Chapter 13: The Man Who Stole My Father's Name
"Ray! Answer me!""
Marcus shouted into the phone as he raced down the narrow road toward Helen's farm.
Daniel rode beside him. Ethan followed in the truck with Samuel.
Marcus called again.
Nothing.
He tried Helen.
Nothing.
Then he called Ray a third time.
This time, someone answered.
"Marcus?""
Ray's voice was strained.
"What's happening?""
"Someone came through the back door. Helen's in the kitchen. Elizabeth is safe, but Margaret's gone.""
"Where's Ray?""
There was a pause.
"I'm Ray.""
Marcus almost laughed from relief.
"Are you hurt?""
"Nothing serious. The man hit me with something when I turned around.""
"Who was it?""
"I don't know. He wore a baseball cap. He grabbed Margaret's purse and ran.""
"Did he take anything?""
Ray lowered his voice.
"Yes. The birth records.""
Marcus tightened his grip on the handlebars.
"All of them?""
"Not all. Elizabeth still has the death certificate.""
"Stay with Helen. We're coming.""
Marcus ended the call.
Daniel looked across at him.
"Did he say anything about Margaret?""
"She's missing.""
Daniel accelerated.
They reached the farmhouse less than ten minutes later.
Ray was sitting on the porch with a bloodied towel pressed against his forehead. Helen stood in the doorway, holding Elizabeth by the shoulders.
Elizabeth looked to be in her late thirties.
She had dark brown hair, tired eyes, and a small scar near her chin.
Marcus recognized something familiar in her face.
Not necessarily the features.
Something in the way she held herself.
She looked like someone who had spent years learning not to trust anyone.
"Elizabeth?"" he asked.
She nodded.
"Marcus?""
"Yes.""
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then she looked at Samuel climbing out of the truck.
Her expression hardened.
"You.""
Samuel stopped.
"Elizabeth.""
"Don't say my name.""
He lowered his head.
"You're right. I don't deserve to.""
She looked at Marcus.
"Is he the man who says he's my uncle?""
Marcus nodded.
"He's Robert's brother.""
Elizabeth laughed bitterly.
"Everyone in this family seems to have a different story.""
Helen stepped forward.
"Please, sweetheart. Come inside.""
Elizabeth pulled away.
"Don't call me that.""
Helen looked wounded.
"I'm sorry.""
Elizabeth turned toward Marcus.
"I want answers. Real answers. Not another story about a dead man, a missing document, or some secret partnership.""
Marcus nodded.
"So do I.""
She pulled a folded document from her coat.
"This is James Reed's death certificate.""
Marcus examined it.
The document listed a death date eleven years earlier.
The cause was recorded as injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.
But the signature of the attending physician was blurred.
Marcus looked up.
"My father died eight years ago.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Then explain why this says otherwise.""
Marcus examined the certificate again.
The name was correct.
The date wasn't.
"Where did you get this?""
"From a records office in Kentucky. Richard told me to find it.""
"Richard sent you?""
"Yes.""
She looked toward Samuel.
"He told me that the man who raised you was involved in my mother's disappearance.""
Samuel stepped forward.
"Elizabeth, listen to me.""
"No.""
He stopped.
"Your mother was Catherine. She loved you. She didn't abandon you.""
Elizabeth's eyes filled.
"Then where was she?""
Samuel looked at the ground.
"I don't know.""
"That's convenient.""
"I've spent twenty years looking.""
"And you found me only after Richard needed something?""
Samuel had no answer.
Marcus examined the certificate again.
There was a small reference number in the lower corner.
He recognized the format.
It was identical to the number on the documents Gregory Vale had notarized.
"Ethan," he called.
Ethan approached.
"Look at this.""
Ethan studied the paper.
Then he examined the seal.
"This isn't an original certificate.""
Elizabeth frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"The document number is real, but the seal is a reproduction. Someone created a copy using a legitimate record.""
Marcus looked at her.
"Did Richard give you this?""
Elizabeth nodded.
"Yesterday.""
"Then he may have given you a fabricated document.""
Elizabeth stepped backward.
"No. He said it proved James Reed had died eleven years ago.""
Ethan pointed to the bottom.
"Look at the issuing office.""
Elizabeth leaned closer.
It was a county office in a town where James had never lived.
Marcus shook his head.
"Someone wanted you to believe my father was dead before he actually died.""
Elizabeth looked confused.
"Why?""
Samuel finally spoke.
"Because James was alive when Catherine disappeared.""
Everyone turned.
Elizabeth stared at him.
"What?""
Samuel nodded.
"I saw him three years after the date on that certificate. He was living under another name.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"Where?""
Samuel looked at Elizabeth.
"Near Miller's Creek.""
Helen covered her mouth.
"The old farmhouse?""
Samuel nodded.
"The same place where Catherine and Margaret stayed.""
Elizabeth looked at Marcus.
"You're telling me our fathers were both hiding near the bridge?""
Marcus shook his head.
"James wasn't hiding from us. He was protecting us.""
"Then why didn't he come home?""
Marcus didn't answer.
He didn't know.
But something about the situation felt wrong.
His memories of James were vivid.
The smell of engine oil.
The sound of his laugh.
The way he called him son.
Could all of those memories have belonged to a man who had been living under a false identity?
Samuel walked toward the farmhouse.
"There's one person who can explain everything.""
"Who?"" Marcus asked.
"Margaret.""
Ray stood up, wincing.
"She's the one who disappeared.""
Samuel nodded.
"She didn't run away. She was taken.""
Elizabeth suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Then where would they take her?""
Samuel looked toward the road.
"There's only one place Richard would bring her.""
Marcus already knew the answer.
"The warehouse.""
Samuel nodded.
Before anyone could move, a vehicle pulled into the driveway.
A county police cruiser.
Deputy Carl Benson stepped out.
His hand rested near his belt.
"Afternoon, everyone.""
Marcus stared at him.
"You're a long way from the warehouse.""
Benson smiled.
"Got a report about a disturbance.""
Ray pointed at his injured forehead.
"You can start by asking who hit me.""
Benson looked at him.
"Maybe you fell.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Careful, Deputy.""
Benson ignored him.
His eyes settled on Elizabeth.
"Miss Voss. I've been looking for you.""
Elizabeth stiffened.
"Why?""
"Mr. Voss wants you to come home.""
Samuel moved in front of her.
"She's not going anywhere.""
Benson sighed.
"Samuel, you really should have stayed away.""
He reached into his jacket.
Marcus saw the movement.
"Don't!""
But Benson was already pulling out a folded sheet of paper.
It was a warrant.
And the name at the top was Marcus Reed.
*WANTED FOR THE ASSAULT OF DEPUTY CARL BENSON AND THE THEFT OF PRIVATE ESTATE DOCUMENTS.*
Marcus looked at the paper.
Then at the deputy.
Benson smiled.
"You're coming with me.""
May you like
And from inside the farmhouse, Helen whispered:
"That's not possible. I saw him sign Robert's death certificate.""
