Chapter 15 - THE TWO FATHERS
Thomas told us the truth slowly.
My biological father, Samuel, had not died.
He had disappeared.
My legal father, Henry, had not died either.
He had been living under federal protection.
And my mother had spent decades protecting both men from each other.
"Why?"
Thomas looked exhausted.
"Because Samuel wanted the ledger."
"And Henry?"
"He wanted redemption."
I couldn't process it.
"What happened to Samuel?"
"Your mother found him first."
"When?"
"Twenty-three years ago."
"Where?"
"Chicago."
Thomas explained that Samuel had been preparing to sell the original ledger to international criminals.
My mother stopped him.
But she didn't turn him in.
Instead, she made a deal.
Samuel would disappear.
Henry would become your father.
And I would never know the truth.
"Why?"
"Because you were a child."
"And when I grew up?"
"Your mother believed the network would find you."
"They did."
"Yes."
"Then why did she wait?"
Thomas looked at me.
"Because she was waiting for you to become strong enough to survive the truth."
I laughed bitterly.
"I've spent my entire life thinking she didn't trust me."
"She trusted you more than anyone."
"Then why all the secrets?"
"Because secrets were the only shield she had."
Cassandra stepped forward.
"What about me?"
Thomas looked at her.
"Your father was part of the network."
Her face went white.
"He was killed because he tried to expose it."
She shook her head.
"No."
"He left evidence."
"Where?"
Thomas pointed toward the third box.
"Your mother preserved it."
Cassandra opened the box.
Inside was a cassette tape.
An old-fashioned recording.
We played it.
A man's voice filled the room.
Cassandra immediately recognized him.
Her father.
"If you're hearing this, I've failed."
She began crying.
"I discovered what Eleanor was doing."
He named accounts.
Names.
Politicians.
Executives.
Judges.
Then he said something that made everyone freeze.
"The person funding the network isn't Eleanor."
Cassandra looked at me.
The recording continued.
"It's Samuel Carter."
My biological father.
I felt sick.
Thomas lowered his head.
"He never stopped."
"Where is he?"
Thomas looked toward the ceiling.
"Closer than you think."
A phone rang.
Everyone jumped.
It was Agent Collins' phone.
She answered.
Her face changed.
"Yes."
She listened.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Samuel Carter just entered the building."
My heart stopped.
"He's here?"
Before she could answer, footsteps echoed from above.
Slow.
Calm.
Measured.
A man appeared at the top of the stairs.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
Cold eyes.
He looked at me.
Then smiled.
"My son."
Cassandra stepped between us.
The man smiled wider.
"I see your mother taught you to protect the people you love."
I stared at him.
"You destroyed families."
"No."
He descended one step.
"I built an empire."
"You murdered people."
His expression hardened.
"Your mother filled your head with stories."
Then he held up a small black notebook.
"The truth is inside this."
I recognized it immediately.
The original ledger.
May you like
Samuel smiled.
"And now you have to decide whether you want to know what your mother did to keep it hidden."
