Chapter 6 - THE FATHER WHO WAS SENT TO INVESTIGATE MY FAMILY
My father had been investigating my mother’s family.
That sounded like a television show.
It did not feel funny.
Daniel Harper joined a federal organized-crime task force nine years earlier.
His assignment:
Get close to Sofia Moretti.
Learn what she knew.
Document financial crimes.
Except something happened.
He fell in love with her.
Really.
The proof was everywhere.
Letters.
Photographs.
A tiny hospital bracelet from when I was born.
Daniel had kept copies.
He planned to leave federal service after Sofia disappeared.
Then he vanished too.
“What happened to him?” I asked.
Dominic looked at the investigator.
No answer.
That meant bad.
Daniel Harper was officially listed as missing six years ago.
Two months after my birth.
No body.
No verified death.
I brightened.
“So he could be alive.”
Dominic crouched.
“Yes.”
He did not lie by saying likely.
I appreciated that.
Elizabeth Harper, my grandmother, had also disappeared from public records.
Not dead.
Protected identity.
Why?
Because after Daniel vanished, someone threatened her.
The lawyer contacted federal authorities.
Hours later, a woman arrived at the Moretti house.
Gray hair.
Blue eyes like mine.
She saw me.
Stopped.
Then cried.
“Lily.”
I hugged Mr. Bear.
“Are you Grandma?”
She covered her mouth.
“Yes.”
Dominic stepped back.
Gave us space.
Elizabeth knelt carefully.
Not as low as Dominic because her knees hurt.
I rolled closer.
She touched my curls.
“You look exactly like your father.”
“Is he alive?”
Her face broke.
“I don’t know.”
I did not cry.
Not yet.
“Why didn’t you find me?”
That made her cry harder.
“I tried.”
She explained.
After Sofia’s death, Lily disappeared into emergency foster care under the Harper surname.
Federal officials moved Elizabeth for safety.
One corrupt employee altered records.
Every search returned nothing.
For four years, she believed I had been adopted.
I looked at Dominic.
“Everybody thinks somebody else has me.”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
Elizabeth had one more thing.
Daniel’s final voicemail.
Recorded the night he disappeared.
His voice filled the room.
“Mom, Sofia’s crash wasn’t Victor.”
Dominic looked up.
Everything changed.
Daniel continued.
“Victor wanted the money, but he didn’t order the hit.”
Dominic whispered:
“Then who?”
The voicemail answered.
“Julian Mercer.”
Family attorney.
The silver-haired man in Maria’s photograph.
Daniel continued:
“He has people inside the task force.”
Elizabeth’s hands shook.
“He knows about Lily.”
Then:
“If I disappear, don’t trust anyone carrying a federal badge unless they give you the phrase Sofia chose.”
The message ended.
“What phrase?” Dominic asked.
Elizabeth looked at me.
Then smiled through tears.
“Blue butterflies come home.”
I stared.
Butterflies again.
Then Dominic’s security chief entered.
“Sir.”
“What?”
“Federal agents are at the gate.”
Elizabeth went pale.
“How many?”
“Six.”
“Who leads them?”
A name.
May you like
Special Agent Julian Mercer Jr.
The son of the man Daniel said killed Sofia.
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