Chapter 7 - Patricia's Confession
Patricia opened the door before they knocked.
She looked older than she had at dinner.
Much older.
She saw Rachel.
Then Daniel.
Then the expression on their faces.
"Come inside."
The house smelled like lavender and old books.
Patricia locked the door behind them.
Daniel spoke first.
"Did you file anything using your digital certificate?"
Patricia closed her eyes.
"No."
"Mother."
"I didn't."
Rachel watched her.
"Did someone ask you to?"
Patricia hesitated.
"Yes."
Daniel's face tightened.
"Who?"
Patricia sat down.
"Vanessa."
Rachel's stomach sank.
"What did she ask you to do?"
"Nothing illegal."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"Mother."
Patricia looked at Rachel.
"She said Daniel was trying to protect the family."
Rachel sat opposite her.
"What family?"
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
"The family your father built."
Rachel froze.
"My father?"
Patricia nodded.
"I knew him."
"You knew him?"
"Before you met Daniel."
"How?"
Patricia looked toward the window.
"Your father and my husband were business partners."
Rachel felt dizzy.
"But my father wasn't wealthy."
"He didn't want you to know."
"Why?"
"Because the money wasn't clean."
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Mother."
Patricia shook her head.
"I have kept this secret for twenty-four years."
Rachel whispered.
"What happened?"
Patricia clasped her hands.
"Your father discovered that Daniel's father was moving money through shell companies."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Then what did my father do?"
"He threatened to expose him."
Rachel waited.
Patricia continued.
"Your father disappeared for six months."
Rachel's breathing stopped.
"He didn't disappear."
"Not officially."
"What do you mean?"
"He was hiding."
"From whom?"
Patricia looked at Daniel.
"From Jonathan Vale."
Rachel remembered the photograph.
The supposedly dead man.
Patricia whispered.
"Jonathan knew where your father was."
Daniel stood.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because your father threatened me."
Rachel looked at her.
"My father?"
Patricia nodded.
"He told me if I ever spoke, my son would pay for it."
Daniel looked stunned.
"My father protected you?"
"No."
Patricia's eyes filled.
"Your father protected me."
Silence.
Rachel slowly understood.
Daniel's father had not been the protector.
Her father had.
Then Patricia said something that made Rachel's blood run cold.
"Your father didn't die when you were told he did."
Rachel stared.
"What?"
"He survived."
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Mother, what are you saying?"
Patricia whispered.
"Your father is alive."
Rachel couldn't breathe.
For twenty-four years, she had believed her father was dead.
She had grieved him.
She had carried his photograph.
She had told Daniel stories about him.
Now Patricia was saying he had survived.
Rachel stood.
"Where is he?"
Patricia looked toward the hallway.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Then how do you know he's alive?"
Patricia's face collapsed.
"Because he called me last week."
Rachel's phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
Rachel answered.
A man's voice came through.
"Rachel."
She couldn't speak.
The voice continued.
"You shouldn't have married Daniel."
Rachel's knees weakened.
She knew that voice.
She had heard it in old home videos.
She had heard it in memories.
She whispered one word.
May you like
"Dad?"
The line went dead.
