Chapter 12: The Truth Margaret Buried
Margaret Sullivan stepped out The Truth Margaret Buried
Margaret Sullivan stepped out of the elevator.
Her hair was of the elevator.
Her hair was completely white, and she leaned heavily on a walking stick.
But her eyes were sharp.
She looked completely white, and she leaned heavily on a walking stick.
But her eyes were sharp.
She looked at Hank.
Then at Caleb.
Finally, she placed the black helmet on the reception counter at Hank.
Then at Caleb.
Finally, she placed the black helmet on the reception counter.
It belonged to Marcus.
The same helmet Damon had thrown onto the.
It belonged to Marcus.
The same helmet Damon had thrown onto the road during the memorial.
Hank moved toward her.
"Margaret.""
She raised one hand.
"Don't.""
He stopped.
For twelve years, Hank had believed road during the memorial.
Hank moved toward her.
"Margaret.""
She raised one hand.
"Don't.""
He stopped.
For twelve years, Hank had believed his wife was dead.
He had visited her grave.
He had placed flowers his wife was dead.
He had visited her grave.
He had placed flowers there every anniversary.
He had kept her wedding there every anniversary.
He had kept her wedding ring in a wooden box beside his bed.
Now she stood in front of him.
Alive.
ring in a wooden box beside his bed.
Now she stood in front of him.
Alive.
And she didn't want him near her.
Margaret looked at Caleb.
"You're tallerAnd she didn't want him near her.
Margaret looked at Caleb.
"You're taller than your father.""
Caleb swallowed.
"Which father?""
than your father.""
Caleb swallowed.
"Which father?""
Her expression softened.
"The one who raised you.""
He stepped closer.
"Was he Marcus?""
She nodded.
"Her expression softened.
"The one who raised you.""
He stepped closer.
"Was he Marcus?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did everybody tell me he was Daniel?""
Margaret sighed.
"Because the truthYes.""
"Then why did everybody tell me he was Daniel?""
Margaret sighed.
"Because the truth was too dangerous.""
Damon crossed his arms.
"People keep saying that. Meanwhile, was too dangerous.""
Damon crossed his arms.
"People keep saying that. Meanwhile, dead men are turning out to be alive, and dead men are turning out to be alive, and alive men are turning out to be dead.""
Margaret almost smiled.
"You sound like alive men are turning out to be dead.""
Margaret almost smiled.
"You sound like your father.""
"Which one?""
"Marcus.""
D your father.""
"Which one?""
"Marcus.""
Damon looked away.
Margaret turned toward Thomas.
"You should never have come here.""
amon looked away.
Margaret turned toward Thomas.
"You should never have come here.""
Thomas smiled.
"You always were dramatic.""
She placed a small envelope on the counter.
"Thomas smiled.
"You always were dramatic.""
She placed a small envelope on the counter.
"Everything is inside.""
Thomas looked at it.
"What is?""
"The originalEverything is inside.""
Thomas looked at it.
"What is?""
"The original birth records. The warehouse documents. The bank transfers. And the confession you signed in birth records.
The warehouse documents. The bank transfers. And the confession you signed in 1999.""
Hank stared.
"You had all of1999.""
Hank stared.
"You had all of that?""
Margaret nodded.
"I kept it for twenty-seven years.""
Thomas laughed.
that?""
Margaret nodded.
"I kept it for twenty-seven years.""
Thomas laughed.
"You think those papers will change anything?""
Margaret looked at him.
"They'll"You think those papers will change anything?""
Margaret looked at him.
"They'll put you in prison.""
Thomas shook his head.
"At my age?""
"Especially at put you in prison.""
Thomas shook his head.
"At my age?""
"Especially at your age.""
Victor stepped forward.
"Margaret, tell us who killed your age.""
Victor stepped forward.
"Margaret, tell us who killed Marcus.""
She looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because we deserve to know.""
Margaret studied his face.
Then she turned toward Caleb.
"Your father came to see me three days before he died. He had discovered that Thomas was still alive.""
Thomas's Marcus.""
She looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because we deserve to know.""
Margaret studied his face.
Then she turned toward Caleb.
"Your father came to see me three days before he died. He had discovered that Thomas was still alive.""
Thomas's expression hardened.
Margaret continued.
"Marcus told me he had found the original hospital records. He knew the truth about the three babies. He also knew someone had expression hardened.
Margaret continued.
"Marcus told me he had found the original hospital records. He knew the truth about the three babies. He also knew someone had been stealing from the family fund to pay for Thomas's protection.""
Hank frowned.
"Why would Thomas need protection?""
Margaret looked at him.
been stealing from the family fund to pay for Thomas's protection.""
Hank frowned.
"Why would Thomas need protection?""
Margaret looked at him.
"Because he was dying.""
Thomas gripped his walking stick.
"Enough.""
Margaret ignored him.
"Thomas had been diagnosed with"Because he was dying.""
Thomas gripped his walking stick.
"Enough.""
Margaret ignored him.
"Thomas had been diagnosed with an aggressive illness. He knew he didn't have much time. He wanted to settle everything before he died.""
an aggressive illness. He knew he didn't have much time. He wanted to settle everything before he died.""
Caleb asked:
"What did he want?""
"Control of the Iron Saints. Control of the money. And control of you.""
Caleb asked:
"What did he want?""
"Control of the Iron Saints. Control of the money. And control of you.""
She looked at Caleb.
"He believed you were the only remainingShe looked at Caleb.
"He believed you were the only remaining Reed heir who could inherit the club's assets.""
Damon shook his head.
"Caleb is seventeen.""
"Thomas didn't care.""
Thomas laughed Reed heir who could inherit the club's assets.""
Damon shook his head.
"Caleb is seventeen.""
"Thomas didn't care.""
Thomas laughed.
"She's making me sound like a monster.""
Margaret turned toward.
"She's making me sound like a monster.""
Margaret turned toward him.
"You ordered Arthur to kill Sarah.""
Thomas's smile disappeared.
"You can't him.
"You ordered Arthur to kill Sarah.""
Thomas's smile disappeared.
"You can't prove that.""
"I can.""
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a prove that.""
"I can.""
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten confession.
Thomas Reed's signature appeared at the bottom.
Damon took it handwritten confession.
Thomas Reed's signature appeared at the bottom.
Damon took it.
"What's this?""
Margaret answered.
"Thomas admitted that he arranged the warehouse.
"What's this?""
Margaret answered.
"Thomas admitted that he arranged the warehouse fire, paid Victor to sabotage the investigation, and ordered Arthur fire, paid Victor to sabotage the investigation, and ordered Arthur to take the baby from the hospital.""
Victor to take the baby from the hospital.""
Victor stepped backward.
"Wait. You said I was paid to open the doors.""
Margaret looked at him.
"You were.""
Victor shook his stepped backward.
"Wait. You said I was paid to open the doors.""
Margaret looked at him.
"You were.""
Victor shook his head.
"I never knew anyone was inside.""
"You were told the head.
"I never knew anyone was inside.""
"You were told the warehouse was empty.""
Hank stared at Thomas.
"You used warehouse was empty.""
Hank stared at Thomas.
"You used all of us.""
Thomas smiled faintly.
"Men are all of us.""
Thomas smiled faintly.
"Men are easier to control when they believe they're doing something honorable.""
Hank's hands trem easier to control when they believe they're doing something honorable.""
Hank's hands trembled.
"Marcus trusted you.""
Thomas nodded.
"That was his mistake.""
Caleb stepped forward.
"bled.
"Marcus trusted you.""
Thomas nodded.
"That was his mistake.""
Caleb stepped forward.
"Did you kill my father?""
Thomas looked at him.
"No.""
"Then who did?""
MargaretDid you kill my father?""
Thomas looked at him.
"No.""
"Then who did?""
Margaret closed her eyes.
"I know.""
Everyone turned.
She looked directly at Victor.
closed her eyes.
"I know.""
Everyone turned.
She looked directly at Victor.
"You killed Marcus.""
Victor went completely still.
Damon lunged.
Hank"You killed Marcus.""
Victor went completely still.
Damon lunged.
Hank caught him.
"Let her finish!""
Margaret continued.
"Victor discovered Marcus caught him.
"Let her finish!""
Margaret continued.
"Victor discovered Marcus had found the original records. He knew Marcus was going to expose the missing had found the original records. He knew Marcus was going to expose the missing money and the warehouse fire.""
Victor shook his head.
"That's not what happened.""
"You money and the warehouse fire.""
Victor shook his head.
"That's not what happened.""
"You followed him to Black Ridge Pass. You cut his brakes.""
Victor's face followed him to Black Ridge Pass. You cut his brakes.""
Victor's face became pale.
Damon struggled against Hank.
"You son of became pale.
Damon struggled against Hank.
"You son of a—"
Victor raised both hands.
"I didn't kill him!""
Margaret looked a—"
Victor raised both hands.
"I didn't kill him!""
Margaret looked at him.
"You were there.""
"Yes.""
The admission silenced at him.
"You were there.""
"Yes.""
The admission silenced everyone.
Victor lowered his head.
"But I didn't cut his brakes.""
Margaret frowned.
everyone.
Victor lowered his head.
"But I didn't cut his brakes.""
Margaret frowned.
"Then who did?""
Victor looked toward Hank.
"Ask him.""
Hank's face changed.
"Then who did?""
Victor looked toward Hank.
"Ask him.""
Hank's face changed.
Damon stopped struggling.
"What?""
Victor reached intoDamon stopped struggling.
"What?""
Victor reached into his jacket and pulled out a small recorder.
"I kept this because I knew one day somebody would ask.""
He pressed play.
A familiar voice emerged.
Hank's voice.
Make sure the bike doesn't make it past Black Ridge.
Then another voice answered.
Victor's.
You want him dead?
Hank replied:
I want him stopped. Do whatever you have to do.
The his jacket and pulled out a small recorder.
"I kept this because I knew one day somebody would ask.""
He pressed play.
A familiar voice emerged.
Hank's voice.
Make sure the bike doesn't make it past Black Ridge.
Then another voice answered.
Victor's.
You want him dead?
Hank replied:
I want him stopped. Do whatever you have to do.
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Caleb looked at Hank.
"You recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Caleb looked at Hank.
"You ordered my father's death?""
Hank shook his head.
"I didn't mean for him to die.""
Damon released him.
"You gave the order!""
"I was trying to protect the club!""
"From my brother?""
Hank's eyes filled.
"Marcus was going to expose everything. Thomas had threatened my daughter. He said he'd destroy my family.""
Margaret stared at him.
"So you chose to ordered my father's death?""
Hank shook his head.
"I didn't mean for him to die.""
Damon released him.
"You gave the order!""
"I was trying to protect the club!""
"From my brother?""
Hank's eyes filled.
"Marcus was going to expose everything. Thomas had threatened my daughter. He said he'd destroy my family.""
Margaret stared at him.
"So you chose to destroy mine.""
Hank dropped to his knees.
"I never destroy mine.""
Hank dropped to his knees.
"I never wanted this.""
Caleb stepped closer.
"Did you know Victor wanted this.""
Caleb stepped closer.
"Did you know Victor would cut the brakes?""
Hank couldn't answer.
Damon looked would cut the brakes?""
Hank couldn't answer.
Damon looked at Victor.
"Did you?""
Victor shook his head.
"I was told to disable the motorcycle. I was at Victor.
"Did you?""
Victor shook his head.
"I was told to disable the motorcycle. I was supposed to make it look like an ordinary mechanical failure.""
"And you did it?""
Victor supposed to make it look like an ordinary mechanical failure.""
"And you did it?""
Victor nodded.
"I loosened a brake line. I didn't know Marcus would nodded.
"I loosened a brake line. I didn't know Marcus would ride that night.""
Caleb felt his stomach turn.
"You knew ride that night.""
Caleb felt his stomach turn.
"You knew he was going to ride.""
Victor began crying.
"Yes.""
Damon he was going to ride.""
Victor began crying.
"Yes.""
Damon punched him.
Victor fell against the counter.
Nobody intervened punched him.
Victor fell against the counter.
Nobody intervened.
Caleb stood motionless.
His father's death had not been an accident.
It.
Caleb stood motionless.
His father's death had not been an accident.
It had been arranged by the man who had promised to protect the club.
And carried out had been arranged by the man who had promised to protect the club.
And carried out by the man his father had warned him about.
Margaret by the man his father had warned him about.
Margaret approached Caleb.
"There's something else.""
He looked at her.
"What approached Caleb.
"There's something else.""
He looked at her.
"What?""
She removed a second envelope from her coat.
"This was left by your?""
She removed a second envelope from her coat.
"This was left by your father.""
Caleb took it.
His name was written across the front.
Inside was a father.""
Caleb took it.
His name was written across the front.
Inside was a letter.
My son,
*If you are reading this, then the letter.
My son,
If you are reading this, then the truth has finally come out.
I know you will be angry. You have every right to be.
truth has finally come out.*
I know you will be angry. You have every right to be.
But there is one thing I need you to understand.
I wasn't afraidBut there is one thing I need you to understand.*
I wasn't afraid of dying.
I was afraid of what would happen to you after I of dying.
I was afraid of what would happen to you after I was gone.
Caleb's eyes blurred.
He continued.
was gone.
Caleb's eyes blurred.
He continued.
*The man who raised me wasn't my father. The man who raised you wasn't the manThe man who raised me wasn't my father. The man who raised you wasn't the man you thought he was.
But love was the one thing in this you thought he was. But love was the one thing in this family nobody could steal.*
Then came the final paragraph.
There is a person who family nobody could steal.
Then came the final paragraph.
There is a person who knows the complete truth about your birth. I kept that person away from knows the complete truth about your birth. I kept that person away from you because I wanted you to have a normal childhood.
Her name is Elizabeth.
Cal you because I wanted you to have a normal childhood.*
Her name is Elizabeth.
Caleb looked up.
Elizabeth stood beside Margaret.
But she was crying.
eb looked up.
Elizabeth stood beside Margaret.
But she was crying.
"Why?"" he whispered.
Elizabeth stepped forward.
"Because I gave birth to you, Caleb.""
"Why?"" he whispered.
Elizabeth stepped forward.
"Because I gave birth to you, Caleb.""
The room went silent.
Margaret closed her eyes.
Caleb stared at Elizabeth.
The room went silent.
Margaret closed her eyes.
Caleb stared at Elizabeth.
"You told me you were my aunt.""
"I know.""
"Why would"You told me you were my aunt.""
"I know.""
"Why would you you lie?""
Elizabeth took his hands.
"Because Thomas wanted to use you. He believed you were the last Reed heir. I gave you to Marcus because he was the only man I trusted to raise you.""
Caleb looked toward Margaret.
Then toward Hank.
Then at the letter.
"Then who was my biological father?""
Elizabeth looked at Thomas.
"Your father was Daniel Reed.""
Thomas smiled.
"Finally.""
But Elizabeth wasn't finished.
She turned toward Caleb.
" lie?""
Elizabeth took his hands.
"Because Thomas wanted to use you. He believed you were the last Reed heir. I gave you to Marcus because he was the only man I trusted to raise you.""
Caleb looked toward Margaret.
Then toward Hank.
Then at the letter.
"Then who was my biological father?""
Elizabeth looked at Thomas.
"Your father was Daniel Reed.""
Thomas smiled.
"Finally.""
But Elizabeth wasn't finished.
She turned toward Caleb.
"Your father was Daniel. The man who raised you was Marcus. And the man who killed Marcus...""
She pointed toward Thomas.
"...was standing in this hospital pretending to be dead.""
Thomas's smile vanished.
MargYour father was Daniel. The man who raised you was Marcus. And the man who killed Marcus...""
She pointed toward Thomas.
"...was standing in this hospital pretending to be dead.""
Thomas's smile vanished.
Margaret suddenly grabbed Caleb's arm.
"Get away from him!""
Thomas reached inside his coat.
A gun appeared.
Before anyone could move, he fired.
The shot struck the hospital ceilingaret suddenly grabbed Caleb's arm.
"Get away from him!""
Thomas reached inside his coat.
A gun appeared.
Before anyone could move, he fired.
The shot struck the hospital ceiling.
People screamed.
Damon threw himself over Caleb.
Hank tackled Thomas.
The gun slid across the floor.
Victor kicked it beneath the.
People screamed.
Damon threw himself over Caleb.
Hank tackled Thomas.
The gun slid across the floor.
Victor kicked it beneath the reception desk.
Security officers rushed into the lobby.
Thomas fought desperately, but Hank held him down.
As the guards dragged him away, he looked at Caleb.
"You think this reception desk.
Security officers rushed into the lobby.
Thomas fought desperately, but Hank held him down.
As the guards dragged him away, he looked at Caleb.
"You think this is over?""
Caleb stared at him.
Thomas smiled through the blood on his lip.
"You still haven't met the man who ordered your father's murder.""
Hank looked up.
is over?""
Caleb stared at him.
Thomas smiled through the blood on his lip.
"You still haven't met the man who ordered your father's murder.""
Hank looked up.
"What are you talking about?""
Thomas laughed.
Then he pointed at Margaret"What are you talking about?""
Thomas laughed.
Then he pointed at Margaret.
"Ask your wife.""
Margaret's face went white.
And as the.
"Ask your wife.""
Margaret's face went white.
And as the elevator doors closed behind Thomas, she whispered:
"There's another person you need to elevator doors closed behind Thomas, she whispered:
"There's another person you need to meet.""
She looked at Caleb.
"Your father didn't die alone.""
A pause.
"Someone rode beside him that night.""
She reached meet.""
She looked at Caleb.
"Your father didn't die alone.""
A pause.
"Someone rode beside him that night.""
She reached into her pocket and produced a photograph.
It showed Marcus's motorcycle on the mountain road.
A second motorcycle followed closely behind.
Its rider wore an Iron Saints jacket.
The face was visible.
into her pocket and produced a photograph.
It showed Marcus's motorcycle on the mountain road.
A second motorcycle followed closely behind.
Its rider wore an Iron Saints jacket.
The face was visible.
It was Elizabeth.
And beneath the photograph,It was Elizabeth.
And beneath the photograph, in Marcus's handwriting, were five words:
*SHE WAS THE LAST RIDER.*
May you like
in Marcus's handwriting, were five words:
*SHE WAS THE LAST RIDER.*
