Chapter 8: The Father Who Never Died
David didn't move.
The phone remained pressed against his ear long after the call had ended.
His father was alive.
The man he had buried four years earlier was alive.
And he knew something about David's mother.
Rachel approached slowly.
“David?””
He lowered the phone.
“My father.””
Rachel looked at him.
“What about him?””
“He says we need to discuss what happened to my mother.””
Rachel went pale.
Sophie sat down.
Marcus closed his eyes.
David looked around the room.
“Why is everyone reacting like they already know something?””
Nobody answered.
His voice rose.
“What aren't you telling me?””
Rachel looked toward the girls.
“Not in front of them.””
David took her arm and led her into the bathroom. Sophie followed.
Marcus stayed with the children.
David closed the door.
“Tell me.””
Rachel leaned against the sink.
“Your father didn't die four years ago.””
“I figured that out.””
“He disappeared because Richard discovered that Robert had been keeping copies of the foundation's records.””
David stared.
“Why would my father have those records?””
“Because he helped Richard establish the original financial structure.””
David shook his head.
“My father retired before I took over the company.””
“He told you that.””
“What actually happened?””
Rachel hesitated.
“Your father was one of the people who financed Richard's medical foundation. He believed the program could make them extremely wealthy.””
David looked at Sophie.
“Did you know?””
Sophie nodded reluctantly.
“I discovered the payments when I was working in finance.””
David's jaw tightened.
“And you said nothing?””
“I didn't understand what I was looking at.””
Rachel continued.
“When your father found out that I was investigating Richard, he tried to convince me to stop.””
David turned toward her.
“Did you meet him?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“The day before I disappeared.””
David felt his stomach tighten.
“What did he say?””
Rachel swallowed.
“He told me that you knew everything.””
David stared.
“What?””
“He said you had approved the payments and agreed to let Maya and Lily be transferred.””
David shook his head.
“That's a lie.””
“I know that now.””
“Did he show you documents?””
Rachel nodded.
“He had a copy of your signature. A letter supposedly written by you. It said you wanted the girls raised under the Ashford family's protection.””
David stared at her.
“Why would you believe that?””
“Because it was your handwriting.””
He went silent.
Rachel stepped closer.
“I didn't want to believe it. But your father said you were planning to leave me. He said you had been meeting with Richard secretly.””
David shook his head.
“I never did that.””
“I know.””
She touched his face.
“I know now.””
David stepped back.
“Why didn't you ask me?””
“I tried. Your phone was disconnected. Richard had arranged for your calls to be redirected. Every time I attempted to reach you, someone told me you were unavailable.””
David stared at her.
He remembered those weeks.
He had been buried in business meetings, hospital visits, and funeral arrangements.
He had barely slept.
He had no idea that someone was intercepting his wife's calls.
Rachel's voice softened.
“Your father wanted us to distrust each other. He knew that if we stayed together, we would eventually expose them.””
David leaned against the wall.
“Then why did he disappear?””
“Because Richard wanted all the evidence destroyed. Your father refused to hand over the original records.””
“Where are they?””
Rachel looked at Sophie.
“She might know.””
Sophie lowered her eyes.
“I do.””
David turned.
“Where?””
Sophie took a deep breath.
“Inside the old Mitchell family house.””
David frowned.
“My parents' house?””
“The one your father supposedly sold?””
“Yes.””
“He never sold it.””
David stared.
“What?””
Sophie continued.
“Richard bought the property through a company, but the ownership documents were never completed. Your father still has access.””
David looked at Rachel.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know.””
Sophie opened her handbag and removed a small brass key.
“I found this in Rachel's old things. She gave it to me before she disappeared.””
David examined it.
A small number had been engraved on the side.
317.
“What does it open?””
Sophie shook her head.
“I think it's a safe deposit box inside the house.””
David looked at Marcus.
“Can you get us there?””
Marcus nodded.
“There's a private entrance at the rear.””
“Then we're going.””
Rachel immediately objected.
“David, no.””
“My father is alive. He knows where we are. We need those records before Richard destroys them.””
“It's a trap.””
“Maybe. But if we wait, he'll come for the girls.””
Rachel looked toward the bedroom.
Harper was helping Maya arrange pillows around Lily.
The three sisters were whispering and giggling.
Rachel's face softened.
“I won't let them be separated again.””
“Neither will I.””
She nodded.
“Then I'm coming.””
The old Mitchell house stood on a quiet street in one of Chicago's wealthiest neighborhoods.
It was a large stone mansion with tall windows, a circular driveway, and a garden that had once been maintained by a team of landscapers.
David hadn't visited in years.
He had sold most of his childhood belongings after his father's funeral.
But the house remained.
And now he understood why.
Marcus parked two streets away.
Sophie stayed with the girls in a secured apartment nearby, while Rachel insisted on accompanying David.
They approached the property through a narrow alley.
Marcus opened a side gate using an old security code.
“Your father never changed it,” he whispered.
David looked at him.
“How do you know?””
“Because I used to work here.””
David stopped.
“You worked for my father?””
Marcus nodded.
“Before I worked for you.””
David felt another piece of the puzzle fall into place.
“How many people in my life worked for Richard?””
Marcus didn't answer.
They entered the house.
The interior smelled of dust and old wood.
Furniture remained covered with white sheets. Family photographs still lined the staircase.
David stopped in front of one.
It showed him at twelve years old, standing beside his parents in front of the Christmas tree.
His mother, Margaret, had one hand on his shoulder.
His father stood beside her.
Both were smiling.
David looked away.
Rachel touched his arm.
“We'll find the truth.””
Marcus led them into the study.
A large wooden desk stood beneath a window.
Behind it was a wall of bookshelves.
“Room 317 is probably downstairs,” Marcus said.
David searched the desk.
Inside the bottom drawer, he found a small metal keyhole.
He inserted Sophie's key.
It turned.
A hidden compartment slid open.
Inside was a leather notebook, a USB drive, and a sealed envelope.
David opened the envelope.
The letter was addressed to him.
David,
If you're reading this, then Richard has finally succeeded in making you believe I am dead.
I am sorry.
There are things I should have told you long ago.
Your mother did not die in the accident you were told about.
David stopped reading.
His hands began shaking.
Rachel moved closer.
“What does it say?””
He continued.
Margaret discovered that Richard was using our family company to conceal illegal medical transfers. She confronted him. Two weeks later, her car went off the road.
I was told it was an accident.
I never believed that.
David stared at the letter.
His mother had died when he was twenty-one.
He remembered the funeral.
The police report.
The insurance investigation.
Everything had been classified as an accident.
He looked at Marcus.
“Did you know?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
David continued reading.
I helped Richard cover up the truth because I was afraid he would destroy the company and send me to prison. I told myself I was protecting you.
But after Rachel became pregnant, I realized Richard intended to use your children to secure his control over the family assets.
I should have stopped him.
I didn't.
David's eyes filled.
The letter continued.
The original evidence is in the safe behind the bookshelf.
The combination is the date your mother died.
David looked up.
Rachel immediately approached the bookshelf.
Together, they moved the heavy cabinet aside.
Behind it was a steel safe.
David entered the date.
The lock clicked.
Inside were folders, bank records, photographs, and a small digital recorder.
He picked up the recorder.
A label was attached.
MARGARET MITCHELL — FINAL STATEMENT.
David pressed play.
His mother's voice filled the room.
“Robert, if anything happens to me, make sure David knows the truth.””
A man's voice answered.
Richard.
“You should have kept your nose out of the foundation.””
Margaret spoke again.
“You're hurting children.””
Richard laughed.
“I'm building something that will last generations.””
Then another voice entered.
Robert.
“Richard, enough. She's my wife.””
David froze.
The recording continued.
Richard spoke quietly.
“Then choose, Robert. Your wife or your company.””
A long silence followed.
Then Robert said something that made David's blood turn cold.
“Do what you have to do.””
The recording stopped.
David stood motionless.
Rachel covered her mouth.
Marcus looked away.
David replayed the final seconds.
“Do what you have to do.””
His father had known.
His father had allowed Richard to threaten his mother.
Perhaps worse.
David closed his eyes.
A sound came from upstairs.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Marcus reached for his weapon.
“Someone's here.””
David grabbed the folders.
Rachel stood beside him.
The study door opened.
A man entered.
He was older than David remembered, with white hair and a walking stick.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
Robert Mitchell.
His father.
“Hello, son.””
David raised the recorder.
“You let him kill Mom.””
Robert looked at the device.
Then at David.
“I made a terrible mistake.””
“You let Richard destroy my family.””
“I tried to stop him.””
“You forged my signature?””
Robert sighed.
“I did what I thought was necessary.””
David stepped forward.
“You let me bury Rachel.””
Robert's expression hardened.
“Rachel was supposed to stay away.””
David stared.
“You knew she was alive?””
Robert nodded.
“Of course.””
“Did you know about the girls?””
“I knew about all three.””
David felt something inside him break.
“Then why?””
Robert looked toward the staircase.
“Because Richard has something you don't understand.””
“What?””
Robert lowered his voice.
“He doesn't want your daughters for their inheritance.””
David frowned.
“Then what does he want?””
Robert looked directly at him.
“He wants the fourth child.””
David went completely still.
“There's no fourth child.””
Robert shook his head.
“Not according to the hospital records.””
He reached into his jacket and removed a photograph.
It showed a newborn baby in a hospital bassinet.
A small handwritten label was attached.
BABY 4.
David stared at it.
His father continued.
“Your mother was pregnant when she died. The baby survived the accident.””
David felt his legs weaken.
“Are you saying I have a younger sibling?””
Robert nodded.
“Your mother gave birth to a boy.””
Rachel looked horrified.
“Where is he?””
Robert glanced toward the hallway.
“Richard knows.””
Suddenly, a gunshot shattered the silence.
Marcus fell to the floor.
Rachel screamed.
Robert looked toward the window.
May you like
And from somewhere outside, Richard Ashford's voice rang through the house.
“Robert! Step away from my grandchildren's father!””
