Chapter 9: The Man Who Never Died
For eight years, I had believed my father was dead.
I'd attended the funeral.
I'd watched the coffin lowered.
I'd stood beside my mother while people whispered condolences.
I'd kept his photograph on my mantel.
I'd told Joel stories about the grandfather he would never meet.
Now one sentence had destroyed everything.
*He didn't die that night.*
I called the hospital listed on my father's death certificate.
The records department wouldn't tell me anything.
So I drove there.
I left Joel with Ivy.
He wanted to come.
I refused.
For the first time since Friday, I was glad he couldn't argue with me.
At the hospital, I found an old records clerk named Mrs. Palmer.
She examined the certificate.
Then she looked at me.
“This doesn't look right.””
My heart jumped.
“What doesn't?””
“The attending physician.””
She tapped the name.
“Dr. Samuel Price.””
“And?””
“He retired fifteen years ago.””
My stomach dropped.
“That's impossible.””
She shook her head.
“Your father died eight years ago?””
“Yes.””
“Then someone used his name.””
I sat down.
“Can you check the original record?””
She disappeared into the back.
Ten minutes later, she returned carrying a folder.
She placed it on the desk.
“The original record says your father was admitted under a different name.””
“What name?””
She opened the folder.
“Daniel Bennett.””
I stared.
“That's my father's name.””
“Yes.””
“But the death certificate says…”
“Elliot Vance.””
I couldn't speak.
Mrs. Palmer looked uncomfortable.
“Do you know who signed the discharge?””
“No.””
She pointed.
A signature.
I recognized it.
My mother's.
I drove straight back to Ivy's.
Joel was waiting in the driveway.
He ran toward me.
“Mom!””
I hugged him.
“Are you okay?””
He nodded.
“Did you find Grandpa?””
I pulled away.
“What did you say?””
“Grandpa.””
“How do you know?””
Joel looked confused.
“Because the man told me.””
“What man?””
“Elliot.””
My blood went cold.
“What did he tell you?””
“That Grandpa isn't dead.””
Ivy came outside.
“Joel, maybe we should go inside.””
“No,” I said.
“Tell me everything.””
Joel looked at me.
“He said Grandpa has been hiding.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“What else?””
“He said you weren't supposed to find him.””
“Why?””
Joel shrugged.
“He said you would ruin everything.””
I looked at Ivy.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“You went to the hospital.””
My knees nearly gave out.
“Who are you?””
“You already know.””
“Where is my father?””
Silence.
Then:
“Alive.””
“Let me speak to him.””
“You're not ready.””
“I'll decide that.””
The man laughed softly.
“You always were stubborn.””
I knew that voice.
Not because I'd heard it recently.
Because I'd heard it in childhood.
At bedtime.
At the dinner table.
In the car.
My father's voice.
I couldn't breathe.
“Dad?””
Nothing.
Then:
“Mara.””
I covered my mouth.
Joel stared at me.
“Dad, where are you?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because Elliot is listening.””
I looked at Ivy.
“What did he do?””
My father's voice cracked.
“He took everything.””
“Why?””
“Because I found out what he had done.””
“What?””
“He wasn't stealing money.””
I gripped the phone.
“Then what?””
“He was stealing identities.””
The room went silent.
My father continued.
“Your mother helped him.””
“No.””
“She thought she was protecting you.””
“She died.””
“She was trying to undo it.””
My heart pounded.
“Then why did she sign your discharge?””
“Because she believed the only way to keep you alive was to make the world believe I was dead.””
I closed my eyes.
Everything I thought I knew about my childhood was collapsing.
“Where were you all these years?””
“I was hiding.””
“From Elliot?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you contact me?””
“Because Elliot had someone watching you.””
I looked at Joel.
“Who?””
My father hesitated.
Then he said a name.
I almost dropped the phone.
“I can't believe you.””
“Mara, listen to me.””
“You were alive and you let me believe you were dead.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You let me grieve you!””
“I know.””
His voice broke.
“I know, sweetheart.””
I had to sit down.
After a moment, I asked the question that had been burning inside me.
“What did Elliot steal?””
My father went silent.
Then:
“Your inheritance.””
I laughed bitterly.
“The house?””
“No.””
“What, then?””
“The company.””
“What company?””
“My company.””
I stared at the wall.
“I don't understand.””
“You weren't supposed to inherit a house, Mara.””
“What was I supposed to inherit?””
“Everything.””
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Joel stepped toward me.
“Mom?””
I looked at him.
“We need to leave.””
Ivy frowned.
“Where?””
“To find my father.””
She shook her head.
“You don't even know where he is.””
I looked down at the old photograph.
On the back, beneath the date, there was a handwritten address I hadn't noticed before.
A cabin.
Twenty miles outside town.
I showed it to Ivy.
She went pale.
“I know that place.””
“Where?””
“My father took me there once.””
“What is it?””
She swallowed.
“An abandoned hunting lodge.””
I grabbed my keys.
Then my phone buzzed.
A text message.
One sentence.
*Don't come alone.*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
A second message appeared.
*Elliot is already there.*
