Chapter 16: The Man Waiting at Miller's Creek
Marcus stared at the photograph.
The date was written in Robert Brooks's unmistakable handwriting.
October 31, 2026.
Today's date.
He looked at Catherine.
"You're telling me Robert is alive?""
Catherine nodded weakly.
"I saw him yesterday. He came to the nursing home after the evening shift changed. He couldn't stay long.""
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"He said Richard was watching the people who visited me. He told me not to say anything until the right moment.""
Marcus looked at Samuel.
"Did you know?""
Samuel's face had gone pale.
"No.""
Catherine turned toward him.
"Robert told me not to trust you completely.""
Samuel swallowed.
"I know.""
Marcus looked back at the photograph.
"Why would he hide for all these years?""
Catherine reached for his hand.
"Because Richard wasn't the only danger. There were people inside the sheriff's department, people who controlled the records, and people who wanted the partnership dissolved.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Then why come back now?""
Catherine's eyes moved to Elizabeth.
"Because Richard finally made his move against the farm. Robert said the trust could no longer protect the family if the original documents disappeared.""
Ethan examined the photograph.
"Did he say where he was staying?""
Catherine nodded.
"Near the creek. At the old place where the bridge used to stand.""
Marcus looked at Samuel.
"Then we're going.""
Samuel didn't move.
"Not yet.""
Marcus turned.
"What?""
"We need to understand something first. If Robert is alive, Richard has spent twenty years keeping that secret. He won't let us reach him easily.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"You're asking me to wait?""
"I'm asking you not to walk into a trap.""
"My father might be alive.""
"I know.""
"Then get out of my way.""
Samuel held his gaze.
For a moment, the older man looked as if he might argue.
Then he stepped aside.
"All right.""
Elizabeth kissed her mother's forehead.
"We'll be back.""
Catherine caught her hand.
"Elizabeth, there's something else.""
Elizabeth bent down.
"Tell me.""
"Your father may try to convince you that he loved you.""
Elizabeth's face tightened.
"He didn't.""
Catherine shook her head.
"He loved owning things. People included. Don't mistake his obsession for love.""
Elizabeth nodded.
"I won't.""
They left the nursing home just before sunset.
Marcus rode ahead with Daniel. Samuel followed in the truck with Ethan, Elizabeth, and Margaret.
The road to Miller's Creek narrowed as they approached the wooded property.
The old bridge had been removed years earlier, leaving only concrete supports and rusted metal beneath the trees.
Marcus recognized the place from Robert's letters.
He parked beside the remains of a wooden fence.
Daniel stopped behind him.
"Where do we start?""
Marcus studied the photograph.
Robert stood beside a small white building.
He looked toward the creek.
"There.""
A narrow path led through the trees.
They followed it until they reached an abandoned farmhouse.
Its windows were dark.
The front door hung slightly open.
Marcus stepped inside.
Dust covered the furniture, but the fireplace contained fresh ashes.
Someone had been there recently.
"Robert?"" Marcus called.
No answer.
He walked through the living room.
On a small table sat a cup of coffee.
Still warm.
Then he noticed a photograph on the wall.
James Reed stood beside Robert.
Behind them was a younger Marcus, perhaps six years old, holding a miniature motorcycle.
Marcus touched the frame.
"That's me.""
Daniel looked closer.
"Where was this taken?""
"James's garage.""
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Everyone froze.
Samuel reached for the old revolver tucked into his waistband.
"Stay behind me.""
Marcus ignored him and climbed the stairs.
At the top, he found a bedroom with its door open.
A lamp was burning.
On the bed lay a folded shirt and a handwritten note.
Marcus picked it up.
*Marcus, if you've come this far, you already know more than I wanted you to.*
He recognized the handwriting immediately.
His throat tightened.
*I am sorry for every year you spent believing I was gone. But there are things I need to explain before you see me.*
The note continued.
*Don't trust the man who says he raised you.*
Marcus read the sentence twice.
Then he heard a voice behind him.
"That's enough.""
He turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
He was older, thinner, and had gray hair.
But Marcus recognized the eyes.
The same eyes that had watched him learn to ride a bicycle.
The same eyes that had smiled at him across a birthday cake.
"James?""
The man shook his head.
"Not anymore.""
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
"Who are you?""
The man looked at him with tears in his eyes.
"My name is Robert Brooks.""
Marcus couldn't speak.
Robert stepped forward.
"I know what you've been told. I know what Samuel has said. But you need to understand that the man you called James wasn't the man who raised you.""
Marcus stared at him.
"You're telling me James wasn't my father?""
Robert shook his head.
"No. I'm telling you that the man who raised you wasn't James Reed.""
A sound came from the hallway.
Daniel appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Marcus?""
Robert looked past him.
Then his face changed.
"Samuel.""
Samuel stepped into the room.
For several seconds, the brothers stared at each other.
Then Samuel whispered:
"You should have stayed dead.""
Robert's expression hardened.
"I tried.""
Samuel looked away.
Marcus turned between them.
"Someone better explain this.""
Robert sat on the edge of the bed.
"James Reed died eleven years ago.""
Marcus shook his head.
"No. I buried him eight years ago.""
Robert looked at him.
"The man in that grave wasn't James.""
Marcus felt cold.
"Who was it?""
Robert looked toward Samuel.
"His brother.""
Samuel's jaw tightened.
"Don't.""
Robert continued.
"Richard arranged the funeral. He needed everyone to believe James was dead because James had discovered what happened to the children.""
Marcus looked at Samuel.
"Then who raised me?""
Samuel closed his eyes.
Robert answered.
"A man named Daniel Reed. James's younger brother.""
Marcus felt the room spin.
"Why did he call himself James?""
"Because James asked him to. It was the only way to keep you safe.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Where is the real James buried?""
Robert looked at the floor.
"At the old cemetery behind the garage.""
Marcus stared at him.
"And you let me believe he was alive?""
Robert's voice broke.
"I let you believe the man who loved you was your father. Because he was.""
Marcus turned away.
He couldn't breathe.
Then Robert reached into his pocket and removed a small envelope.
"This is the last thing James wrote before he died.""
Marcus took it.
His name was written across the front.
But before he could open it, a gunshot shattered the window.
Daniel threw Marcus to the floor.
Robert shouted.
"Get down!""
Another shot struck the wall.
Samuel rushed toward the stairs.
Then someone outside yelled:
"Robert! Come out!""
Marcus looked through the broken window.
May you like
A black SUV sat beside the creek.
And standing beside it was Richard Voss.
