Chapter 8: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Marcus's father's voice continued through the phone.
“If Daniel fails, take care of Vanessa.””
Noah looked at Marcus.
“Dad?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
His father had died seven years earlier.
But the voice on the recording sounded recent.
Very recent.
Rachel checked the file timestamp.
“Three years ago.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That can't be him.””
Daniel stepped inside.
“It is.””
Marcus turned.
“How?””
Daniel looked exhausted.
“Your father staged his own death before he actually died.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew the company was collapsing.””
Rachel stared at the records.
“He hid the debt.””
“And created fake assets,” Daniel said.
Marcus frowned.
“Why use my identity?””
“Because you were the clean one.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You had no criminal record. No failed businesses. No suspicious transfers.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“So he made me the scapegoat.””
“Yes.””
Vanessa started crying again.
Marcus turned toward her.
“And you?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“I wanted out.””
“You stayed.””
“I was trapped.””
“You framed Noah.””
“I needed leverage.””
“For what?””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“I knew you'd leave me if you knew everything.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You thought I'd stay because you blamed my seven-year-old son?””
She looked down.
“I thought you'd hate him before you hated me.””
Noah stepped closer to Marcus.
His father put an arm around him.
Rachel said quietly, “There's still one question.””
Marcus looked at her.
“The vase.””
Vanessa shut her eyes.
“What?””
“The vase was deliberate.””
Marcus frowned.
“You needed a reason to trigger the recording.””
Rachel nodded.
“You wanted Marcus to discover the phone.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“I needed him to see Daniel.””
Marcus understood.
“You planted the evidence.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Then why?””
“Because I knew someone was watching the house.””
She pointed toward Buddy.
“The dog found the phone before they could.””
Marcus looked at Buddy.
The old dog wagged his tail.
Daniel suddenly said, “The men outside weren't after the phone.””
Marcus turned.
“Then what?””
“They were after Noah.””
Silence.
Rachel's face hardened.
“Why?””
Daniel answered.
“Because Noah is the only witness who can identify your father.””
Marcus looked at his son.
Noah didn't understand.
But he could feel the fear in the room.
Then the lights flickered.
A car engine roared outside.
Daniel looked through the window.
“They found us.””
Marcus grabbed Noah.
Rachel reached for the phone.
Daniel moved toward the back door.
“No.””
Marcus stopped him.
“Where are you going?””
“To end this.””
“How?””
Daniel looked at him.
“By taking them to the person they actually want.””
Marcus understood.
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Your father isn't dead.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
Daniel whispered:
“He's been living under a different name for years.””
The front door burst open.
Men rushed inside.
Rachel screamed.
Marcus pulled Noah toward the hallway.
Buddy barked furiously.
And from the darkness behind them came an old man's voice.
“Marcus.””
He turned.
A figure stepped forward.
His father.
May you like
Alive.
And smiling.
