Chapter 7 - The Man Outside School
Daniel sent Margaret away with private security he hired himself.
Not hers.
Marcus stayed with Rachel.
Emily stayed home from school.
Nobody argued.
Three days before prom had become something else entirely.
Daniel sat with a digital forensics team and watched every frame from Marcus’s school.
David appeared five times over six months.
Always alone.
Always distant.
Never approached Marcus.
Then another man appeared in the same footage.
Richard Sloan.
Two days after David.
Then a black SUV.
Same one.
Daniel asked, “Who owns it?”
The analyst checked.
“Registered to North Briar Security.”
Margaret’s contractor.
Daniel called her.
“I didn’t hire them to watch Marcus.”
“Who has access to your account?”
“Sloan.”
“And?”
A pause.
“Charles.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
The analyst zoomed one frame.
David looked toward the SUV.
Then toward the camera.
HE FOUND HIM.
Not warning Daniel.
Warning whoever would later watch.
Marcus.
Daniel stood.
“We need David.”
Rachel entered carrying an old shoebox.
“I know where he might go.”
Marcus stared.
“You told me you didn’t.”
“I didn’t know before.”
She opened the box.
Letters.
No return address.
One every birthday for six years.
Never shown to Marcus.
He looked at her.
“You kept these?”
Rachel’s face folded.
“I was afraid.”
Marcus opened the newest.
Typed.
MARCUS, IF YOU EVER LEARN MY NAME, DO NOT COME LOOKING UNTIL YOU KNOW WHO CONTROLS THE TRUST.
No signature.
But the handwriting on the envelope matched David’s note.
One line below:
WHEN YOU ARE READY, GO WHERE DANIEL BROKE HIS ARM.
Daniel stared.
A childhood summer house.
Carter Lake.
He had fallen from a dock at seven.
David had jumped in after him.
Daniel whispered, “He remembers.”
They drove at dusk.
The summer house had been closed for years.
Daniel unlocked the door.
Dust.
Old furniture.
Two child-height marks remained in a doorframe.
D and D.
Marcus touched them.
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Daniel raised the flashlight.
“David?”
No answer.
Then a shadow crossed the landing.
Daniel’s breath stopped.
A man stepped forward.
Same face.
Older.
Scarred.
His brother.
For several seconds, neither moved.
David looked at Marcus first.
Then Daniel.
“You took the test.”
Daniel’s throat closed.
“You’re alive.”
David gave a broken laugh.
“So are you.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“Are you my father?”
David’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Marcus’s jaw trembled.
“You watched me.”
“Yes.”
“You never spoke to me.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“That phrase is hereditary.”
David flinched.
Daniel asked, “Who found him?”
David’s face changed.
“Charles.”
“Grandpa called me.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“He knows everything that touches the trust.”
Marcus whispered, “Why twelve days?”
David looked at him.
“Because when you turn eighteen, you become legally visible.”
A laser dot appeared on Daniel’s chest.
David saw it.
“DOWN!”
May you like
Glass exploded.
CUT.
