Chapter 7: The Grandfather Nobody Knew
For a moment, Boone thought he had misunderstood.
"Say that again.""
Michael Reeves struggled to sit upright on the stretcher.
"Collins is Sophie's biological grandfather.""
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Daniel looked toward the farmhouse.
"No. That's impossible.""
Michael shook his head.
"It's not.""
Deputy Harris slowly lowered his radio.
"Are you telling me Sheriff Collins is related to this child?""
"He's Laura's father," Michael replied.
The words landed like a brick.
Laura had spent her entire adult life avoiding her father. She rarely spoke about her childhood, and whenever Evelyn asked about her family, she changed the subject.
Evelyn remembered asking once whether Laura's parents would attend her wedding.
Laura had simply said, "They're not part of my life anymore.""
Now Boone understood why.
"Why didn't you tell the police?"" Harris asked.
Michael laughed weakly.
"I tried. Collins made sure my statement never reached anyone.""
He pointed toward the farmhouse.
"He came to the barn himself. Told me that if I ever mentioned his name again, Sophie would disappear.""
Harris looked toward the approaching headlights.
"How many vehicles?""
Duke counted.
"Three. Maybe four.""
Boone turned toward the sheriff's deputy.
"Can we trust you?""
Harris looked offended.
"I'm a deputy.""
"That wasn't my question.""
Harris glanced at the radio in his hand.
Then he removed the battery.
"I've been working under Collins for eleven years. I thought he was protecting this county.""
He looked at Michael.
"If what you're saying is true, I need to know why.""
Michael pointed toward the barn.
"There's a second office behind the storage wall. Laura found it when she came here.""
Boone frowned.
"What's inside?""
"Files. Photographs. Recordings. Everything Collins didn't want discovered.""
The headlights stopped near the front gate.
A black SUV pulled ahead of the other vehicles.
The driver's door opened.
Sheriff Robert Collins stepped out.
He was sixty-two, silver-haired, and dressed in a perfectly pressed uniform.
His badge caught the light.
He looked like the kind of man who would shake hands at charity dinners and cut ribbons at school openings.
He also looked remarkably like Laura.
Boone immediately understood the resemblance.
Collins walked toward the group.
"Deputy Harris.""
"Sir.""
Collins looked around.
"What a mess.""
His eyes landed on Michael.
For half a second, his expression changed.
Then he smiled.
"Michael Reeves. I thought you were dead.""
Michael stared at him.
"You tried.""
Collins ignored the comment.
He looked at Sophie.
"Come here, sweetheart.""
Sophie moved behind Boone.
Collins frowned.
"That's no way to greet your grandfather.""
Sophie shook her head.
"My mommy said you were a bad man.""
The sheriff's smile disappeared.
He crouched slightly.
"Your mother was confused.""
"She wasn't.""
Collins stood.
"Daniel, what have you told them?""
Daniel stared at him.
"Everything.""
Collins sighed.
"After everything I've done for you?""
"You helped Ryan take my daughter.""
"I helped you keep your family together.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"You told me Laura was dead before the police even found her car.""
Collins looked at him coldly.
"Careful.""
Boone stepped between them.
"You're not taking that child anywhere.""
Collins finally looked directly at him.
"And you are?""
"Boone Mercer.""
"Motorcycle club president?""
"That's right.""
Collins nodded slowly.
"I know your type. You men think wearing matching leather makes you law enforcement.""
Boone smiled without humor.
"No. It makes us men who know how to recognize a bully.""
Collins gestured toward the SUV.
"Put the girl in the vehicle.""
Nobody moved.
He turned toward Harris.
"That's an order.""
Harris swallowed.
"Sir, I have questions about the original accident report.""
Collins stared at him.
"Excuse me?""
"Laura Reeves. Her accident. The evidence was altered.""
The sheriff's face hardened.
"You want to discuss this here?""
"I want to discuss it somewhere independent.""
Collins slowly reached inside his jacket.
Boone noticed the movement.
"Keep your hands where I can see them.""
Collins stopped.
Then he laughed.
"You have no idea what you're involved in.""
Michael spoke from the stretcher.
"We know enough.""
Collins turned.
"You should have stayed quiet.""
Michael's face tightened.
"You killed my wife.""
Collins stepped closer.
"I didn't kill Laura.""
Michael pointed at him.
"You ordered Ryan to follow her.""
"I told him to recover stolen property.""
"You told him to make sure she never reached the police.""
Collins said nothing.
For the first time, his carefully maintained expression cracked.
Then a voice came from behind the SUV.
"Robert, we have a problem.""
A younger man approached.
He wore a dark suit and carried a briefcase.
Boone recognized him from the photograph.
Victor Hale.
Ryan's business partner.
Collins turned toward him.
"What?""
Victor glanced at Sophie.
"She has the original.""
The sheriff's expression changed.
"How do you know?""
"Ryan called me.""
Collins looked toward the farmhouse.
"Where is he?""
Victor shrugged.
"He isn't answering.""
Boone noticed something else.
Victor wasn't carrying a weapon.
He was carrying a folder.
And when he opened it, Evelyn let out a frightened gasp.
Inside were photographs of Sophie.
At school.
At the playground.
Outside Evelyn's house.
Even one taken through the window of the diner that evening.
Victor placed them on the hood of the SUV.
"We've been watching the child for months.""
Boone stepped forward.
"Why?""
Victor looked at Sophie.
"Because her mother made the mistake of giving her something that belongs to us.""
Michael began shouting.
"She's a child!""
Victor barely glanced at him.
"Not according to the paperwork.""
He opened the briefcase.
Inside were legal documents.
Adoption forms.
Guardianship papers.
And a birth certificate bearing Sophie's name.
But the father listed on the certificate wasn't Michael.
It wasn't Daniel either.
It was Robert Collins.
Sophie stared at the document.
"Why does it say that?""
Nobody answered.
Then Victor smiled.
"Because, sweetheart, according to the records, you've never belonged to either of those men.""
He closed the briefcase.
"Your grandfather has been your legal father since the day you were born.""
Boone looked at Collins.
May you like
And the sheriff finally stopped pretending to be a grandfather.
He reached for his gun.
