Chapter 18: The Man Behind the Name
The ride to Bell's Harley-Davidson dealership took less than twenty minutes.
Nobody spoke.
Frank drove the delivery van.
Wade sat beside him, gripping the dashboard.
Martha sat in the back with Susan and Eleanor.
Lucas followed on a motorcycle with Duke.
Daniel stayed behind with a paramedic contact Duke had called. His arm had begun bleeding again, and he was in no condition to ride.
As the dealership came into view, Martha noticed something strange.
Every light was on.
The showroom windows glowed against the dark street.
The front doors stood open.
Wade frowned.
"He's inviting us in.""
Frank parked across the street.
"That's what he wants.""
Martha looked at the building.
"Then let's stop letting him decide where we go.""
She climbed out.
Frank caught her arm.
"Martha, listen to me. Thomas is dangerous.""
"So are all the people who have spent thirty years deciding what I can know.""
She pulled free.
"I'm done being protected.""
They crossed the street together.
Inside, the showroom was empty.
The Harley stood in the center of the floor.
Its chrome reflected the overhead lights.
A small white envelope rested on the seat.
Martha approached.
Frank stopped her.
"Don't touch it.""
Lucas came in behind them.
He examined the envelope.
"No wires. No electronic components.""
Martha opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed her as a little girl, standing beside a man she had never met.
On the back was written:
*For my daughter, Martha. I should have come home.*
Martha's hands trembled.
A voice came from the office.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
A man stepped into the showroom.
He was old, perhaps eighty, but stood straight.
His silver hair was combed neatly.
His eyes were the same color as Martha's.
She stared at him.
"Thomas.""
He smiled.
"At last.""
Frank raised his gun.
Thomas glanced at it.
"Put that away, Frank. If I wanted you dead, you would never have made it through the door.""
Martha stepped forward.
"You told me you were dead.""
"I had to disappear.""
"You let me grow up believing Henry was my father.""
"Henry loved you.""
"He lied to me.""
"Because I asked him to.""
Martha's expression hardened.
"Why?""
Thomas sighed.
"Because I had enemies.""
"Your enemies were your own crimes.""
Thomas smiled sadly.
"You're still angry.""
"Thirty years of lies will do that.""
He looked at Susan.
"And you brought her back.""
Susan stood beside Wade.
"Someone had to stop you.""
Thomas nodded.
"You always were difficult.""
Wade stepped forward.
"Where is Daniel's real mother?""
Thomas's expression changed.
"Dead.""
"Who killed her?""
Thomas looked at Susan.
"She did.""
Wade turned toward his wife.
Susan shook her head.
"He's lying.""
Thomas smiled.
"Of course she would say that.""
Frank raised his weapon.
"Enough. Show us the ledger.""
Thomas walked toward the Harley.
"It's inside the engine.""
Martha looked at the motorcycle.
"Then why haven't you taken it?""
"Because the engine has a second lock.""
Frank held up the silver key.
Thomas nodded.
"That's the one.""
Lucas examined the engine.
"There's a panel beneath the casing.""
He removed two bolts and opened a narrow compartment.
Inside was a metal cylinder.
Frank reached for it.
Thomas raised his hand.
"Careful. That cylinder contains the original trust deed and the ledger's encryption key.""
Lucas took it.
"I can open it.""
Thomas smiled.
"Not without the other key.""
Martha looked at the silver key in Frank's hand.
"What other key?""
Thomas reached into his pocket.
He removed a small brass key.
"This one.""
He placed it on the counter.
"Together, they open everything.""
Frank's expression changed.
"You're not giving us that.""
Thomas smiled.
"Why wouldn't I?""
He pushed the key toward Martha.
"Because I want you to understand what you're inheriting.""
Martha stared at him.
"What do you mean?""
Thomas gestured toward the dealership.
"The company. The properties. The accounts.
The entire network. It all belongs to the Bell family.""
"It belongs to the victims.""
Thomas laughed softly.
"That's a very sentimental way to look at business.""
Wade stepped forward.
"You're a monster.""
Thomas looked at him.
"And you are still the boy who couldn't keep his wife.""
Wade lunged.
Frank caught him.
Thomas didn't flinch.
"That's why I never trusted you, Wade. You mistake emotion for strength.""
Martha picked up the brass key.
"Open the cylinder.""
Thomas nodded.
Lucas used both keys.
The metal cylinder clicked open.
Inside were several folded documents and a small black drive.
Lucas examined the first document.
"This is the original trust agreement.""
Martha leaned closer.
He read aloud.
"Beneficiaries: Martha Bell, Wade Mercer, Emily Bell, and the descendants of Thomas Bell.""
He turned the page.
"Original executor: Martha Bell.""
Thomas nodded.
"Exactly.""
Martha stared.
"Why did you name me?""
"Because I wanted you to inherit everything.""
"Even the criminal operation?""
"Especially that.""
Frank stepped forward.
"Don't sign anything.""
Thomas looked at him.
"She doesn't need to sign. The trust activates automatically when the original executor acknowledges receipt of the ledger.""
Lucas looked up.
"Then why the midnight deadline?""
Thomas smiled.
"Because at midnight, the trust transfers control to the secondary executor.""
Martha frowned.
"Who?""
Thomas looked toward the office.
A door opened.
A man stepped out.
He was wearing a dark suit and carrying a leather folder.
Martha recognized him from the photographs.
Dr. Samuel Price.
The man who had signed the false death certificates.
Frank raised his gun.
"You're supposed to be dead.""
Price smiled.
"Apparently, that has never stopped anyone in this family.""
Thomas turned toward him.
"You're late.""
Price looked at Martha.
"Not late. Right on time.""
Lucas checked his laptop.
"It's 11:54.""
Thomas nodded.
"Six minutes.""
Martha looked at Price.
"You're the secondary executor?""
Price opened his folder.
"No.""
He placed a document on the counter.
"I'm the original executor.""
Thomas's smile vanished.
Price looked at Martha.
"Your father stole my identity, my company, and thirty years of my life.""
Martha stared.
"What are you saying?""
Price turned toward Thomas.
"My name is Thomas Bell.""
The old man beside the Harley laughed.
"He's lying.""
Price slowly removed a photograph from his folder.
It showed two identical men standing together in 1996.
One was the man in the dealership.
The other was Dr. Samuel Price.
Price placed the photograph beside the trust agreement.
"Now," he said, "which one of us do you think has been pretending to be dead?""
May you like
Thomas's face finally lost its composure.
And for the first time that night, he looked afraid.
