Chapter 5 - THE NIGHT MY FATHER DISAPPEARED
My father died twelve years earlier.
At least, that was what I'd been told.
A highway accident.
A truck.
A rainy night.
A funeral with a closed casket.
I remembered my mother crying so hard she couldn't stand.
I remembered the insurance company denying part of the claim.
I remembered how quickly our lives changed.
But I had never questioned the official story.
Until now.
Mrs. Ellis told me that Thomas Carter had worked as a mechanic for a transportation company connected to the Voss family.
One night, he discovered that a vehicle assigned to Adrien's father had been tampered with.
He tried to warn the family.
But the warning came too late.
A crash occurred.
Adrien's father died.
Adrien, then twenty-five, survived because Thomas pulled him from the wreckage.
I stared.
"My father saved him?"
Mrs. Ellis nodded.
"He did."
"Then why didn't anyone tell us?"
Her eyes filled.
"Because Thomas was frightened."
"Of what?"
She looked toward the door.
"Of the people responsible."
My heart pounded.
"Who were they?"
Mrs. Ellis hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Someone inside our own organization."
At that moment, Adrien entered the library.
He stopped when he saw the envelope.
His expression changed.
"Mother."
Mrs. Ellis looked up.
"I told her."
Adrien closed his eyes.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then he looked at me.
"Sophie."
I stood.
"Did you know my father?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Did he save your life?"
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"Then why did you never tell me?"
Adrien's jaw tightened.
"Because I didn't know you existed."
I stared.
He continued.
"Your father disappeared after the crash. We were told he had gone into hiding."
My heart stopped.
"Disappeared?"
Adrien nodded.
I shook my head.
"No. He died."
Adrien looked at me.
"That's what we were told later."
I felt cold.
"Are you saying my father might still be alive?"
Adrien hesitated.
May you like
Then answered carefully.
"I'm saying the story we were given may not be true."
