Chapter 14: The Dead Man Who Was Still Giving Orders
Nobody in the room moved.
I took the photograph from my father's hand.
Victor looked older than I remembered from the family pictures, but his face was unmistakable.
My biological father.
The man whose body had supposedly been buried three years earlier.
The man whose death Rachel had helped conceal.
And now he was sitting in a hospital bed.
Alive.
I looked at Dad.
"Where is he?""
Dad shook his head.
"I don't know.""
"You have a photograph from yesterday!""
"It was sent to me anonymously.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wanted to confirm it first.""
I turned toward Evelyn.
"Can you identify the hospital?""
She examined the background.
"The wall markings look like the old private medical center outside town.""
"The one that closed?""
"Yes.""
Andrew took the photograph.
"There's something on the window.""
He enlarged it with his phone.
A reflection showed a sign across the street.
*RIVERSIDE RECOVERY CENTER.*
Evelyn immediately recognized it.
"It's a rehabilitation facility. It reopened under a different ownership group last year.""
I looked at Dad.
"Is that where Victor is?""
"I think so.""
I called the police officer.
He listened carefully, then asked me to send the photograph.
Within minutes, two officers were arranging a visit to the facility.
I wanted to go immediately.
But Evelyn insisted on accompanying us.
"You don't know what condition Victor is in," she said.
"And if Rachel is involved, you need medical staff who understand what's happening.""
I agreed.
Before leaving, I approached Mom.
"Are you coming?""
She shook her head.
"I need to speak to your father.""
I nodded.
Then she caught my arm.
"Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"Whatever you discover about your birth, don't let it change what you know about love.""
I looked at her.
She touched my cheek.
"I didn't give birth to you. But I was there when you took your first steps. I stayed awake when you had pneumonia. I held you when your first girlfriend broke your heart.""
She smiled through tears.
"Nobody can take those memories away from us.""
I hugged her.
For the first time that day, I felt like I still had something solid beneath my feet.
We reached Riverside Recovery Center shortly before eight.
The receptionist checked the photograph and contacted the administrator.
A few minutes later, a woman in a white coat approached.
"Are you here for Mr. Hale?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
She looked uncomfortable.
"He's currently under a restricted visitor arrangement.""
"Who authorized it?""
She checked her clipboard.
"His legal representative.""
"Name?""
"Rachel Carter.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"She's not his legal representative.""
The administrator lowered her voice.
"She has documents.""
I showed her my identification.
"I'm his biological son.""
Her expression changed.
"Then perhaps you should speak with the attending physician.""
She led us down a corridor.
The building smelled of disinfectant and old carpet.
At the end of the hallway, she stopped outside Room 308.
A security guard stood beside the door.
"He's inside," she said.
I looked through the narrow window.
An elderly man sat in a wheelchair, facing the wall.
His hair was almost completely white.
A blanket covered his legs.
I recognized him immediately.
Victor.
My father.
The administrator unlocked the door.
"Mr. Hale? You have visitors.""
He didn't move.
I stepped closer.
"Victor?""
His head turned slowly.
His eyes found mine.
For a moment, he looked confused.
Then his lips moved.
"Daniel?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
He stared at me for several seconds.
Then he began crying.
"Oh, God.""
I approached the bed.
"Do you know who I am?""
He nodded.
"You're my son.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
He looked down.
"Because I was a coward.""
I pulled a chair beside him.
"Who attacked you?""
Victor closed his eyes.
"Michael.""
I felt the room tilt.
"What?""
"He came to my office. We argued. He struck me with something heavy.""
"Why?""
"Because I had found the original Northbridge records.""
I leaned closer.
"Who else was involved?""
Victor looked toward the door.
"Rachel.""
I clenched my fists.
"What did she do?""
"She arranged for me to be moved after the attack. She told everyone I was dead.""
"Why keep you alive?""
Victor gave a bitter smile.
"Because she needed my signature.""
I stared.
"What signature?""
"The transfer of ownership.""
He pointed toward the bedside cabinet.
Inside was a small black folder.
I opened it.
The first page was a legal authorization.
The second page contained a signature.
Victor Hale.
And beneath it was the beneficiary name.
Rachel Carter.
I looked at him.
"Did you sign this?""
"No.""
"Then how did she get it?""
"She brought a document to the hospital. She told me Michael had been arrested and that my signature was the only way to save him.""
I shook my head.
"That's ridiculous.""
"I was heavily medicated. I couldn't read properly. She put the pen in my hand.""
He began trembling.
"I signed the wrong paper.""
I looked at the document again.
The signature appeared genuine.
But the witness section contained another name.
Thomas Bennett.
I immediately called the attorney.
He answered.
"Daniel?""
"Did you witness Victor's signature?""
Silence.
Then Mr. Bennett replied:
"Where are you?""
"Riverside. With Victor.""
A sharp breath came through the phone.
"Listen to me carefully. Get out of that building.""
"Why?""
"Because Rachel isn't working alone.""
I looked at Victor.
"Who else is involved?""
Mr. Bennett lowered his voice.
"Someone inside the police department has been sending her information.""
I felt cold.
Before I could respond, the room lights flickered.
The security guard disappeared from the doorway.
Evelyn turned.
"Where did he go?""
The administrator stepped into the corridor.
Then someone shouted.
A crash echoed from the reception area.
Victor grabbed my wrist.
"Daniel!""
I looked at him.
He was suddenly alert.
"She's here.""
"Who?""
He pointed toward the door.
"Rachel.""
I turned.
A woman appeared at the end of the corridor.
My wife.
She was holding a small black handbag.
And in her other hand was a photograph of my mother.
May you like
She smiled.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
