Chapter 7 - The Uncle Who Wasn't Dead
Richard Hale was very much alive.
He was sixty-eight.
He lived three hours north under the name Richard Hall.
Daniel found him by tracing an old contractor's license linked to Franklin Voss.
Natalie wanted police involved immediately.
Thomas refused.
"I need to see him first."
"No."
"He may run."
"Exactly."
Thomas gripped the arm of his chair.
"I helped create this."
"Then help by staying safe."
Eventually Natalie compromised.
Daniel hired a licensed investigator named Gabriel Ward.
Two detectives from the county cold case unit agreed to review the newly surfaced brake report.
Nobody would confront Richard alone.
Margaret knew nothing.
At least that was what Natalie thought.
On Wednesday morning, Margaret vanished.
Her phone was turned off.
Her car was gone.
Derek called Natalie in a panic.
"She took Dad's old lockbox."
"What was in it?"
"I don't know."
Natalie did.
More records.
Possibly money.
Possibly evidence.
Gabriel tracked Margaret's car north using a toll-camera hit.
She was heading toward Richard.
Natalie drove with Daniel and Gabriel.
Police followed twenty minutes behind.
Richard Hall lived in a ranch house surrounded by pine trees.
Margaret's car was parked outside.
Natalie got out before Daniel could stop her.
Voices came from inside.
Margaret shouting.
A man shouting back.
Natalie reached the porch.
The door opened.
Margaret stepped out carrying the lockbox.
Her face went white when she saw Natalie.
"What are you doing here?"
Natalie looked past her.
A man stood inside.
Tall despite his age.
Thin gray hair.
A deep scar along his left cheek.
Richard.
He looked at Natalie.
Something like recognition crossed his face.
"Evelyn."
Natalie felt her stomach turn.
Margaret whispered:
"Don't."
Richard laughed.
"She looks exactly like her."
Natalie stepped closer.
"Did you cut Evelyn's brakes?"
Richard's smile disappeared.
Margaret grabbed Natalie's arm.
"Get in your car."
Natalie pulled free.
Richard moved toward the door.
"You brought police?"
Nobody answered.
He laughed again.
"Of course you did."
Sirens became audible in the distance.
Richard looked at Margaret.
"You idiot."
Margaret snapped:
"Give me the papers."
"What papers?"
"You know."
Richard backed into the house.
Gabriel blocked the doorway.
"Nobody leaves."
Richard's expression changed.
Not fear.
Calculation.
Police arrived thirty seconds later.
The house was searched.
Richard was questioned.
He denied everything.
But officers found documents Margaret had apparently come to retrieve.
Bank statements.
Copies of trust transfers.
And a letter from Franklin Voss dated October 18, 1997.
The day after Evelyn died.
Margaret watched a detective read it.
She began trembling.
Natalie knew immediately.
"What does it say?"
The detective did not answer.
Daniel obtained a copy hours later.
Natalie read it in the car.
Margaret,
The immediate situation has resolved itself. Richard understands the necessity of remaining unavailable until matters settle. The child should continue under the Brooks surname. Do not initiate any additional transfers for ninety days. Evelyn's duplicate materials have not been recovered.
Burn this.
F.V.
Natalie read the letter twice.
Then she turned toward Margaret, who sat in the back of a police vehicle but had not yet been arrested.
"The immediate situation has resolved itself."
Margaret stared straight ahead.
Natalie approached.
"Did you know Richard was involved?"
"No."
"Did you send him to Evelyn?"
"No."
"Did Franklin?"
Margaret said nothing.
Natalie leaned closer.
"Did you know her brakes were cut?"
"No."
It came quickly.
Too quickly.
Natalie whispered:
"But you suspected."
Margaret closed her eyes.
That was answer enough.
Richard was released that night pending further investigation.
The evidence was old.
The letter suspicious but not definitive.
The brake report proved sabotage.
Not the saboteur.
Natalie felt furious.
Daniel reminded her:
"Cold cases move slowly."
"People move faster."
He was right.
At four eleven the next morning, Richard disappeared.
His house was empty.
His truck remained.
Passport gone.
Cash withdrawn.
But he left something behind.
A photograph in the kitchen trash.
It showed Evelyn Hale standing beside another woman.
The woman from the photograph was younger than Margaret.
Blonde.
Smiling.
Holding infant Natalie.
On the back was written:
Rebecca and Natalie, 1988.
May you like
Underneath, in different handwriting:
Ask Rebecca who your father really was.
