Chapter 7 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Marcus spent the night searching.
By sunrise, he had a name.
Richard Harrington.
His father.
Alive.
Living under another name in Connecticut.
Marcus drove there himself.
Rosa begged him not to go alone.
He ignored her.
When he reached the house, an elderly man opened the door.
Marcus stared.
The man's face was older.
His hair gray.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
Marcus whispered:
"Dad?"
Richard closed his eyes.
"I knew you'd come eventually."
Marcus stepped inside.
"Why did you let me believe you were dead?"
Richard's voice cracked.
"Because your mother wanted you safe."
"Safe from what?"
"Your family."
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"My family?"
Richard looked at him.
"Your grandfather built the fortune through criminal deals."
Marcus froze.
"That's impossible."
"No."
Richard walked to a cabinet.
He pulled out a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Bank accounts.
Names.
Payments.
And one photograph of Victor Kane.
Marcus's oldest friend.
Standing beside his grandfather.
Richard whispered:
"Victor has been inside your company since the beginning."
Marcus felt sick.
"Why?"
"To take it."
Then Richard handed him another photograph.
Marcus looked down.
It showed Victor.
His grandfather.
And a woman.
A woman Marcus recognized.
Rosa.
Except the photograph was taken twenty-five years earlier.
Marcus looked at Richard.
"Who is she?"
Richard whispered:
May you like
"Your mother's daughter."
Marcus's entire world stopped.
