Chapter 7: The Man Who Wasn’t Dad
Marcus looked at the man standing three feet away.
Same height.
Same silver hair.
Same scar along the left eyebrow.
Same deep-set eyes he remembered from childhood.
But suddenly, every familiar detail looked wrong.
“Who are you?””
The man said nothing.
Marcus raised the phone.
“The caller said you aren't my father.””
Diane's breathing became uneven.
“Marcus, put the phone down.””
“No.””
He looked at her.
“Not this time.””
Daniel finally spoke.
“Your mother is afraid.””
“Of you?””
“Of what you'll discover.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Then tell me.””
Daniel stared at him for a long moment.
“My name is Daniel Hartwell.””
Marcus frowned.
“That doesn't answer the question.””
“No.””
Daniel glanced at Diane.
“But it is the answer you're going to have to live with.””
Vanessa appeared at the basement stairs.
“Marcus…”
He didn't look at her.
“Stay there.””
She stopped.
Marcus pointed toward Daniel.
“Who is he?””
Diane whispered, “He's Daniel.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That's not what I asked.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then he reached into his jacket.
Marcus immediately stepped back.
“Don't.””
Daniel slowly removed a wallet.
He opened it.
Inside was an old driver's license.
The photograph showed the same man.
Name: *Daniel Hartwell.*
Marcus stared.
“That's you.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he say you're not my father?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Because I'm not.””
The words seemed to knock the air from the room.
Marcus turned toward Diane.
She was crying now.
“You knew.””
Diane nodded.
“I knew.””
“How long?””
“Since you were born.””
Marcus took a step backward.
The basement seemed to shrink around him.
“Who is my father?””
Diane looked at Daniel.
Daniel answered.
“I don't know.””
Marcus laughed once, bitterly.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I've spent thirty years trying to find him.””
“Then why raise me?””
Daniel's expression cracked.
“Because your mother asked me to.””
Marcus stared at Diane.
“Why?””
She wiped her cheek.
“Because your real father was dangerous.””
“Who was he?””
“I don't know.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
Daniel moved closer.
“When your mother was pregnant, someone tried to take her.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
“They wanted you.””
Diane nodded.
“They believed you carried something.””
Marcus frowned.
“I'm a person.””
“Yes.””
Diane's voice trembled.
“But they believed your bloodline gave you access to something your grandmother created.””
Marcus remembered the key.
“The vault.””
Diane nodded.
“The vault.””
Daniel continued.
“Your grandmother didn't build that vault for money.””
“What was inside?””
“Records.””
“What kind?””
“Names.””
Marcus looked at the shoe.
“Names of people who had been paying to control your grandmother's company.””
Diane whispered, “And politicians.””
“Judges,” Daniel added.
“Corporate executives.””
“Lawyers.””
Marcus stared.
“All those people?””
“Yes.””
“Why keep them?””
Diane looked at him.
“Because your grandmother knew someone would eventually try to destroy the company.””
Marcus shook his head.
“And I was the key?””
“Your DNA was part of the authentication system.””
He stared.
“That's insane.””
“I know.””
“So why did you never tell me?””
Diane's eyes filled again.
“Because someone was watching.””
Marcus looked toward the stairs.
“Who?””
Daniel answered.
“James.””
Marcus stiffened.
“My uncle?””
“James wasn't your uncle,” Daniel said.
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
Daniel's voice dropped.
“He was your mother's brother.””
Diane nodded.
“But he wasn't related to you.””
Marcus stared at them.
“Then why call him my uncle?””
“Because it was safer.””
He looked at Diane.
“You lied about everything.””
“I lied about the people who were hunting you.””
“You lied about my father.””
“Yes.””
“You lied about Daniel.””
“Yes.””
“You lied about the company.””
Diane couldn't answer.
Marcus turned away.
His hands were shaking.
Then Vanessa spoke.
“There was something else.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What?””
“When James met me today, he told me your mother wasn't the person who created the vault.””
Diane's eyes widened.
“Vanessa.””
“He said the vault belonged to someone else.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
“What else did he say?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“He said Marcus's real father was the one who designed it.””
Diane whispered, “No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Mom.””
She shook her head.
“That's impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because your father died before the vault was finished.””
Daniel suddenly looked at her.
“You told me he died.””
Diane went silent.
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“You said he died?””
“Yes.””
Daniel's face changed.
“Diane…”
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Where?””
She couldn't speak.
“Where did he die?””
“In a fire.””
“Where?””
She closed her eyes.
“The old factory.””
Marcus stared.
“The factory that burned eight years ago?””
“Yes.””
Daniel whispered, “That wasn't an accident.””
Diane looked at him.
“No.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Then who started the fire?””
Diane looked directly at him.
“I did.””
Nobody moved.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at his mother.
“You burned the factory?””
“I burned the records.””
“People were inside.””
“No.””
Diane's voice broke.
“I made sure it was empty.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You didn't know.””
Diane looked at him.
“Know what?””
Daniel reached into his jacket again.
This time he pulled out a photograph.
He handed it to Marcus.
The image showed the burning factory.
Fire climbed through the windows.
Police cars crowded the street.
Marcus turned the photograph over.
A date was written on the back.
Eight years ago.
And beneath it:
*Taken from the east hill by D.H.*
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“You took this?””
Daniel nodded.
“I watched the building burn.””
“Why?””
“Because I was looking for your father.””
Marcus stared.
“And?””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“I saw him walk out.””
Diane whispered, “No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“He walked out alive.””
Marcus's heart hammered.
“Then where is he?””
Daniel's answer was barely audible.
“He was taken.””
“By whom?””
Daniel looked toward the basement phone.
“The people who wanted the vault.””
Marcus's phone suddenly vibrated again.
Unknown number.
One message.
*COME ALONE.*
Then another.
*THE MAN YOU CALL YOUR FATHER KNOWS WHERE I AM.*
Marcus looked up.
Daniel was staring at the message.
Diane whispered, “Don't go.””
Marcus looked at her.
“If my father is alive, I'm finding him.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You don't understand what you're walking into.””
Marcus pocketed the phone.
“Then explain it.””
Daniel's face went pale.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because the person who took him…”
May you like
Daniel looked at Diane.
“…is standing in this room.””
