Chapter 7: The Man They Buried
My father's voice came through the phone.
“Claire?””
I couldn't speak.
Three years ago, I had stood beside my mother's kitchen table while she told me the police had identified his body.
Three years ago, I had attended a funeral.
Three years ago, I had watched a coffin lowered into the ground.
And now I was hearing him breathe.
“Dad?””
My voice broke on the word.
On the other end, there was a long silence.
Then he said, “Don't say my name again.””
My knees nearly gave out.
Liam moved toward me.
“Give me the phone.””
I backed away.
“No.””
His expression hardened.
“Claire, give me the phone.””
My father spoke quickly.
“Listen to me. You don't have much time.””
I looked at Hailey.
She had finally stopped crying.
My arms tightened around her.
“Where are you?””
“Your mother's house.””
“She's with you?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Megan.
She was staring at me like she was seeing a ghost.
Daniel was watching Liam.
My father continued.
“Liam knows I've been in contact with your mother.””
“Why?””
“Because your husband has been looking for me.””
I felt a cold pressure in my chest.
“Why would he be looking for you?””
“Because I know what happened.””
“What happened?””
My father's breathing became heavier.
“Three years ago, I didn't die in that accident.””
I closed my eyes.
The storage unit seemed to sway around me.
“What?””
“The man they buried wasn't me.””
My fingers began trembling.
“Dad, that's impossible.””
“No. What's impossible is that I stayed away as long as I did.””
I looked at Liam.
He had gone completely still.
That was when I knew.
He wasn't surprised.
He knew.
I whispered, “You knew.””
Liam's face changed.
“Claire—”
“You knew my father was alive.””
He stepped toward me.
“Listen to me.””
“You knew!””
Hailey started crying again.
I flinched.
Daniel moved closer.
“Liam, don't.””
Liam stopped.
My father spoke through the phone.
“Claire, get out of that building.””
“Why?””
“Because Liam is not there to negotiate.””
Liam gave a bitter laugh.
“Your father has always been dramatic.””
My father heard him.
“Liam.””
The two men were silent.
Then my father said, “You should have stayed away from my daughter.””
Liam's jaw tightened.
“You should have stayed dead.””
My stomach dropped.
I looked between them.
My father whispered, “That's the man you're married to.””
I felt something inside me break.
“Dad, tell me everything.””
“Not over the phone.””
“Then where?””
“There is a safe house near the old church on Briar Street.””
I knew it.
My father had taken me there as a child when my grandmother was sick.
“We'll be there.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Liam knows that location.””
I looked at Liam.
He was staring directly at me.
My father continued.
“There's another place.””
“Where?””
“Your childhood house.””
I shook my head.
“My grandfather's place?””
“Yes.””
“Nobody knows about it.””
“I thought so too.””
He paused.
“Until Liam asked me about it six months ago.””
My stomach turned.
“Six months ago.””
“Yes.””
The same time as the insurance policy.
The same time everything began falling apart.
My father said, “Claire, the documents you need are in the attic.””
“What documents?””
“The ones your mother and I kept.””
“About Liam?””
“About the baby.””
I stopped.
“Hailey?””
“Yes.””
Liam suddenly moved.
I stepped backward.
Daniel blocked him.
“Stay there.””
Liam's voice was low.
“Claire, you don't know what you're doing.””
I looked at him.
“Maybe not.””
He shook his head.
“But I know you're lying.””
My father said, “Your grandfather's house. The blue room. Behind the loose floorboard.””
Then the line went dead.
I stared at the phone.
“Dad?””
Nothing.
“Dad?””
The call had ended.
Megan whispered, “Was that really him?””
I nodded.
She looked at Liam.
“You knew.””
He didn't answer.
“You knew her father was alive.””
Still nothing.
Megan stepped closer.
“Liam, what have you done?””
He looked at her.
“You really want to know?””
She stopped.
I felt a sudden surge of anger.
“Enough.””
Everyone looked at me.
I shifted Hailey higher against my shoulder.
“You've lied to me about my father. You've lied to me about our daughter. You've lied about another woman.
You've lied about the money. You've lied about the insurance.””
I swallowed.
“What else?””
Liam's face was pale.
“Claire—”
“What else?””
He finally said, “You don't want the answer.””
“I'm not scared of it anymore.””
“You should be.””
I stared at him.
“You spent two years making me think I was crazy for asking where you were.””
He said nothing.
“You made me apologize for being suspicious.””
Silence.
“You made me feel guilty for needing you.””
His jaw clenched.
“You abandoned me with a newborn and called it work.””
“Claire.””
“And while I was taking care of your daughter, you were planning how to take her away.””
“That isn't what happened.””
“Then tell me what did.””
He looked down.
That silence was his answer.
Daniel stepped toward him.
“Where is Emily?””
Liam glanced at him.
“Safe.””
“Where?””
“Somewhere you won't find her.””
I felt cold all over.
“Did she take Hailey?””
“No.””
“Then why was she at the hospital?””
His eyes moved toward me.
“She was there because she knew the truth.””
“What truth?””
Liam didn't answer.
Megan suddenly spoke.
“I know.””
I turned.
She looked terrified.
“Claire, I know why Emily was at the hospital.””
Liam snapped, “Don't.””
Megan ignored him.
“She was there because she was supposed to bring someone out.””
“Who?””
“Your father.””
I couldn't breathe.
“What?””
Megan nodded.
“Your father wasn't hiding because of Liam.””
“Then why?””
“Because someone tried to kill him.””
My eyes moved to Liam.
“Who?””
Megan looked at him.
“He wasn't the person who ordered it.””
“Then who?””
She whispered, “Your mother.””
The words didn't make sense.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“No.””
“She paid someone to make your father disappear.””
My mind went blank.
“Why would she do that?””
Megan shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Liam said quietly, “Because your mother knew what he had done.””
I turned toward him.
“What did he do?””
Liam didn't answer.
“Tell me.””
“He wasn't innocent.””
“Neither are you.””
“No.””
For the first time, his voice sounded tired.
“I never said I was.””
He reached into his jacket.
Daniel immediately raised his hand.
“Slowly.””
Liam pulled out a folded photograph.
He held it toward me.
I didn't move.
“Look.””
Daniel took it first and examined it.
His eyes widened.
“What is that?””
Liam held it out again.
I finally took it.
The photograph showed my father.
Alive.
Standing outside a hospital.
Beside him was my mother.
And beside my mother was a younger Liam.
I stared.
The date was printed on the back.
Two weeks before my wedding.
But that wasn't what made my blood run cold.
Hailey wasn't in the photograph.
I was.
My younger self stood beside my mother, eight months pregnant.
And Liam was looking directly at my stomach.
My hands started shaking.
“Why was I there?””
Liam said nothing.
I looked closer.
There was another person in the photograph.
A man standing behind my father.
I recognized him.
It was Dr. Harris.
The doctor who had delivered Hailey.
The doctor who had signed my discharge papers.
The doctor Liam had once told me was “an old family friend.””
I looked at Liam.
“What is this?””
He answered quietly.
“The night Hailey was born, Dr. Harris changed the records.””
My heart stopped.
“Changed what records?””
He looked at me.
“The paternity records.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because your father wanted to protect you.””
“From whom?””
Liam's expression twisted.
“From me.””
Hailey made a small sound against my shoulder.
I looked down at her.
Then back at Liam.
“My father had you erased.””
“Yes.””
“From what?””
“My own daughter's life.””
I shook my head.
“You're saying Hailey is yours.””
“No.””
He looked toward the photograph.
Then at me.
“I'm saying Hailey is not mine.””
Silence.
“Then who is her father?””
Liam took a breath.
And before he could answer, tires screeched outside.
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
Megan whispered, “We're not alone.””
A car door slammed.
Then another.
Heavy footsteps approached the storage units.
Liam's face suddenly drained of color.
“What?”” I asked.
He stared at the door.
“I know those men.””
“Who are they?””
He looked at me.
And for the first time since I'd known him, Liam looked genuinely terrified.
“They work for your mother.””
The metal door began to rise.
And behind it stood three men in black coats—and the man walking in front was holding the same photograph I'd just been staring at.
He looked straight at me.
“Claire,” he said.
May you like
Then he smiled.
“Your mother wants her granddaughter back.””
