“Michael.” The man smiled and extended a hand, exposing his expensive looking Rolex.
Michael stood up. “Patrick.” he said taking the hand.
“Come here.” Gripping his hand, Patrick pulled him into a hug. “Damn, it’s good to meet you at last.”
It should have felt weird, being hugged by a complete stranger, but it didn’t. He suddenly felt like a child again and he felt his eyes welling up as his father held him close.
“Sorry,” Patrick said releasing him. “I’ve been waiting to meet you for such a long time I just couldn’t help myself.” He smiled and slipped out of his coat, draping it over the back of one of the chairs. “I’ll go get a coffee, can I get you anything?”
“Thanks, I’m good.” Michael shook his head.
“I’ll be right back.”
Michael was glad of the opportunity to gather his thoughts. He hadn’t expected to react like that and it had shaken him. He realized that finding his father must mean more to him than he’d realized. Looking over he watched as Patrick charmed the woman behind the counter. He seemed to fill the room and he noticed several people looking at him admiringly. Despite the gray hair, he was a very handsome and confident man.
“I can’t believe I’m finally meeting you.” He said as he pulled out a chair and took a seat. “Michael, I’ve wanted to meet you since the day you were born, you need to believe that.” He leaned over the table earnestly, looking him straight in the eye. “I never wanted you to grow up without a father.”
Michael took a sip of his coffee, his mouth suddenly dry. “So why didn’t you?” he asked. “Meet me I mean?”
Patrick sighed. “Your mother decided it was for the best and I wasn’t in a position to argue.”
“Why? Why would she think it was for the best?” Michael was confused. If this man had wanted to be there, why hadn’t he been?
“Well, I’m not proud to admit it, but when I met your mother I was already married.”
Michael was taken aback. “What, and you just decided to use my mother for a bit of entertainment?” he snapped.
“No,” Patrick shook his head. “It wasn’t like that at all.” He sighed. “It was more of a marriage of convenience really, neither of us was very happy and we both had our...er...outside interests.”
It didn’t add up. “I’m sorry, but why did that stop you from seeing me? That kind of thing happens all the time and it’s not enough of a reason to stay out of your child’s life.”
“No, you’re right, it’s not,” he agreed. “But try and understand Michael, things were very different back then. It was better for your mother to be seen as a single mom than as a woman who’d had an affair with a married man.” He took a drink of his coffee. “Especially when that man was married to the governor’s daughter.”
Oh now I get it. “So this was about protecting you. Nothing to do with protecting me or my mother.”
Patrick looked uncomfortable. “I was just starting out in my career. If her father had found out I would have been finished.”
Michael didn’t know what to say. Part of him wanted to get up and leave. Walk out and never look back. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected but deep down the child that had been abandoned wanted to believe that his father was a hero; that there was a good reason why he’d stayed away. Instead he was faced with the truth that actually his father was just a coward and a selfish one at that.
In the end his curiosity won out and he stayed in his seat but his bitterness must have been obvious.
“I know that sounds selfish,” Patrick continued. “And I understand if you hate me right now. But I was not much more than a kid myself and I had nothing. I had no family, my parents were dead and I was alone in the world. Then I met this girl. She was rich, from a great family and could offer me everything I’d ever wanted. I just couldn’t mess that up.” he pleaded.
“So what did she get out of it?”
“She got a marriage where she could do what she liked. You see she didn’t like men and in those days, well, her father would have cut her off. So you see it benefitted us both.”
“And we got pushed to the side.” He was still angry but he was starting to understand the position he’d been. He wasn’t about to let him off the hook that easily though. “Have you any idea what it was like for me? I thought you were dead at first, and then that you were just some guy that mom had met in a bar. How do you think that made me feel?”
Patrick looked confused. “Didn’t your mom ever tell you the truth?”
“No she never did. I only found out about you after she died.”
“I’m so sorry, that must have been incredibly hard.” He gave a small smile. “That explains why you got in touch now then. I knew your mom had passed away but I though she must have told you about me years ago but you chose not to get in touch.”
“No, she didn’t and anyway, wouldn’t that have caused a problem for you if I had?”
He shook his head. “No, we divorced a long time ago. I wrote to your mom and told her and asked if I could get in touch and she told me that no, it was too late, it would cause you too much pain. She said she would tell you about me when you were eighteen and let you make your own decision. I guess she never did.”
“No.”
“So what about you? Are you married? Do I have any grandchildren?” He was smiling, trying to lighten the mood.
Michael didn’t know how much to tell him, he was a stranger after all. “I’m married yes, but we don’t have any children.”
“You’re still young, you have time.”
***
Mike’s head was spinning. It was so much to take in all at once, too much. He needed some time to think. “Look, thank you for coming and meeting me but I think I need a bit of time.”
“I understand, of course.” he cleared his throat. “Do you think we can meet again?”
“I don’t know, I just need to process all this okay?” He didn’t know what he wanted right now. “Look, how about I give you a call in a couple of days?”
“Okay son, thank you for giving me this chance.”
Michael couldn’t speak so he just nodded and stood up. Slipping on his coat he left the coffee shop without a backward glance. Son. He’d called him son. The word had pierced through him and was echoing round his head.
He barely noticed the rain as he walked to his car and his hair was soaked as he got into the driver’s seat and set off home.
Twenty-Four
Elliot barely had chance to take his coat off when he arrived in the office before the phone rang and Jenkins told them to report to his office.
“Any idea what that’s about?” he asked Lexi, raising his eyebrows.
“No idea at all but best we don’t keep him waiting.” She stood up and led the way out of the office with Elliot following close behind.
“Morning, Boss,” he said, closing the door behind him.
“We’ve got the lab reports back,” he didn’t return the greeting, jumping straight in to why he’d called them in. “All the police departments we contacted were able to get permission from the families to exhume the remains of the victims of the car wrecks. Apart from one, and she was cremated so we’ve no way of checking.” He took a deep breath. “You were right, none of them were who they were supposed to be and they’d all been ID’d using dental records.”
Elliot shared a glance with Lexi. “So one mistake with the dental records could happen, I get that, but that many? No way.”
Jenkins nodded. “No, no way that’s a coincidence.”
“This could be a break for us. We find out how that happened, it could lead us somewhere.”
“Absolutely. Now, I’ve spoken to all the other captains and they’re happy for us to take the lead on this for now.”
I bet you’re loving that, Elliot thought but didn’t say out loud. “Okay, we’ll get on it. And we’ll go and give Michael the good news.”
“Keep me informed.”
&nbs
p; “Yes, Boss.” Elliot turned to leave the office but Jenkins stopped him.
“Oh, and Elliot?”
“Yes, Boss?”
“I got a call from your old captain in Boston. It’s all been cleared for the time off you need.”
“Thanks, Boss.” Elliot could feel Lexi looking at him so he studiously avoided meeting her eyes as they left the office.
“So what do you make of that?” Lexi asked as they walked down the corridor back to their own office, not mentioning his need for time off.
“They were right. I can’t believe it took a couple of civilians to pick up on this.” It seemed so obvious now that they were starting to get a bigger picture. “If Sarah hadn’t stumbled on that website, we may never have known.” he shook his head. “Jesus, Lexi, how big is this thing?”
“I don’t know but we need to shut it down. Now.”
“First thing we need to do is tell Michael.”
“Okay, you do that and I’ll get started on looking into who carried out the ID’s in each of the cases. Let’s bring these women home.”
Twenty-Five
Michael put the phone down slowly. It wasn’t unexpected but somehow it seemed to make it more real now it had been confirmed by the police. Jennifer was alive. Well, she wasn’t in the wreck at least so she could be alive.
Quickly he punched in Sarah’s number. They hadn’t spoken since they’d got back into town and as her phone rang, he once again felt guilty for what they’d done.
“Sarah? Michael.”
“Hi Michael,” she paused. “Any news from the police yet?”
“That’s why I’m calling. I’ve just had detective Mitchell on the phone. You were right, Sarah. It wasn’t Jennifer in that car.”
“I knew it!” she shouted, and then started crying. “Oh God, I shouldn’t feel so happy when some poor soul obviously died but I can’t help it. She’s alive Michael, I just know it!”
Her excitement was contagious and he couldn’t help but smile. “I know, I feel it too.”
After the last few days and the meeting with his father it was nice to have something to smile about. “Look, why don’t you come over and we can celebrate?” He had no idea why he suggested it as the words slipped out of his mouth.
There was a slight hesitation before she replied. “Sounds great. I’ll be there in an hour.”
He was still smiling when he put the phone down.
***
The doorbell rang exactly an hour later and he opened the door to find Sarah brandishing a bottle. “I thought we could drink this. It’s been in my fridge for a few weeks.”
She brushed past him and into the kitchen, immediately uncorking the bottle and pouring them both a glass.
“Here’s to Jennifer coming home.” She clinked her glass against his.
“Sarah, we don’t know that Jennifer is coming home yet, we just know that wasn’t her in the car.” He didn’t want to let her get her hopes up too high.
“I know,” she frowned. “Just let me have my moment, will you?”
He felt like a heel. “Of course, I’m sorry,” he said smiling. “Come here.” he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “We’ll get her home, Sarah.”
He hadn’t meant the hug to be anything other than a supportive gesture but after a moment he felt something change and his body start to respond. He quickly let go and took a step back hoping she hadn’t noticed.
“So what happens next?” she asked and he was relieved that she didn’t seem to have noticed how uncomfortable he was.
“Well according to the detective, they have a lead they’re going to follow.”
“What lead?”
“They wouldn’t say but he sounded excited.”
“God, I hate not knowing what’s going on.” She took her glass and went to sit at the kitchen table. “Do you think she’s okay?” Her mood had slumped dramatically and now she looked like she was about to cry.
He pulled out a chair and sat next to her. “Honestly, I don’t know. But I do know that I can’t let myself think that she won’t be.”
She put her hand on top of his. “When this is all over things will be different.”
“What do you mean?” he gently removed his hand on the pretext of having a sip of his drink.
“I mean I’ve punished you for too long and it’s made things difficult for Jennifer. I can see now that you genuinely love her.”
He nodded. “I do,” he said, smiling again. “And I’m really glad that we’ve got past the other day.”
“So,” she drained her glass and went and got the bottle, bringing it back to the table. “What have you been up to for the past couple of days, did you get all your mom’s stuff organized?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Um, most of it.” He thought of the pile of papers he’d brought back with him from the house that were still in the living room. “I had a bit of a shock actually when I started going through them.” He had no idea why he told her that but something about the combination of the good news, the wine and the moment made him blurt it out.
“What kind of shock?” she was looking at him curiously.
“I found my father.”
“What? You always told me when we were dating that you didn’t know who your father was?”
“I didn’t, and my mom told me she didn’t either. Turns out she lied.”
“Oh Michael! How did you find out?”
They finished the bottle while he told her everything about the secret box and what he’d found. It felt good to share what had been going on and he was glad he decided to tell her.
“So are you going to call him?”
“I already have. Twice.” He confessed. “And I met him for a coffee this morning.”
“Mike, oh my God, how could you not tell me?” she shrieked excitedly. “Tell me everything, don’t leave anything out.”
She appeared genuinely interested as he repeated the conversation he’d had with his father.
“So what are you going to do? Are you going to see him again?”
“I don’t know. I’m really not sure what I want to do.”
“Michael, you have to see him again.” her tone brokered no argument. “I don’t think you realize how much you used to mention it. It was obviously a huge deal for you and now you get the chance to deal with that. You’d be mad to pass it up.”
He knew she was right. Regardless of what he’d done, or what his reasons were, Patrick Brady was still his father and he really did want to get to know him.
“You’re right,” he nodded.
“So what’s he like?” she pressed for more details.
“Well he’s obviously got money. You should have seen his clothes, they practically screamed expensive. And he was wearing a Rolex, they don’t come cheap.”
“Even more of a reason to stay in touch,” she laughed.
“Sarah!” he scolded half-heartedly, enjoying the moment of light relief.
“Did you tell him about Jennifer?”
He poured himself some more wine before answering, taking a moment. “No, it just didn’t seem like the right time, I’m not sure why.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not true, I do know why. It’s because I wanted it to be about me and him and not Jennifer, does that make me awful?” It sounded terrible even to his own ears but Sarah surprised him by agreeing.
“No, not awful. Everything has been about Jennifer since the accident, as it should be, but this is different. This is huge for you and it needed to be about you. I get that.”
I’ve really misjudged her, he thought as he looked at her. He’d resented her intrusion into his life with Jennifer but he realized now the problem wasn’t her, it was him. Him and his guilt over what had happened in the past. He could see now what he hadn’t been able to see then. That Sarah was special and deserved better.
“Thank you, that means a lot.”
“Anyway,” she looked at her watch. “I need to make tracks. I’ve got a couple o
f freelance jobs that are due to be completed this week and I haven’t even got started. I need an early night and an early start.”
“Okay and hey, thanks for listening.”
“No problem, and listen, Mike, do yourself a favour and call your dad. Tell him about Jennifer. Maybe he’s been waiting for the chance to be a proper father?”
Her words echoed around his head as he waved her off. Maybe she was right. He’d been seeing it from his point of view all this time, but it can’t have been easy on him knowing his son was growing up without him. Maybe it’s time to see what it’s like to have a father to lean on.
Twenty-Six
“Elliot, I think I’ve found something.” She’d spent the last couple of hours doing research online and making phone calls and she’d finally hit pay dirt.
“What have you got?” He came over to her desk and leaned over her shoulder so he could see her computer.
“Well the wrecks are too far apart for the ID’s to have been carried out by the same person so I immediately ruled out the local ME’s.”
“Makes sense,” Elliot agreed.
“So who else would be involved in the process?” Lexi asked.
“The dentists?”
“Well done.” She sounded like she was talking to a small child.
“Watch it,” he chuckled.
“So I looked into all the dentists but again, the same thing. No one dentist is going to be working in all those places so it can’t be that.”
“Okay, so you’re telling me what it’s not. I thought you said you’d found something?
“I have. Look.” She pointed at the screen. “This is a list of all the dentists whose patients were killed in the wrecks. Notice anything?”
“They’re all part of the same chain.”
She smiled. “Yes. Exactly. Every one of them is part of the Dentico Group.”
True Deceit (Blindsided Book 1) Page 10