PART 9 — THE FATHER'S SECOND LIFE
Silas's father refused to explain the photograph.
He simply stared at it.
“You know her.”
He didn't answer.
“Who is Evelyn Cross?”
“I told you.”
“No.”
I held up the photograph.
“You told me she was your father's accountant.”
He looked at Silas.
Then at his wife.
Finally, he whispered:
“She was my mother.”
Silas froze.
“What?”
His father nodded.
“Evelyn Cross was my biological mother.”
The room went silent.
Silas stared at him.
“So Grandma isn't my real grandmother?”
“She is.”
“Then how?”
“Evelyn was my father's first wife.”
Silas's mother closed her eyes.
“She left when your father was young.”
I looked at the blue ledger.
“Why did she change her name?”
“Because she stole the original trust.”
“From Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“Then why would Thomas protect her?”
“He didn't.”
His father looked at me.
“He spent twenty years trying to find her.”
“And now?”
“She found us.”
Silas's mother stood.
“No.”
She walked toward the window.
“She didn't find us.”
Everyone looked at her.
“She wanted us to find her.”
I felt a chill.
“Why?”
“Because Silas is eighteen soon.”
“And the trust?”
“It belongs to him.”
“But Evelyn can't access it.”
“She doesn't need to.”
His mother looked at Silas.
“She needs him to open it.”
Silas shook his head.
“I won't.”
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“If you refuse, someone else can activate it.”
“Who?”
She looked at me.
“Harold.”
My stomach tightened.
“Harold is in custody.”
“He has people outside.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he called me yesterday.”
Silas's father looked shocked.
“You spoke to him?”
“I had no choice.”
“What did he want?”
She looked at Silas.
“He offered me my freedom.”
“And what did he want in return?”
“Silas.”
Silas stepped backward.
“No.”
His mother approached him.
“I would never hurt you.”
“Then why would he want me?”
“Because the trust doesn't just contain money.”
I frowned.
“What else?”
“Evidence.”
“What kind?”
“Names.”
“Names of everyone involved.”
She nodded.
“If the trust opens, hundreds of people could be exposed.”
I understood.
“That's why Evelyn wants Silas.”
“No.”
His mother shook her head.
“Evelyn doesn't want Silas to open it.”
“Then what does she want?”
“She wants him to destroy it.”
I looked at the ledger.
“Why?”
“Because Evelyn is one of the names.”
Silas's father suddenly grabbed the ledger.
“Where did you get this?”
I pulled it back.
“From the farmhouse.”
He stared at it.
“You shouldn't have it.”
“Why?”
“Because this is the original ledger.”
“Exactly.”
He looked terrified.
“There are people who will kill for this.”
Silas walked toward him.
“Dad.”
His father looked up.
“Who else is in it?”
He hesitated.
Then said:
“Me.”
Silas stared at him.
“You?”
“I was young.”
“That doesn't matter.”
“I didn't understand what I was helping.”
“You lied to me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You lied.”
His father lowered his head.
Then a gunshot shattered the window.
Everyone dropped.
The bullet struck the wall.
I grabbed Silas and pulled him behind the couch.
Another shot.
Then another.
His mother screamed.
“Basement!”
We ran downstairs.
The basement contained old storage boxes.
His mother opened one.
Inside was a metal case.
She pulled it out.
“What is that?”
“The second key.”
I stared at her.
“There's another key?”
“Yes.”
She handed it to Silas.
He looked at it.
“What does it open?”
She whispered:
“The trust.”
Suddenly the basement door slammed shut.
Someone had locked us inside.
I tried the handle.
Nothing.
Then a voice came through the door.
Evelyn.
“Silas.”
He froze.
“Who are you?”
A soft laugh.
“Your grandmother.”
His mother screamed:
“Don't listen to her!”
Evelyn continued.
“Your grandfather lied to you.”
Silas looked at his mother.
“About what?”
“He told you your mother died.”
Silas's mother covered her mouth.
Evelyn laughed.
“She didn't.”
Silas looked at his mother.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“You lied.”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
“Because your father wasn't the man you thought he was.”
Silas's father stepped forward.
“Don't listen to her.”
Evelyn replied:
“You were never his father.”
Silence.
Silas turned.
“What does she mean?”
His father didn't answer.
Silas's mother began crying.
I looked at her.
“Tell him.”
She shook her head.
“I can't.”
Evelyn spoke again.
“Because the truth is much worse.”
The basement lights suddenly turned on.
A monitor on the wall activated.
A birth certificate appeared.
Silas's name.
His mother's name.
And under Father was a name none of us expected.
HAROLD MILLER.
Silas stopped breathing.
His father staggered backward.
“No.”
I stared at the document.
Silas looked at his mother.
“Is this real?”
She couldn't speak.
And then Evelyn said:
“Now you understand why Harold will never stop.”
The screen went black.
A final message appeared:
THE TRUST OPENS IN 72 HOURS.
