Chapter 11 - The Father Who Waited in the Dark
Zayden did not believe Jonathan simply because the DNA test looked official.
Investigators verified it independently.
The result was real.
Jonathan Crane was his biological father.
Zayden felt almost nothing when told.
Perhaps because too many revelations had arrived too quickly.
Raymond remained his father in every memory that mattered.
Jonathan was biology.
Nothing more.
At least that was what Zayden told himself.
Jonathan contacted police voluntarily the next morning.
He agreed to meet at a secure federal office.
No immunity.
No promises.
He walked into the interview room wearing a plain gray shirt and dark trousers.
Zayden watched through one-way glass.
The resemblance was undeniable once he knew where to look.
Jaw.
Eyes.
The way Jonathan pressed his lips together when thinking.
Vargas asked the first question.
“Why have you been hiding?”
Jonathan smiled faintly.
“Because Carmen Ferris is very good at burying people.”
“Are you referring to Raymond?”
“I’m referring to anyone.”
“Did you kill Paul Dane?”
“No.”
“Did Raymond?”
Jonathan paused.
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“I was there.”
Zayden stepped closer to the glass.
Vargas continued.
“At the Ferris residence?”
“Yes.”
“The night Dane died?”
“Yes.”
“Explain.”
Jonathan folded his hands.
“Raymond called me.”
“Why?”
“He wanted help getting out.”
“Out of what?”
“His marriage. Carmen’s network. All of it.”
“Why call you?”
“Because he knew what Carmen had done to me.”
Jonathan told a story beginning thirty-five years earlier.
He and Carmen had a brief relationship.
She became pregnant.
Jonathan was unstable then.
Angry.
Drinking.
Connected to people involved in illegal debt collection.
Carmen feared him.
Raymond, already in love with her, offered protection.
Jonathan disappeared after being threatened with prosecution.
Years later, he returned sober and wanted contact with his son.
Carmen refused.
Raymond agreed with her initially.
Then Jonathan began uncovering New Horizons.
“Why?”
“Because Carmen threatened another woman with losing her child.”
“Rachel Holloway?”
Jonathan nodded.
Zayden’s breathing stopped for a second.
“Rachel helped me find records,” Jonathan said.
“What records?”
“Proof that Carmen and Richard Vale had manipulated adoptions.”
“Why would Raymond protect Carmen?”
“He protected Zayden.”
Zayden closed his eyes.
Jonathan continued.
“Raymond believed exposing Carmen would drag the boy into court, newspapers, custody disputes. So he paid people off. He covered things. He kept quiet.”
“Until?”
“Until Jessica.”
Zayden opened his eyes.
Vargas frowned.
“What does Jessica have to do with it?”
“Nothing at first. Raymond met her mother years before Zayden met Jessica.”
“Diane Holloway?”
“Yes.”
“What did Diane know?”
“That Rachel had copied the New Horizons files.”
“Where were they?”
Jonathan looked directly toward the one-way glass.
It was impossible for him to see Zayden.
Yet it felt as though he could.
“Hidden inside the Ferris family.”
Zayden frowned.
Vargas asked, “Meaning what?”
“Rachel knew Carmen would search her home.”
“So?”
“She gave the evidence to Diane.”
“And Diane gave it to?”
“Raymond.”
“Where did Raymond hide it?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Then why did Carmen target Jessica?”
“Because she believes Diane told Jessica before dying.”
Jessica had never known.
Carmen apparently did not believe that.
The scheme against Jessica now made terrible sense.
Discredit her.
Separate her from Zayden.
Gain access to Olivia.
Use custody pressure to force disclosure.
“But why Olivia?” Vargas asked.
Jonathan’s face darkened.
“Because Carmen believed Jessica would surrender anything to protect her daughter.”
Zayden’s hands curled into fists.
“Did Carmen intend physical harm?”
“I don’t know.”
“What happened the night Raymond disappeared?”
Jonathan leaned back.
“Carmen discovered Raymond planned to expose everything.”
“Then?”
“Richard sent Paul Dane to recover the blue ledger.”
“They fought?”
“Yes.”
“Who pushed Dane?”
“No one.”
Vargas narrowed her eyes.
“He fell?”
“Dane attacked Raymond on the balcony. The railing broke.”
“Convenient.”
“It happened.”
“What happened after?”
“Raymond panicked. Carmen saw an opportunity.”
“Explain.”
“She said if everyone believed Raymond was dead, she could control the estate while Raymond disappeared.”
“Why would Raymond agree?”
“He didn’t at first.”
“What changed?”
Jonathan stared down.
“Carmen threatened Zayden.”
Zayden stopped breathing.
“How?”
“She had evidence that could make it appear Zayden’s company participated in New Horizons money laundering.”
False records again.
The same weapon.
“Raymond agreed to disappear temporarily while gathering proof.”
“Four years is temporary?”
“It became complicated.”
“Where is he now?”
Jonathan looked up.
“I don’t know.”
Vargas stared at him.
“You were at his cabin nine days ago.”
“Yes.”
“So you saw him.”
“No.”
“Your fingerprints were there.”
“I went looking.”
“Why?”
“Because he sent me a message.”
“What message?”
Jonathan reached into his pocket slowly.
An agent stopped him.
He explained it was only paper.
They removed the folded note.
Three handwritten words.
Carmen found Olivia.
Zayden slammed open the observation-room door before anyone could stop him.
Jonathan looked up as he entered.
For the first time, biological father and son stood face-to-face.
Zayden placed both hands on the table.
“If you know anything that puts my daughter in danger, you tell me now.”
Jonathan studied him.
“You look like me.”
“I don’t care.”
“You should.”
“I had a father.”
Pain briefly crossed Jonathan’s face.
Zayden continued.
“My daughter is five. My wife has been terrorized. My mother forged documents, stole money, and burned my child’s hands while twenty adults ate dinner. So do not waste one second trying to make this about you and me.”
Jonathan nodded slowly.
“Good.”
“What?”
“Raymond raised you right.”
Zayden almost struck him.
Instead, Jonathan said:
“Carmen isn’t the person you should fear most.”
“Who is?”
“The person she reports to.”
Zayden froze.
“J?”
Jonathan nodded.
“Who is J?”
May you like
Jonathan answered.
“I don’t know his real name.”
