Chapter 7 - The Secret My Father BuriedI couldn't speak.
My mother had died when I was eleven.
She had always been gentle.
Quiet.
Loving.
But there had always been one mystery surrounding her death.
My father never talked about it.
Now Andrew was telling me that my childhood was connected to the conspiracy.
“How?”
Andrew handed me another photograph.
My mother was standing beside Richard Whitmore.
I stared at it.
“They knew each other?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Before you were born.”
I looked at Andrew.
“Tell me everything.”
He nodded.
“Your mother discovered that Richard was laundering money through properties.”
My stomach tightened.
“She threatened to expose him.”
“And Dad?”
“Your father tried to protect her.”
I stared at the photograph.
“So why did she die?”
Andrew's eyes dropped.
“She didn't.”
I froze.
“What?”
“She disappeared.”
“No.”
“Jack, the death certificate was fake.”
I stepped backward.
“That can't be.”
“Your father created a new identity for her.”
“Where is she?”
Andrew looked at me.
“She lives in Oregon.”
I couldn't breathe.
“My mother is alive?”
“Yes.”
I sat down.
For eighteen years, I had believed she was dead.
My father had lied.
My brother had lied.
Everyone had lied.
But maybe they had done it to protect me.
Andrew placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Dad wasn't perfect.”
“No.”
“He made terrible decisions.”
“Yes.”
“But he loved you.”
I stared at the floor.
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he believed the less you knew, the safer you were.”
I laughed bitterly.
“And now?”
“Now you're in danger.”
My phone rang.
It was Karen.
I answered.
“Karen?”
Her voice was barely audible.
“They found me.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Where are you?”
“Inside my car.”
“Are you safe?”
“No.”
I heard a sound.
Then Karen screamed.
The line went dead.
Andrew grabbed his jacket.
“We're going.”
Daniel stopped him.
“We don't know where she is.”
I checked the call location.
“Her phone is still active.”
I looked at the screen.
“She's near the ranch.”
We drove.
When we arrived, the party decorations were still scattered across the field.
But Karen's car was parked near the barn.
The driver's door was open.
I ran toward it.
Karen was gone.
Then I saw blood on the seat.
Andrew grabbed my arm.
“Don't touch anything.”
I stared at the barn.
The door was slightly open.
Inside, something moved.
We entered carefully.
Karen was sitting on the floor.
Her hands were tied.
She was bleeding from her forehead.
I rushed toward her.
“Karen!”
She looked up.
“Jack…”
“Who did this?”
“I don't know.”
Andrew cut the restraints.
Karen grabbed my wrist.
“Your cousin.”
“Ethan?”
She nodded.
“He knows everything.”
“What does he want?”
“The ranch.”
“Why?”
“Because there's something buried here.”
I looked around.
“What?”
Karen's eyes filled with tears.
“Your father hid it.”
Andrew went still.
“What?”
Karen whispered:
“Your mother.”
Silence.
My heart stopped.
“What do you mean?”
“Your mother came here before she disappeared.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Why?”
“She left something.”
“What?”
Karen shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then headlights appeared outside.
Three black SUVs rolled into the field.
Andrew looked through the window.
“Ethan.”
A man stepped out.
He wore a dark coat.
He looked directly at the barn.
Then he smiled.
May you like
My cousin had found us.
And he wasn't alone.
Related Stories
