Chapter 11: The Man in the Morgue
Nobody believed the nurse.
Thomas Reed in the Morgue
Nobody believed the nurse.
Thomas Reed had supposedly died in 2004.
There had been a funeral had supposedly died in 2004.
There had been a funeral, a coffin, and a death certificate signed by a physician.
Hank had attended the, a coffin, and a death certificate signed by a physician.
Hank had attended the burial himself.
But when the elevator doors opened burial himself.
But when the elevator doors opened, an elderly man stepped into the lobby.
He wore a dark suit and carried a, an elderly man stepped into the lobby.
He wore a dark suit and carried a wooden walking stick.
His hair was white.
His face was thin.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
wooden walking stick.
His hair was white.
His face was thin.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
Hank took one step backward.
"Thomas.""
The old man smiled.
Hank took one step backward.
"Thomas.""
The old man smiled.
"Hello, Hank.""
Damon immediately positioned himself in front of Caleb.
"Security!""
"Hello, Hank.""
Damon immediately positioned himself in front of Caleb.
"Security!""
Thomas raised his walking stick.
"There's no need for that.Thomas raised his walking stick.
"There's no need for that. I'm here to see my grandson.""
Caleb stared at him I'm here to see my grandson.""
Caleb stared at him.
"You're not my grandfather.""
Thomas chuckled.
"Your mother always had a habit of.
"You're not my grandfather.""
Thomas chuckled.
"Your mother always had a habit of telling you things that weren't entirely true.""
"Which mother?""
For the telling you things that weren't entirely true.""
"Which mother?""
For the first time, Thomas's smile disappeared.
He looked at Elizabeth.
"You've been talking too much.""
Elizabeth stepped first time, Thomas's smile disappeared.
He looked at Elizabeth.
"You've been talking too much.""
Elizabeth stepped forward.
"You should have stayed dead.""
Thomas nodded.
"I tried. forward.
"You should have stayed dead.""
Thomas nodded.
"I tried. Unfortunately, people keep digging up the past.""
Victor moved closer.
Unfortunately, people keep digging up the past.""
Victor moved closer.
"Where is Daniel?""
Thomas looked at him.
"Which Daniel?""
"The one"Where is Daniel?""
Thomas looked at him.
"Which Daniel?""
"The one you you kept locked away for twenty-seven years.""
Thomas laughed softly.
"You're still believing Elizabeth's stories?""
He turned toward the reception desk.
"Would someone please tell these men kept locked away for twenty-seven years.""
Thomas laughed softly.
"You're still believing Elizabeth's stories?""
He turned toward the reception desk.
"Would someone please tell these men that I own this hospital?""
The nurse looked frightened.
Hank that I own this hospital?""
The nurse looked frightened.
Hank stepped forward.
"You don't own anything anymore.""
Thomas studied him.
"That's what stepped forward.
"You don't own anything anymore.""
Thomas studied him.
"That's what Margaret told you, isn't it?""
Hank froze.
Thomas smiled.
"She was always Margaret told you, isn't it?""
Hank froze.
Thomas smiled.
"She was always very good at making men believe they were important.""
Caleb stepped forward very good at making men believe they were important.""
Caleb stepped forward.
"Why was my name on that hospital wristband?""
Thomas looked at him.
"Because I paid.
"Why was my name on that hospital wristband?""
Thomas looked at him.
"Because I paid for your birth.""
"You're lying.""
"Am I?""
Thomas removed a small photograph from for your birth.""
"You're lying.""
"Am I?""
Thomas removed a small photograph from his jacket.
It showed a young woman lying in a hospital bed.
A newborn baby his jacket.
It showed a young woman lying in a hospital bed.
A newborn baby rested against her chest.
Caleb recognized the woman.
His mother.
But she rested against her chest.
Caleb recognized the woman.
His mother.
But she looked younger.
Much younger.
On the back was written:
**SARAH MILLER — OCT looked younger.
Much younger.
On the back was written:
*SARAH MILLER — OCTOBER 2009.*
Caleb stared at the photograph.
"That's my mother.""
ThomasOBER 2009.**
Caleb stared at the photograph.
"That's my mother.""
Thomas nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did everyone say she was Margaret's daughter nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did everyone say she was Margaret's daughter?""
"Because she was.""
Caleb frowned.
Thomas continued.
?""
"Because she was.""
Caleb frowned.
Thomas continued.
"Margaret gave birth to Sarah in 1999. But the child was taken away"Margaret gave birth to Sarah in 1999. But the child was taken away and raised by another family.
Years later, that child became your mother and raised by another family. Years later, that child became your mother.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"That's not what happened.""
Thomas ignored her.
"Your mother.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"That's not what happened.""
Thomas ignored her.
"Your mother was Sarah. Your father was Arthur. You were their son.""
Caleb felt his knees was Sarah. Your father was Arthur. You were their son.""
Caleb felt his knees weaken.
"Then why did Arthur raise me?""
Thomas looked toward the weaken.
"Then why did Arthur raise me?""
Thomas looked toward the ceiling.
"Because your mother died when you were young.""
Damon stepped forward.
"Caleb ceiling.
"Because your mother died when you were young.""
Damon stepped forward.
"Caleb's mother is alive.""
Thomas smiled.
"Is she?""
The room fell silent.
He handed's mother is alive.""
Thomas smiled.
"Is she?""
The room fell silent.
He handed Caleb another photograph.
Caleb another photograph.
ItIt showed a woman sitting in a wheelchair outside a nursing facility.
The date was recent showed a woman sitting in a wheelchair outside a nursing facility.
The date was recent.
Caleb recognized her immediately.
His mother.
But she looked unconscious.
"Where is she?"".
Caleb recognized her immediately.
His mother.
But she looked unconscious.
"Where is she?"" he whispered.
Thomas answered calmly.
"Somewhere nobody can reach her.""
Damon lunged.
Hank grabbed him before he could reach he whispered.
Thomas answered calmly.
"Somewhere nobody can reach her.""
Damon lunged.
Hank grabbed him before he could reach the old man.
"Don't!""
Thomas looked pleased.
"Still protecting the boy, Hank?""
Hank stared at him.
"Where is Margaret?""
Thomas's smile vanished.
" the old man.
"Don't!""
Thomas looked pleased.
"Still protecting the boy, Hank?""
Hank stared at him.
"Where is Margaret?""
Thomas's smile vanished.
"Dead.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"You're lying againDead.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"You're lying again.""
Thomas turned toward her.
"Margaret was the only person who could have stopped this..""
Thomas turned toward her.
"Margaret was the only person who could have stopped this. She knew what happened in the warehouse. She knew which brother survived. She knew why Arthur raised Caleb.""
Victor stepped closer.
"Then tell us.""
Thomas looked at him.
"You don't want to know.""
"Try us.""
She knew what happened in the warehouse. She knew which brother survived. She knew why Arthur raised Caleb.""
Victor stepped closer.
"Then tell us.""
Thomas looked at him.
"You don't want to know.""
"Try us.""
Thomas leaned on his walking stick.
"In 1999, I had two sons. Marcus and Daniel. Both were disobedient. Both believed they could destroy what I had built.""
He pausedThomas leaned on his walking stick.
"In 1999, I had two sons. Marcus and Daniel. Both were disobedient. Both believed they could destroy what I had built.""
He paused.
"One of them betrayed me.""
Hank's voice was quiet.
"Which one.
"One of them betrayed me.""
Hank's voice was quiet.
"Which one?""
Thomas looked directly at him.
"Neither.""
He pointed at Victor.
?""
Thomas looked directly at him.
"Neither.""
He pointed at Victor.
"The betrayal came from someone else.""
Victor stiffened.
Thomas continued"The betrayal came from someone else.""
Victor stiffened.
Thomas continued.
"Victor was the one who.
"Victor was the one who opened the warehouse doors.""
Everyone turned.
Victor shook his head.
"That's a lie.""
Thomas smiled.
"You opened the warehouse doors.""
Everyone turned.
Victor shook his head.
"That's a lie.""
Thomas smiled.
"You were paid to let the fire spread. You were supposed to make sure neither brother survived.""
Damon moved toward Victor.
"Did you?""
Victor looked horrified.
"No.""
Thomas laughed.
"Then explain why your fingerprints were on the fuel containers.""
Victor's face went pale.
Hank stepped between them.
"That's enough.""
Thomas looked at him.
"You've spent twenty-seven years protecting Victor. Why were paid to let the fire spread. You were supposed to make sure neither brother survived.""
Damon moved toward Victor.
"Did you?""
Victor looked horrified.
"No.""
Thomas laughed.
"Then explain why your fingerprints were on the fuel containers.""
Victor's face went pale.
Hank stepped between them.
"That's enough.""
Thomas looked at him.
"You've spent twenty-seven years protecting Victor. Why?""
Hank said nothing.
Thomas reached into his jacket and removed a small black notebook.
He opened it.
Inside were photographs, account numbers?""
Hank said nothing.
Thomas reached into his jacket and removed a small black notebook.
He opened it.
Inside were photographs, account numbers, and handwritten names.
He showed the first page to Caleb.
The name at the top was:
**M, and handwritten names.
He showed the first page to Caleb.
The name at the top was:
*MARGARET SULLIVAN.*
Below it were three payments.
ARGARET SULLIVAN.**
Below it were three payments.
One for $100,000.
One for $150,000.
One for $150,One for $100,000.
One for $150,000.
One for $150,000.
The total was four hundred thousand dollars.
The exact amount missing from the family fund.
Caleb looked at Thomas000.
The total was four hundred thousand dollars.
The exact amount missing from the family fund.
Caleb looked at Thomas.
"You stole the money.""
Thomas nodded.
"I did.""
"Why?""
.
"You stole the money.""
Thomas nodded.
"I did.""
"Why?""
"To keep your family alive.""
Elizabeth laughed bitterly.
"You're unbelievable.""
"To keep your family alive.""
Elizabeth laughed bitterly.
"You're unbelievable.""
Thomas turned toward her.
"Your sister was going to expose everything.Thomas turned toward her.
"Your sister was going to expose everything. Your husband was going to destroy the club. Your father Your husband was going to destroy the club. Your father was going to kill anyone who interfered.""
Caleb frowned.
"Who was my was going to kill anyone who interfered.""
Caleb frowned.
"Who was my father?""
Thomas looked at him.
"That's the question, isn't it?""
He closed the notebook.
"The man father?""
Thomas looked at him.
"That's the question, isn't it?""
He closed the notebook.
"The man who raised you was not Arthur Miller.""
Frank stepped forward.
"Then who was he?""
Thomas looked at Frank.
"Your father.""
Frank froze.
"That's impossible.""
Thomas nodded.
"Arthur was your biological father. But he died who raised you was not Arthur Miller.""
Frank stepped forward.
"Then who was he?""
Thomas looked at Frank.
"Your father.""
Frank froze.
"That's impossible.""
Thomas nodded.
"Arthur was your biological father. But he died in 2009.""
Frank looked at Caleb.
"Then who raised him?""
in 2009.""
Frank looked at Caleb.
"Then who raised him?""
Thomas answered.
"Marcus Reed.""
Hank staggeredThomas answered.
"Marcus Reed.""
Hank staggered.
"No.""
Thomas continued.
"Marcus survived the warehouse fire. Daniel was the one who died. Marcus took.
"No.""
Thomas continued.
"Marcus survived the warehouse fire. Daniel was the one who died. Marcus took Daniel's identity, married Elizabeth, and raised Caleb under the name Arthur Miller.""
Daniel's identity, married Elizabeth, and raised Caleb under the name Arthur Miller.""
Caleb stared at him.
"But my father was MarcusCaleb stared at him.
"But my father was Marcus.""
Thomas nodded.
"Yes. The man you called Dad was Marcus Reed.""
Damon.""
Thomas nodded.
"Yes. The man you called Dad was Marcus Reed.""
Damon stepped forward.
"Then why did he pretend to be Arthur?""
"Because the stepped forward.
"Then why did he pretend to be Arthur?""
"Because the people hunting him believed Arthur was the only man who knew the truth.""
Victor looked people hunting him believed Arthur was the only man who knew the truth.""
Victor looked at Thomas.
"And who killed Marcus?""
Thomas smiled.
"Now you're asking the right question.""
He reached into his pocket and at Thomas.
"And who killed Marcus?""
Thomas smiled.
"Now you're asking the right question.""
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a hospital visitor badge.
The photograph showed pulled out a hospital visitor badge.
The photograph showed a man standing beside Marcus's hospital bed three weeks earlier.
The visitor's face was a man standing beside Marcus's hospital bed three weeks earlier.
The visitor's face was clear.
It was Victor.
But beneath clear.
It was Victor.
But beneath the photograph was a second image.
Victor standing beside another man.
A man whose face had been scratched out the photograph was a second image.
Victor standing beside another man.
A man whose face had been scratched out.
Thomas looked at Hank.
"Ask your president who he was meeting that night.""
Hank's mouth opened.
Thomas looked at Hank.
"Ask your president who he was meeting that night.""
Hank's mouth opened.
Then he whispered:
"Margaret.""
Thomas nodded.
"Exactly.""
The old man.
Then he whispered:
"Margaret.""
Thomas nodded.
"Exactly.""
The old man turned toward Caleb.
"Your father died because he finally discovered that turned toward Caleb.
"Your father died because he finally discovered that Margaret was alive.""
Caleb stared at him.
"Where is she?""
Thomas smiled.
Margaret was alive.""
Caleb stared at him.
"Where is she?""
Thomas smiled.
"Downstairs.""
He pointed toward the basement elevator.
"Room 317"Downstairs.""
He pointed toward the basement elevator.
"Room 317.""
The elevator doors opened.
Inside stood an elderly woman holding a black leather helmet.
.""
The elevator doors opened.
Inside stood an elderly woman holding a black leather helmet.
She looked at Caleb.
Then she said:
"Hello,She looked at Caleb.
Then she said:
May you like
"Hello, sweetheart.""
And Hank began to cry.
