Chapter 5 - The Man Who Shouldn't Exist
Lucas forgot how to breathe.
“What did you say?”
The nurse repeated it.
“He says he's Sophie's biological father.”
Lucas looked at his daughter.
Sophie sat beside Margaret.
Small.
Confused.
Innocent.
“No.”
Lucas whispered.
“That isn't possible.”
Rachel had never given him any reason to doubt Sophie was his.
Not once.
Sophie had his eyes.
His stubbornness.
His habit of wrinkling her nose when she concentrated.
Lucas had been there when she was born.
He had cut the cord.
He had held her against his chest while Rachel cried beside him.
This was impossible.
“Mr. Bennett?”
Lucas walked into the hallway.
“Do not let that man leave.”
“Security is with him.”
“I'm coming.”
He ended the call.
Vanessa watched him.
“What happened?”
Lucas didn't answer.
He looked at Margaret.
“Take Sophie home.”
“No.”
His mother's answer was immediate.
“Lucas, someone photographed her inside your house.”
He stopped.
She was right.
Home wasn't safe.
“Then take her to the Bennett office.”
Margaret frowned.
“Downtown?”
“Thirty-second floor.”
Private security.
Biometric elevators.
No public access.
Lucas knelt in front of Sophie.
“I need to go somewhere.”
Her eyes filled with fear.
“Don't leave me.”
His heart cracked.
“I'll come back.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
She held out her pinky.
Lucas wrapped his around hers.
“Nothing changes us.”
Sophie whispered:
“Even after today?”
Lucas understood what she meant.
What Vanessa had told her.
He kissed her forehead.
“Especially after today.”
Margaret left with Sophie and four security officers.
Lucas turned toward Hale.
“You're coming with me.”
Hale shook his head.
“Lucas—”
“You knew Rachel.”
“You knew someone followed her.”
“You knew Daniel had evidence.”
“And you kept all of it from me for four years.”
Lucas stepped closer.
“You're coming.”
Richard spoke from behind them.
“So am I.”
Lucas looked at him.
“Why?”
Richard's face was pale.
“Because I know Michael Reeves.”
The room went silent.
Lucas stared.
“Who is he?”
Richard looked at Vanessa.
Then at Lucas.
“He worked for me.”
“When?”
“Seven years ago.”
“What did he do?”
Richard hesitated.
“Private investigations.”
Lucas's jaw tightened.
“What was he investigating?”
Richard looked directly into his eyes.
“Rachel.”
Lucas felt another piece of his old life break.
They reached St. Matthew's twenty-five minutes later.
Lucas walked through the emergency department with Hale and two security officers.
Richard followed.
Vanessa insisted on coming.
Lucas hadn't wanted her there.
But every time he tried to leave her behind, she revealed another piece of information.
So he kept her close.
For now.
Michael Reeves was in a private room.
A police officer stood outside.
Lucas entered.
The man in the bed looked about forty.
Bruised face.
Bandage around his forehead.
IV in his arm.
He looked at Lucas.
Then smiled.
“You look exactly like the photographs.”
Lucas felt nothing but anger.
“You have my brother's wallet.”
Michael's smile disappeared.
“He gave it to me.”
“Where is Daniel?”
“I don't know.”
“Wrong answer.”
Michael looked toward Hale.
Recognition appeared instantly.
“Well.”
He laughed softly.
“Detective Hale.”
Hale said nothing.
Michael looked at Richard.
Then Vanessa.
“This is almost a reunion.”
Lucas grabbed the bedrail.
“You said you're Sophie's father.”
Michael looked at him.
“I said I might be.”
“Might?”
“Rachel came to me seven years ago.”
Lucas stared.
“She knew you?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Michael looked toward Richard.
“I was following her.”
Lucas's fists tightened.
“Why?”
“Because Richard thought she was stealing company information.”
Richard spoke.
“She was.”
Michael laughed.
“No.”
He looked at Lucas.
“She was collecting evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
Michael's eyes became serious.
“Human lives being ruined.”
Lucas frowned.
“Explain.”
“Cole Development had been buying distressed properties through shell companies.”
“Families were forced out.”
“Records disappeared.”
“Inspectors were paid.”
“People who fought back were threatened.”
“Rachel discovered Bennett money was being used to finance some of it.”
Lucas looked at Richard.
Richard said nothing.
Michael continued.
“She thought you were involved.”
That hurt more than Lucas expected.
“She thought I was a criminal?”
“At first.”
“What changed?”
“She investigated you.”
“And?”
Michael smiled faintly.
“She realized you were being used too.”
Lucas looked away.
Rachel had carried all of this alone.
“Where does Sophie fit?”
Michael became quiet.
“Rachel needed someone outside both families.”
“She chose me.”
“Why?”
“Because I hated Richard.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“The feeling was mutual.”
Michael continued.
“We met secretly for months.”
Lucas stared at him.
“Were you sleeping with my wife?”
Vanessa looked away.
Hale stared at the floor.
Michael didn't.
“No.”
Lucas studied him.
“You expect me to believe you?”
“I don't care what you believe.”
Michael reached toward the bedside table.
The officer stopped him.
“Easy.”
Michael nodded toward a plastic evidence bag.
“My jacket.”
Lucas picked it up.
Inside was an old photograph.
Rachel and Michael.
Standing beside a storage unit.
Between them was a box.
Lucas removed the photograph.
On the back Rachel had written:
If anything happens to me, Michael knows where the second key is.
Lucas looked at him.
“What key?”
Michael's expression changed.
“The one Daniel has been trying to find for four years.”
Lucas leaned closer.
“What does it open?”
“A safe-deposit box.”
“Where?”
Michael shook his head.
“I won't tell you until Sophie is safe.”
“She is safe.”
“No.”
Michael's answer was immediate.
“She isn't.”
Lucas's stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?”
Michael looked toward the door.
“They know where she is.”
Lucas grabbed his phone.
He called Margaret.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
He called his security chief.
No answer.
Lucas's pulse exploded.
He called the Bennett office.
The receptionist answered.
“Bennett Development.”
“This is Lucas.”
Her voice changed.
“Mr. Bennett.”
“Did my mother arrive?”
Silence.
“Did she arrive with Sophie?”
“Sir...”
“What?”
“There was an incident in the garage.”
Lucas felt the room tilt.
“What incident?”
“The security vehicles arrived.”
“But the doors were open.”
Lucas couldn't speak.
“And?”
The receptionist began crying.
“The guards were unconscious.”
Lucas gripped the phone.
“Where is my daughter?”
“We can't find her.”
Lucas nearly dropped the phone.
Then his personal phone vibrated.
A photograph arrived from an unknown number.
Sophie sat inside a dark room.
Still wearing her flower-girl dress.
Still holding her little basket.
Beside her was Margaret.
Both appeared frightened but unharmed.
Underneath the photograph was a message.
BRING RACHEL'S CARD.
Another message arrived.
BRING MICHAEL REEVES.
Then a third.
Lucas stared at it.
His entire body went cold.
AND DON'T TRUST VANESSA.
Lucas slowly lifted his eyes.
Vanessa was standing in the doorway.
Her phone was in her hand.
And on its screen was the exact same photograph.
But her message was different.
May you like
Lucas saw only six words before she turned the screen away.
GOOD. HE STILL BELIEVES YOU.
