Chapter 9 - The Name My Father Feared
His name was Michael Hale.
Twenty-nine years old.
Former attorney.
No criminal record.
No known connection to Rachel.
At least officially.
Thomas studied the photograph for several minutes.
“Why would Rachel be with him?”
Dad shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You recognized him.”
“I saw him once.”
“Where?”
“Outside the courthouse.”
Thomas looked furious.
“You've been hiding this.”
“I was trying to keep her alive.”
“You've been using that excuse for twelve years.”
Dad looked at me.
“I made mistakes.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Mistakes?”
He looked down.
“You lied about my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe she abandoned me.”
“Yes.”
“You left me in a hospital.”
His face crumpled.
“I was wrong.”
I stepped back.
“I don't know you.”
That hurt him.
I could see it.
But I didn't care.
Not yet.
Thomas took the photograph.
“We need to find Michael.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
Thomas looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because Michael isn't helping Rachel.”
“What does that mean?”
Vanessa whispered,
“He's hunting her.”
Dad's eyes widened.
“Why?”
“Because Victor left instructions.”
“What instructions?”
Vanessa looked at me.
“If Rachel ever resurfaced, Michael was supposed to bring her back.”
“Back where?”
Vanessa didn't answer.
Thomas demanded,
“Where?”
She whispered,
“The Mercer Foundation.”
Thomas froze.
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if you know what Rachel discovered.”
I looked at Thomas.
“What?”
He opened another file.
Inside was a list of names.
Judges.
Attorneys.
Police officers.
Business executives.
Doctors.
And beside several names were dates.
Some were crossed out.
One name was circled.
Thomas Mercer.
I stared at it.
“Why is your name there?”
Thomas didn't speak.
Dad did.
“Because your grandfather wasn't just investigating Victor Hale.”
Thomas looked at him.
“Stop.”
Dad continued.
“He was part of the original investigation.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
Then he whispered,
“I thought I destroyed those records.”
My stomach tightened.
“What records?”
Thomas looked at me.
“The records that could prove your mother was telling the truth.”
Then the hospital security chief called.
“Judge Mercer, you need to come back.”
Thomas answered,
“Why?”
“Someone left a package at the front desk.”
“What kind?”
The chief hesitated.
“A photograph.”
Thomas asked,
“Of whom?”
May you like
The answer came quietly.
“Your granddaughter.”
