Chapter 9 - MY MOTHER'S CONFESSION
We went to a private house outside the city.
My mother sat across from me.
She looked older than the woman in my memories, but there was no mistaking her.
"You let me believe you were dead."
"I had to."
"For fourteen years."
"I was protecting you."
"You destroyed my childhood."
She looked down.
"I know."
"Why?"
She took a long breath.
"Because your father made a deal."
"What deal?"
"He discovered the stolen money."
"And?"
"He threatened to expose everyone."
"Jonathan?"
"Jonathan. Your grandmother. Politicians. Bankers."
"Then why didn't he?"
"Because they threatened you."
I stared at her.
"They told me they'd kill you."
My mother began crying.
"So I helped them."
"Helped them do what?"
"Disappear Richard."
My blood turned cold.
"You killed Dad."
"No."
She shook her head.
"I warned him."
"What happened?"
"He refused to leave."
"Then?"
"Your grandmother ordered the attack."
"Jonathan?"
"He was there."
My mother covered her face.
"I thought Richard died."
"But he didn't?"
She looked at me.
"He survived."
I couldn't breathe.
"What?"
"Your father survived the first attack."
"Where is he?"
She hesitated.
"Dead."
"When?"
"Three days later."
"How?"
She whispered,
"Jonathan finished it."
I stood.
I wanted to scream.
But Sophie was watching.
So I swallowed the rage.
"Why is Sophie the beneficiary?"
"Because Richard knew I would eventually betray him."
"You did."
"I know."
She looked at Sophie.
"Your father loved her."
Sophie stared at her.
"Did my dad love me?"
My mother's face broke.
"More than anything."
Sophie began crying.
I knelt beside her.
Then my mother spoke again.
"There's one thing you still don't know."
"What?"
"Richard didn't create the trust because he wanted Sophie to inherit money."
"Then why?"
"Because the trust contains evidence."
"What evidence?"
"The names of everyone who helped destroy those families."
I stared at her.
"How much?"
"Enough to bring down half of Chicago's elite."
Silence.
My mother reached into her coat.
She handed me a flash drive.
"Everything is here."
I looked at it.
"Why give it to me?"
"Because I'm tired."
"Tired of what?"
"Running."
She stood.
"I'm going to surrender."
Before she could leave, headlights appeared outside.
Dozens of vehicles.
My security team?
Police?
No.
Men in black suits surrounded the house.
My mother looked through the window.
Her face went white.
"They found us."
A voice came through the speakers outside.
"Michael Harrison."
Then:
"Step away from your mother."
May you like
My mother whispered:
"That's Daniel."
