Chapter 6 - The Seven Missing Years

Gabriel could not speak.

Maria did.

“No.”

Dominic heard her.

“Maria.”

Her face changed.

“You knew.”

“Yes.”

“For seven years?”

“Yes.”

“Where was he?”

Dominic laughed quietly.

“Ask Victor.”

Maria turned.

Victor looked stunned.

“I did not know.”

Dominic continued:

“That part is true.”

Gabriel’s voice returned.

“Where was my father?”

Dominic answered:

“Switzerland.”

Silence.

Elena frowned.

“Why Switzerland?”

Dominic said:

“Treatment.”

Gabriel stared.

“For what?”

“Brain injury.”

The crash.

The medication.

The confusion.

Gabriel understood.

“You sent him away.”

“Yes.”

“Why keep him alive?”

Dominic’s voice became colder.

“Because I needed signatures.”

Victor cursed.

Gabriel stared.

“Dad signed company documents.”

“Yes.”

“While injured.”

“Yes.”

“Did he know what he was signing?”

“Sometimes.”

Maria started crying.

Gabriel looked at the floor.

Dominic continued.

“He recovered more than expected.”

Victor whispered:

“Oh God.”

Gabriel looked at him.

“What?”

Victor understood something.

“Seven years after the crash.”

Maria stared.

Victor continued.

“That was when Dominic changed the trust.”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened.

Dominic laughed.

“Victor finally remembers.”

Gabriel said:

“What happened after seven years?”

Silence.

Then Dominic:

“Marco ran.”

Gabriel stopped.

“He escaped?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“I do not know.”

“You expect me to believe that.”

“I do not care what you believe.”

Maria stepped closer to the phone.

“Was he alive thirteen years ago?”

Dominic did not answer.

She repeated:

“Was Marco alive when I tried to come home?”

Dominic sighed.

“Yes.”

Maria broke.

Gabriel caught her.

Elena covered her mouth.

Victor stared at the wall.

Gabriel’s voice became dangerous.

“Where was he then?”

Dominic answered:

“Looking for you.”

Silence.

Maria sobbed.

Gabriel looked at Victor.

Victor whispered:

“I did not know.”

Dominic laughed.

“No.”

Then:

“But Charles Reed did.”

Gabriel frowned.

“Who?”

Victor went pale.

Maria looked at him.

“You know that name.”

Victor nodded.

“Private investigator.”

Gabriel stared.

“The investigator who photographed Dad’s car?”

Maria whispered:

“Yes.”

Dominic said:

“He found Marco.”

Gabriel asked:

“When?”

“Thirteen years ago.”

“The same year Mom wrote me.”

“Yes.”

Gabriel closed his eyes.

Everything was connected.

Dominic continued.

“Marco wanted Maria.”

“And me?”

“He wanted both of you.”

Gabriel’s face tightened.

“Then why didn’t he come?”

Dominic laughed.

“Because Charles Reed told him Maria was dead.”

Maria stopped breathing.

Gabriel stared.

“What?”

Victor whispered:

“No.”

Dominic continued.

“And told Maria Marco was dead.”

Maria looked at Victor.

Victor shook his head.

“I did not know.”

Gabriel’s voice was flat.

“Who paid Reed?”

Dominic said:

“Ask the doctor.”

Gabriel turned toward Victor.

Victor went still.

“No.”

Dominic laughed.

“You paid him.”

Victor looked sick.

“I paid Reed to find Marco.”

“And he did.”

“Yes.”

“But you never told him to lie.”

“No.”

Dominic said:

“Maybe.”

Gabriel’s voice sharpened.

“Where is Reed?”

Dominic answered:

“Dead.”

Arthur sighed.

“Of course.”

Dominic laughed.

“No.”

Then:

“Missing.”

Gabriel stared.

Dominic continued.

“Three weeks ago.”

Maria whispered:

“Three weeks?”

Gabriel looked at the prescription date.

Seven days ago.

Victor understood.

“Maria’s return.”

Dominic said:

“Exactly.”

Gabriel’s voice dropped.

“Someone started moving again.”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

Dominic paused.

Then:

“Marco.”

Silence.

Maria’s knees weakened.

Gabriel caught her.

Victor stared at the phone.

Elena whispered:

“Gabriel…”

Dominic continued.

“Your father is alive.”

Gabriel stopped breathing.

“Where?”

Dominic laughed softly.

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“That is why I took the red file.”

The call ended.