Chapter 10 - The Man I Called Father
For thirty-eight years, I believed my father was the strongest man I knew.
Richard Morrison wasn't affectionate.
He didn't hug me when I won awards.
He didn't attend school plays.
He didn't tell me he was proud.
But when I needed money to launch Morrison Dynamics, he gave me my first investment.
When the company nearly collapsed during the financial crisis, he introduced me to investors who saved it.
When Lauren died, he stood beside me at the funeral and placed one hand on my shoulder.
"Men like us don't fall apart, Daniel."
That was what he told me.
"People are depending on you."
I had spent fourteen months living according to those words.
Now I stared at Lauren's face on the laptop screen.
And wondered whether the man who taught me to survive had helped destroy the only person who ever taught me how to live.
"Your father, Daniel."
Lauren's recorded voice seemed to echo long after the words ended.
I reached for the laptop.
"Play it again."
Thomas Keene shook his head.
"There's more to the recording."
I swallowed.
"Then let it continue."
Lauren looked away from the camera.
Her eyes were red.
"I know what you're thinking."
She pressed her fingers together.
"You're going to tell yourself there must be another explanation."
My chest tightened.
"Because that's what I told myself."
She exhaled.
"Richard has been using his influence over the company's subsidiaries to move money through charitable programs."
I stared at the screen.
"The money isn't going where the records say it's going."
Lauren lifted a folder.
"The Children's Horizon Project was supposed to help sick children stay connected to their classrooms."
Her voice broke.
"Instead, millions have disappeared into companies with no real employees, no functioning offices, and no legitimate connection to the hospitals."
She wiped her cheek.
"I found evidence of forged approvals, hidden ownership arrangements, and falsified vendor certifications."
Keene began taking notes.
Lauren leaned closer to the camera.
"Charles Voss has been helping him."
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Charles had been my father's choice.
Richard introduced us before Morrison Dynamics became successful.
I had believed Charles was loyal to me.
Perhaps his loyalty had always belonged somewhere else.
"Rebecca knows," Lauren continued.
"She helped create some of the records."
I gripped the edge of the desk.
"But I don't think Rebecca understands how dangerous this has become."
Lauren looked frightened.
"Daniel, someone followed me from the school last Thursday."
My pulse hammered.
"A man approached me in the parking lot and told me to stop asking questions."
She swallowed.
"He knew where the twins went to school."
I heard Marcus curse under his breath.
Lauren wiped at her eyes again.
"I went to Richard."
I leaned forward.
"I wanted to believe there was an explanation."
Her mouth trembled.
"He told me to focus on our children and leave the company to the people who understood it."
A long pause.
"Then he told me that accidents happen to families who don't know when to stop."
The room seemed to lose all its air.
I stared at the screen.
Lauren looked directly at the camera.
"I don't know whether that was a threat or a warning."
Her voice softened.
"But I know I can't ignore it."
She inhaled.
"I'm giving the evidence to Evelyn Shaw."
I glanced toward Keene.
He nodded.
Lauren continued.
"If something happens to me, please find Evelyn."
She reached toward the camera.
Then stopped.
"And Daniel?"
Her expression changed.
The fear was still there.
But underneath it was the woman I remembered.
The woman who challenged me.
The woman who kissed our boys goodnight even when they were already asleep.
"Don't let this turn you into someone they can't recognize."
I felt tears running down my face.
"Jordan and Justin need their father."
She smiled sadly.
"Not his company."
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
I sat staring at the black screen.
Then I lowered my head.
For the first time since Lauren's funeral, I cried without trying to stop.
Not quietly.
Not politely.
I cried like a man who had finally understood the full weight of what he had lost.
Marcus moved toward the door.
Keene stayed where he was.
Neither interrupted.
When I finally lifted my head, the room was dark.
"Where is my father?" I asked.
Marcus checked his phone.
"According to his office, he's at the Morrison estate in Greenwich."
I stood.
"Call him."
Keene rose immediately.
"Daniel, no."
I turned.
"He threatened my wife."
"We have a recorded allegation, not a completed criminal investigation."
"Did you hear what she said?"
"Every word."
"Then why are we standing here?"
"Because confronting him without understanding what he controls could put your children in danger."
That stopped me.
I looked toward the ceiling.
My sons were asleep upstairs.
Or trying to sleep.
For the first time, I considered what Richard might do if he knew Lauren's evidence had survived.
Keene stepped closer.
"You have something powerful."
He pointed toward the laptop.
"But you don't yet know who can be trusted."
I lowered myself into the chair.
"Then what do we do?"
"We preserve the evidence."
"Then?"
"We find Evelyn Shaw."
"Then?"
"We determine what actually happened to Lauren."
I stared at him.
"And if my father ordered it?"
Keene didn't look away.
"Then we make sure he answers for it."
A soft knock interrupted us.
Annie stood outside the study.
Her eyes moved from my face to the dark laptop.
"Mr. Morrison?"
I tried to steady my voice.
"Is something wrong?"
She hesitated.
"Jordan woke up."
I closed my eyes.
"Nightmare?"
She nodded.
"He keeps asking for his mother."
I stood automatically.
Then stopped.
For years, my first instinct had been to ask Annie or one of the nannies to handle it.
Tonight, something inside me refused.
"I'll go."
Annie looked surprised.
"Of course."
I walked upstairs.
Jordan was sitting in bed.
His cheeks were wet.
Justin slept beside him, one arm thrown over his brother's pillow.
When Jordan saw me, he whispered, "Daddy?"
I sat down.
"Hey, buddy."
"Mommy was in my dream."
My chest tightened.
"What happened?"
"She was trying to come home."
I stroked his hair.
"But the door wouldn't open."
I swallowed.
"That sounds scary."
He nodded.
"Really scary."
I pulled him against me.
"I'm here."
His fingers wrapped around my shirt.
"Can you stay?"
"Yes."
"All night?"
I looked toward the door.
Annie was standing there.
She gave me a small nod.
I turned back to my son.
"All night."
Jordan lay against my chest.
After a few minutes, his breathing slowed.
I thought he had fallen asleep.
Then he whispered something.
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Grandpa said Mommy was naughty."
My entire body went cold.
I looked down.
"What?"
Jordan's eyes remained closed.
"He said she should have listened."
I couldn't move.
"When did he say that?"
Jordan rubbed his face against my shirt.
"At the big house."
My father's estate.
"Was Mommy there?"
He shook his head.
"After she went away."
I felt sick.
"What else did Grandpa say?"
Jordan opened his eyes.
"He told Mrs. Vale not to worry."
"About what?"
Jordan stared at me.
Then whispered:
"Because the lady who saw the car was gone too."
I held him tighter.
Evelyn Shaw.
My father knew there had been a witness.
And apparently, he believed she had disappeared.
But the worst part came moments later.
Justin stirred beside us.
His eyes opened.
He looked directly at me.
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Grandpa said he can take us away if you don't behave."
My blood turned to ice.
May you like
And suddenly I realized why my children had been so frightened of losing me.
Someone had been teaching them that loving their father could get them punished.
