?""
"Our house. Outside the kitchen window.""
The room seemed to shrink around me.
"Did you see him?""
Noah nodded again.
"He was standing near the fence. I thought he was a stranger.""
"Did you tell Vanessa?""
"Yes.""
"What did she say?""
He looked toward the front door.
"She said I wasn't supposed to tell you.""
I held his little hand.
"Did he speak to you?""
Noah swallowed.
Then he whispered:
"He said he wanted to meet his grandson.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Peter.
An address.
And beneath it, a photograph.
A recent photograph.
My father stood outside a building, older but unmistakably alive.
May you like
He was wearing a gold watch with a cracked leather strap.
And beside him stood Vanessa.
