Chapter 4 - The Man My Father Tried to Erase
They traveled to Maine.
Richard drove.
Adrian sat beside him.
Marissa sat in the back holding Owen.
She still didn't understand why her life had suddenly become dangerous.
“Why did my father leave me?” she asked.
Richard answered carefully.
“He didn't.”
“Then why did everyone tell me he was dead?”
“Because someone wanted you to believe it.”
“Who?”
Richard looked at Adrian.
“Edward.”
Marissa went pale.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
At an abandoned Whitmore property, they discovered a hidden basement.
Inside was an old crib.
A faded name was written on the wall.
MARISSA.
Under it:
“Daughter of Thomas Whitmore.”
Marissa touched the letters.
She began to cry.
Not loudly.
Just silently.
Adrian stood beside her.
“I’m sorry.”
She shook her head.
“I don't want your apology.”
“I know.”
“I want the truth.”
Then a voice came from behind them.
“You deserve it.”
They turned.
An elderly man stood in the doorway.
Daniel Mercer.
Thomas's closest friend.
Daniel told them Thomas had survived the crash.
He had lived for three days.
Edward's men had reached the hospital.
Thomas's treatment was stopped.
Daniel had been too late.
He handed Adrian a videotape.
Edward appeared on it.
“You're going to sign the papers.”
Thomas refused.
Edward leaned toward him.
“I can take anything.”
The screen went black.
Marissa whispered:
“He killed my father.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
May you like
Then he looked at Adrian.
“And he has been trying to kill the truth ever since.”
