Chapter 12 - The Man Beside the Wheelchair
Marcus removed his earpiece.
Eli noticed.
“What happened?”
Marcus didn't answer.
Richard saw the video.
Then laughed bitterly.
“You finally know.”
Marcus turned toward him.
“You knew Daniel was involved?”
“I knew he was assigned to you.”
“Assigned?”
“After the accident.”
Marcus remembered.
Daniel had entered his life three months after the crash.
He became indispensable.
Security.
Travel.
Medication pickups.
Medical appointments.
Everything.
Marcus felt sick.
Daniel hadn't merely watched Marcus's prison.
He had guarded it.
The underground door opened.
Daniel stepped inside.
Marcus stared at him.
Daniel lowered his weapon.
“Marcus.”
“Don't.”
Daniel stopped.
“How long?”
Daniel's face revealed nothing.
“How long were you lying to me?”
“Not everything was a lie.”
Marcus laughed.
“That is what liars say when the truth finally catches them.”
Eli moved behind Marcus.
Daniel looked at the boy.
“I never wanted him involved.”
Marcus's anger exploded.
“He is my son!”
“I know.”
“You knew?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Marcus nearly lost his balance.
“You knew I had a son.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Eleven years.”
Marcus stared at him.
Then Marcus did something Daniel never expected.
He let go of one crutch.
And punched him.
Marcus fell immediately afterward.
But he didn't care.
Daniel didn't fight back.
Marcus looked up from the floor.
“You watched me mourn a life I thought I'd lost.”
“You watched me believe I would never have children.”
“You knew he existed.”
Daniel whispered.
“I was ordered to kill him.”
Marcus went silent.
Daniel looked at Eli.
“I didn't.”
“I falsified Anna's death.”
“I moved them.”
“I kept them hidden.”
Richard laughed.
“And now you want applause?”
Daniel turned toward him.
“No.”
“I want Marcus to understand why.”
Marcus struggled upright.
“Then make me understand.”
Daniel looked toward the approaching headlights outside.
“We don't have time.”
Marcus's voice became deadly calm.
“Eleven years.”
“You owe me five minutes.”
Daniel finally nodded.
“The Circle believed your father left you a copy of the ledger.”
“They kept you alive because they thought someday you'd reveal where it was.”
Marcus frowned.
“But I didn't know.”
“Exactly.”
“So they watched.”
“Waited.”
“And kept you dependent.”
Marcus looked at Richard.
“Then why try to kill me before?”
Daniel answered.
“Because the person who ordered your crash wasn't the Circle.”
Marcus stared.
“Who was it?”
Daniel looked toward Richard.
“Ask him who killed your father.”
Richard's face changed.
And Marcus finally understood.
May you like
Richard hadn't merely helped hide the truth.
He had started everything.
