Chapter 12 - The Truth About My FatherMy mother held my shoulders.
“I know how it sounds.”
“It sounds insane.”
“It is.”
“Dad ordered your kidnapping?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To stop me from exposing him.”
I stepped back.
“My father was trying to destroy Northstar.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“He was trying to take it.”
I couldn't speak.
The image of my father in my mind cracked apart.
“He lied to me.”
“He lied to everyone.”
“Then why help me?”
“Because he loved you.”
“That doesn't excuse anything.”
“No.”
My mother looked exhausted.
“He built Northstar with Ethan's father. They became enemies when the money grew.”
“And my mother?”
“I found the accounts.”
“You were investigating them.”
“Yes.”
“And then they took you.”
“Yes.”
“Why leave me alone?”
She started crying.
“Because your father believed the only way to protect you was to make you believe he had died.”
“Four years.”
“I know.”
“He let me mourn him.”
“I know.”
Then a loud crash came from upstairs.
We ran.
Ethan stood in the hallway.
Blood on his sleeve.
His father was gone.
“What happened?”
“He escaped.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
My mother's face changed.
“He took the ledger.”
“What ledger?”
“The original Northstar ledger.”
I looked at Ethan.
“Where is Vanessa?”
“Missing.”
Everything seemed to be falling apart again.
Then a phone rang.
My father's number.
I answered.
“Claire.”
His voice was calm.
“You found your mother.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“I know what you did.”
A pause.
“Do you?”
“You built Northstar.”
“Yes.”
“You put money in my name.”
“Yes.”
“You orchestrated my marriage.”
Silence.
Then:
“No.”
“What?”
“I did not orchestrate your marriage.”
I looked at Ethan.
My father continued.
“Ethan chose you.”
“Then why did you let it happen?”
“Because I needed him close.”
“Close to what?”
“To me.”
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“I wanted Ethan to betray his father.”
I stared at my husband.
My father laughed quietly.
“You think the story is about money.”
“Isn't it?”
“No.”
“Then what is it about?”
“The ledger.”
“What is in it?”
“Names.”
“Whose names?”
“Everyone who owns this city.”
My blood went cold.
Politicians.
Judges.
Police commanders.
Business leaders.
The people who had spent decades controlling Seattle from behind closed doors.
My father had their names.
“What are you going to do with it?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why keep it?”
“To protect you.”
“You've done a terrible job.”
Silence.
Then my father said:
“Ask Ethan what happened on June 14.”
I turned.
Ethan froze.
“Why?”
My father's voice lowered.
“Because he was there when your mother disappeared.”
The line ended.
I looked at Ethan.
“Where were you?”
He didn't answer.
“Ethan.”
He looked at me.
“I was there.”
My chest tightened.
“What happened that night?”
He closed his eyes.
“I watched your father take her.”
My mother whispered:
“He tried to save me.”
I turned toward her.
“What?”
She looked at Ethan.
“He was twenty-five.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because your father threatened his life.”
Ethan looked at me.
“There was something else.”
“What?”
He swallowed.
“I was the one who signed the order.”
I stared at him.
“What order?”
“The order that officially declared your mother dead.”
Silence.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
A photograph.
My father stood in a room filled with files.
Beside him was Vanessa.
Alive.
And smiling.
May you like
The caption read:
You still don't know which one of us is lying.
