Chapter 8: The Call From the Dead
Wolf stared at the number for nearly a minute.
He didn't know whether to call it.
He didn't know whether to believe it.
But he knew one thing.
If there was even a small chance his father was alive, he wasn't going to ignore it.
He stepped away from the motorcycles and dialed.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
Then someone answered.
“Hello?””
The voice was weak.
Older.
But familiar.
Wolf's chest tightened.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then the man spoke.
“Is that you, William?””
Wolf's knees nearly gave out.
Nobody had called him William in twenty years.
His father had been the last person to use that name.
“Dad?””
A shaky breath came through the phone.
“Son.””
Wolf closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then the words came out broken.
“You're alive.””
“Yes.””
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“Why didn't you come home?””
Silence.
Then Daniel answered.
“Because I was afraid.””
Wolf laughed once, without humor.
“Afraid of what? Seeing your own son?””
“No. Of getting you killed.””
Wolf pressed a hand against his forehead.
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“I know.””
“You let Mom bury an empty coffin.””
“I know.””
“You let me spend twenty years thinking I wasn't worth coming back for!””
The line went quiet.
Then Daniel whispered:
“You were the only reason I stayed alive.””
Wolf looked away.
Preacher stood several feet behind him, pretending not to listen.
“Then why didn't you come back?”” Wolf asked again.
Daniel sighed.
“Because Gordon had people watching your family. He told me if I returned, he would kill your mother. Then he would come for you.””
“My mother is dead.””
“I know, son.””
The words hurt more than Wolf expected.
He leaned against his motorcycle.
“Michael found you.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't he tell me?””
“Michael wanted to make sure it was safe first. He had evidence. He was going to bring everything into the open.””
Wolf swallowed.
“What happened the night he died?””
Daniel's voice changed.
“Curtis and Gordon planned it.””
Wolf froze.
“Tell me.””
“Michael called me that evening. He said he had found the original financial records. He was going to meet with the police the following morning.””
“Did you see Curtis?””
“No. But I heard Gordon talking to him on another line. They knew Michael had the documents.””
“Did Gordon order Curtis to kill him?””
“I can't prove that.””
Wolf clenched his jaw.
“But you know.””
“I know enough.””
Wolf stared at the dark road.
“Where are you?””
Daniel hesitated.
“An old farmhouse outside Millbrook.””
“I'm coming.””
“No.””
Wolf's voice became hard.
“I'm not asking.””
“Listen to me, William. Gordon has men looking for you. If you come here without the police, you'll lead them straight to me.””
Wolf looked at Preacher.
“We have police protection.””
“Then bring them. But there's something you need to know first.””
“What?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Michael didn't die because of the money.””
Wolf frowned.
“Then why?””
“Because he found the original accident report from twenty years ago.””
Wolf went completely still.
“Your accident?””
“Yes.””
“What's in it?””
Daniel took a shaky breath.
“The man who ordered my death wasn't Gordon.””
Wolf waited.
Then his father spoke.
“It was someone inside the Black Ridge Riders.””
The call ended.
At the hospital, Ava sat beside Noah's bed.
Her brother was sleeping with one hand wrapped around the dinosaur keychain from his backpack.
She gently pulled the blanket over his shoulder.
Sarah stood near the window.
She had been quiet since Wolf left.
Ava looked up.
“Mom?””
“Yes, baby?””
“Did Dad know Wolf's father?””
Sarah nodded.
“They were close.””
“Then why did he hide the truth?””
Sarah turned.
“Your father believed some secrets were dangerous enough to destroy entire families.””
Ava frowned.
“But secrets already destroyed ours.””
Sarah walked over and sat beside her.
“You're right.””
Ava looked at the jacket.
“Do you think Dad knew he was going to die?””
Sarah touched the leather.
“I think he knew someone was coming for him.””
“Then why didn't he run?””
Sarah's eyes filled.
“Because he thought he could stop them before they reached you and Noah.””
Ava lowered her head.
“I wish he had just come home.””
Sarah wrapped an arm around her.
“So do I.””
Ava was quiet for a moment.
Then she asked:
“Mom, what was Dad hiding in the garage?””
Sarah looked at her.
“What do you mean?””
“The video. Dad said he was sorry he didn't tell Wolf sooner. There must be more.””
Sarah hesitated.
“There is.””
She stood and walked to the hospital bag.
Inside was the old purse recovered from the storage unit.
She removed a small envelope.
“I found this in the lining when the police searched my belongings.””
Ava took it.
The envelope had her name written across the front.
*AVA — WHEN YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND.*
Her fingers trembled.
“It's from Dad?””
Sarah nodded.
Ava carefully opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My little girl,
If you're reading this, it means I wasn't able to explain everything myself.
I need you to know that nothing that happened was your fault.
Your uncle may tell you things about me. He may say I was reckless, dishonest, or selfish.
Don't believe everything you hear.
There are people who will use your kindness against you.
And there is one person you must never trust, no matter what they tell you.
Ava turned the page.
The next line made her stomach drop.
If William ever comes looking for me, ask him what happened to the silver ring.
Ava looked at her mother.
“Who is William?””
Sarah's face changed.
“Wolf.””
“Why would Dad call him that?””
“That's his real name.””
Ava looked back at the letter.
“What silver ring?””
Sarah slowly sat down.
“Your father once told me about a ring belonging to Wolf's father. It disappeared the night Daniel died.””
Ava looked at the next paragraph.
The ring wasn't stolen by Gordon.
It was given to him by someone who promised to protect our family.
Ava's hands began shaking.
“Mom…”
Sarah leaned closer.
“What's wrong?””
Ava pointed to the bottom of the letter.
There was a final sentence.
The person who gave Gordon the ring is the person who helped Curtis find me.
Before Sarah could respond, someone knocked on the hospital room door.
Three times.
A nurse entered.
“Mrs. Bennett?””
Sarah stood.
“Yes?””
“There's a gentleman downstairs asking to see you.””
Sarah frowned.
“Who?””
The nurse checked her clipboard.
“He says his name is Thomas Bennett.””
Sarah's face turned white.
Ava looked at her.
“Who is Thomas?””
Sarah slowly shook her head.
“I don't know.””
The nurse added:
“He says he's your husband's father.””
At the farmhouse outside Millbrook, Wolf stood in the doorway of a small living room.
An elderly man sat beside a wood-burning stove.
His hands trembled as he held a photograph.
Wolf stared at him.
The scar across his forehead was real.
The face was older.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
“Dad.””
Daniel Bennett looked up.
For a moment, neither man moved.
Then Daniel slowly pushed himself out of the chair.
Wolf crossed the room in three steps.
They embraced.
Daniel buried his face against his son's shoulder.
“I'm sorry.””
Wolf closed his eyes.
“I thought you were dead.””
“I know.””
“I missed you.””
Daniel's shoulders shook.
“I missed you every day.””
They stood like that for a long time.
Then Wolf pulled away.
“I need answers.””
Daniel nodded.
“You deserve them.””
Wolf glanced at the small wooden table.
There was a silver ring resting beside an old photograph.
His father's ring.
The one that had supposedly disappeared twenty years earlier.
Wolf picked it up.
“Where did you get this?””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Someone brought it to me last night.””
“Who?””
Daniel's face tightened.
“Thomas.””
Wolf frowned.
“Thomas who?””
“Thomas Bennett.””
Wolf stared at him.
“That's not possible.””
Daniel shook his head.
“He's alive.””
“Who is he?””
Daniel looked directly at his son.
“Your father's brother.””
Wolf slowly lowered the ring.
His father continued.
“Thomas was the one who arranged my disappearance.””
Wolf's expression hardened.
“Why would he do that?””
Daniel whispered:
“Because he believed I had stolen something from him.””
“What?””
Daniel looked at the ring.
“Your grandfather's inheritance.””
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Then he said something that made Wolf step backward.
“Thomas was the person who helped Curtis kill Michael.””
