Chapter 9 - The Father Who Never Left
Ethan replayed the words three times.
Daniel is alive.
Alive.
His father had not chosen to disappear.
He had not forgotten birthdays.
He had not ignored Christmas.
At least, that was what Ethan wanted to believe.
Ruiz stopped the recording.
"We need to hear the rest in a controlled room."
"No."
"Ethan."
"Play it."
Margaret placed a hand near his, not touching.
"Let him hear it."
Ruiz exhaled and pressed play.
Sarah's voice returned.
"Daniel was arrested in Ohio under another case number. Victor said he signed a confession. I know he didn't. I found transfers made in Daniel's name after he was already in custody."
Paper rustled on the recording.
"The money came from a trust my father created for me and my children. I did not know the trust existed until last year. Victor has been moving money through charities, including Hope House."
Ethan looked at Margaret.
"You had money for Mom?"
Margaret seemed unable to speak.
Thomas answered quietly.
"Grandfather created trusts for both of us. Sarah's should have been worth millions by now."
Ethan thought of overdue rent notices taped to their apartment door.
He thought of his mother dividing one can of soup into four bowls.
He thought of Noah asking why heat cost too much.
Rage arrived so fast it made him dizzy.
"She was sick because we had no heat."
Margaret's face crumpled.
"Ethan..."
"She was sick and there was money?"
"I didn't know."
"She wrote you!"
His voice echoed through the station.
Travelers turned.
"She wrote you over and over!"
Margaret took the anger without defending herself.
"Yes."
"And you believed some lawyer instead of your own daughter?"
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Yes."
Ethan hated that answer because it was honest.
He wanted excuses. Excuses were easier to attack.
Ruiz's phone rang.
She stepped aside, spoke for a minute, then came back quickly.
"I found Daniel Reed."
Ethan's knees went weak.
"Where?"
"North Ridge Correctional Center. Serving a six-year sentence for financial theft."
"Can I talk to him?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
Ruiz looked at the bank records in Sarah's bag.
"Because if these documents are real, your father may have been convicted using evidence Victor Hale created."
Margaret stood.
"Then we get him a lawyer today."
Ruiz nodded.
"We will."
A station announcement crackled overhead.
Then Ethan saw a familiar gray suit moving through the crowd near the exit.
Victor Hale.
May you like
Their eyes met.
Victor turned and ran.
