Chapter 7: The Man Who Sat Beside My Father
Bear stared at the photograph until the edges began to blur.
Duke.
His closest friend.
The man who had stood beside him at his father's funeral. The man who had helped him carry his mother's coffin. The man who had spent countless nights sitting across from him at the clubhouse, listening to stories about a family Bear believed he had lost.
Duke had been there when his father died.
And now there was a photograph suggesting he might have helped kill him.
"Tell me this is fake," Bear whispered.
Michael stood beside him.
"I wish I could.""
Bear turned toward Eleanor.
"Mom, what is this?""
She looked at the photograph with trembling hands.
"Your father called me that night. He was frightened. He said Franklin had discovered he was planning to turn over the records.""
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
"Because your father said the police were already involved.""
Bear shook his head.
"That doesn't make sense.""
Eleanor took a breath.
"He told me someone had been giving Franklin information about our family. Every time Michael moved, Franklin knew. Every time your father changed a meeting place, Franklin knew.""
Bear looked at Michael.
"And you thought it was Duke?""
Michael nodded slowly.
"I didn't want to believe it.""
"Why?""
"Because Duke helped me when I was sixteen. He was the first person who treated me like a brother outside our family.""
Bear remembered.
Duke had taught them how to ride motorcycles. He had taken the blame when Michael crashed their father's truck. He had stood between Bear and three men who wanted to fight him outside a bar.
Duke had been there for everything.
"Then why did you let him get close to Emily?"" Bear demanded.
Michael's expression crumpled.
"I didn't know he was involved until three weeks ago.""
Bear stepped back.
"Three weeks?""
"Someone sent me a photograph of Duke meeting Franklin. I started investigating.""
"And you didn't call me?""
"I couldn't.""
"You could have found a way!""
Michael's voice rose.
"I was trying to keep you alive!""
The two brothers stared at each other.
For fourteen years, Bear had imagined their reunion.
He had imagined anger, tears, apologies, and explanations.
He hadn't imagined discovering that the person he trusted most might have been helping the people who destroyed his family.
A metallic bang interrupted them.
Daniel had managed to get to his feet.
He was reaching for the hallway door.
Michael caught his collar.
"Not so fast.""
Daniel struggled.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
Michael pushed him against the wall.
"Where's Franklin?""
Daniel laughed.
"You think he'll come here?""
Bear stepped forward.
"Where's Duke?""
Daniel looked at him.
"Ask your friend.""
Bear grabbed his coat.
"Where is he?""
Daniel's smile faded.
"He's going to the only place your family should never have gone.""
Michael stiffened.
"The house.""
Bear looked at him.
"What house?""
"Our father's old property.""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"Franklin wouldn't.""
Michael nodded.
"He would.""
Bear immediately took out his phone.
He called Duke.
No answer.
Again.
Voicemail.
Then he sent a message.
*Where are you? We need to talk.*
A reply arrived seconds later.
*At the clubhouse. Come alone.*
Bear showed Michael.
His younger brother shook his head.
"That's a trap.""
"I know.""
"Then don't go.""
Bear looked at the photograph.
"I have to.""
Michael caught his arm.
"Ben, listen to me. Franklin doesn't want to talk. He wants the ledger, and now he knows we have evidence.""
Bear looked at him.
"Then we'll give him something else to worry about.""
Michael studied his brother's face.
"You haven't changed.""
"Neither have you.""
For the first time, they shared a small smile.
Then Eleanor spoke.
"What about Emily?""
Bear turned.
"She's safe with Laura.""
Michael's eyes filled.
"She's really safe?""
"She's with twelve men who would put their lives between her and a bullet.""
Michael nodded.
Then he whispered:
"I haven't seen her in four years.""
Bear looked at him.
"You're going to.""
Michael looked away.
"I don't deserve to.""
"That's not your decision.""
Bear called Duke one final time.
This time, the call connected.
"Bear.""
Duke sounded calm.
Too calm.
"Where are you?""
"The clubhouse.""
"Why?""
"Because we need to talk.""
Bear glanced at Michael.
"About what?""
There was a pause.
Then Duke answered.
"About the night your father died.""
Bear closed his eyes.
"Tell me what happened.""
Duke exhaled.
"Come here, and I'll tell you everything.""
Bear looked at his brother.
Michael mouthed two words.
Don't go.
But Bear had spent fourteen years living with unanswered questions.
He wasn't going to let another man decide when he deserved the truth.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes," Bear said.
He ended the call.
Michael grabbed his shoulder.
"You're not going alone.""
Bear shook his head.
"He asked for me.""
"That's exactly why you're not going alone.""
Bear looked toward Eleanor.
"Take her somewhere safe.""
Michael nodded.
Then he reached into his jacket and handed Bear a small object.
A silver key.
"What's this?""
"Your father's desk.""
Bear stared at it.
"The desk was destroyed.""
Michael shook his head.
"Not the one in the house.""
Bear looked up.
"What house?""
Michael's face darkened.
"The house Franklin told everyone burned down.""
Bear's blood ran cold.
Because he remembered that house.
It was where his father had kept his private office.
The house that had supposedly been destroyed the same night Michael died.
But Michael was looking at him with absolute certainty.
"It never burned, Ben.""
And suddenly, Bear understood.
May you like
Someone had been hiding the truth in plain sight.
For fourteen years.
