Chapter 14 - THE GHOST OF THE HARTMAN FAMILY
Jonathan survived.
Barely.
But before surgery, he gave Michael one final clue.
“Look at the trust.”
Michael did.
The trust had been amended recently.
Six months ago.
The signature belonged to his father.
Michael stared.
His father had supposedly been dead for ten years.
Someone had forged the signature.
Or his father was alive.
Michael refused to believe the second possibility.
Until he found the photograph.
A man standing outside a private clinic.
Older.
Gray-haired.
But unmistakable.
His father.
Michael stared at it for several minutes.
Emily stood beside him.
“Michael…”
“I buried him.”
“I know.”
“I saw his coffin.”
“I know.”
“Then how?”
Emily shook her head.
“We have to find him.”
The clinic was in Montana.
Michael flew there with Emily, Lily, and the baby.
They arrived after midnight.
The building looked abandoned.
Inside, they found medical equipment.
Documents.
And photographs.
Michael's father had been receiving treatment there.
For ten years.
He had been alive.
Hidden.
Watching.
Michael found a video.
His father appeared on the screen.
“Michael.”
Michael's heart broke.
“I know you hate me.”
Michael whispered:
“I don't know what I feel.”
His father continued.
“I believed I could control Daniel.”
He paused.
“I was wrong.”
“I created the Hartman trust to protect you.”
“But my decisions destroyed your life.”
Michael's hands trembled.
“I allowed Daniel to believe he would inherit everything.”
“I thought it would keep him loyal.”
“It didn't.”
His father looked exhausted.
“Emily discovered the truth.”
“I tried to protect her.”
“I failed.”
The screen went black.
Then a door opened behind Michael.
A man stood there.
Older.
Weak.
But alive.
Michael turned.
His father.
Neither spoke.
Then Michael whispered:
“Why?”
His father looked at him.
“I was afraid.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
“Yes.”
“You let me grieve you.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me destroy myself.”
His father lowered his head.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
Michael laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
His father stepped closer.
“I am sorry.”
Michael stared at him.
Then asked the only question that mattered.
“Did you order Emily's accident?”
His father looked horrified.
“No.”
“Did you know about Lily?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know about my son?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you save them?”
His father's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was a coward.”
Michael looked away.
For years, he had imagined his father as invincible.
Now he saw an old man who had made terrible choices.
Then a gunshot shattered the window.
His father collapsed.
Michael caught him.
“Dad!”
His father whispered:
“Run.”
“Who?”
“The final person.”
“Who?”
His father grabbed his arm.
“Your mother.”
Michael froze.
“My mother died when I was twelve.”
His father whispered:
“She didn't.”
The lights went out.
Lily screamed.
Michael grabbed his children.
Emily grabbed a flashlight.
Then a woman's voice echoed through the hallway.
“Michael.”
He turned.
A woman stepped from the darkness.
His mother.
May you like
Alive.
And smiling.
