True Deceit (Blindsided Book 1) (12 page)

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“It’s a website, on the dark web. We think the people responsible for it are kidnapping women and selling their ‘services’ through it.”

“What? Oh my God, that’s awful.”

Lexi nodded. “Yes, it is. That’s why we need your help. Our guy has his hands tied but you don’t. Would you take a look?”

Alexander looked from Lexi to Elliot. “Er…”

“It’s okay, you can trust Elliot,” Lexi immediately reassured him, sensing his hesitation.

“Your secret is safe with me,” Elliot confirmed.

“Okay, I’ll take a look. I can’t promise anything though, these dark web guys are incredibly skilled.”

“Thanks Alexander.” Elliot handed him Sarah’s laptop. “Right, I’d better get off.” He stood up. “Nice to see you again.” He shook Alexander’s hand.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Lexi said as she saw him out.

“Such a nice young man,” Lexi jumped as she closed the front door, she hadn’t heard her mom come up behind her.

“Mom, not again.”

She shrugged. “I just want you to be happy, darling.”

“I know that.” She gave her mom a hug. “But it won’t be with him. Okay?”

“Well, you know best,” she patted her on the cheek and walked off towards the kitchen.

“Mom, still trying to set you up, eh?” Alexander was leaning against the door to the living room.

Lexi sighed. “Yeah.”

“Come on, come and spend a bit of time with your niece,” he said, as he turned and went back inside.

Trina was playing with a couple of Barbie dolls on the carpet and Lexi just stood and watched her for a moment. She was beautiful with a head of dark curls, just like her father. “She’s getting so big.”

“Yeah I know. Hard to believe she’ll be four next month.” Alex came and stood next to her and put an arm around her shoulder.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being such a good auntie. I know it must be hard.”

“Don’t be silly.” She moved away and went to sit on the couch. He was right though. It was hard. She came from a big family and had always imagined that she would have her own one day. She’d even decided that she wanted to have four kids, two boys and two girls. All she needed to do was find the perfect man to have them with.

“How is Jane?” She’d always gotten on fine with Alex’s ex-wife and she’d been as shocked as anyone when she’d found out about the affair.

“She’s fine. I found out yesterday that Trina is going to have a new little brother or sister.” He didn’t look at her and kept his eyes on Trina and she could tell that the news had hurt him. Jane had left him for her lover and as soon as the divorce had been made final, she’d married him.

“I’m sorry, Alex.” She put her hand over his and squeezed.

“Enough about me,” he turned to face her. “Have you thought any more about adoption?”

She hadn’t. The idea that she could never have kids of her own hadn’t sunk in yet and she still had that picture of her perfect family in her mind. Until she learned to accept that it was never going to become a reality, she couldn’t think about alternatives. “Not yet.”

Alex opened his mouth but she stopped him. “Not now, Alex, okay?”

He smiled. “Okay, Sis, but you know where I am if you need to talk.”

“So,” she changed the subject. “Do you think you’ll be able to help us?”

He frowned. “I honestly don’t know but I’ll take a look, see what I can come up with.”

“Thanks, Alex.”

Mike felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He had no doubt that they did the right thing in telling the detectives what they found, he just wished they had done it when they first found Jennifer’s picture.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing,
he thought wryly. Still, it was in their hands now and his mind turned to thoughts of his father. Sarah hadn’t stayed long after the detectives left and once he was alone he retrieved the business card with his father’s number on it. Turning it over in his hand he picked up the phone.

“Mike.” His father answered almost immediately. “I’m so glad you called back.”

“I said I would.”

“I know, but I wasn’t sure.”

“Listen, I think we should meet but is that even possible? You could be in Alaska, for all I know.”

His father chuckled. “I’m not. I’m a couple of hours away and I’d love to meet.” He continued. “How about tomorrow?”

Mike was slightly taken aback, it was all happening so fast. “Er…okay. Yes, why not.” He made up his mind. It was time.

They made arrangements to meet the following day and Mike put the phone down, noticing that his hand was shaking.

I’m finally going to meet my father. It didn’t seem possible.

***

The warm air enveloped him as he opened the door and stepped inside, providing a sharp contrast to the frigid air outside. He could smell the coffee in the air, and the sound of the coffee machine behind the counter and the conversation of the patrons made the atmosphere a welcoming one.

Mike had got here early intentionally. They’d arranged to meet at 2 p.m., and it was now just after 1:30 p.m. Unwrapping his scarf from around his neck his looked around for a place to sit, spotting an empty table at the back of the room. Making his way over he took off his coat and placed it with the scarf on the back of a chair.
May as well grab a coffee while I’m waiting.

After a short wait he carried his cappuccino over to the table and took a seat facing the door. He was incredibly nervous. It was a moment that he dreamt of as a child. Even after his mother had told him that she didn’t know who his father was, it had never stopped him dreaming. And now he was going to finally meet him. He was suddenly gripped by fear that he wouldn’t know what to say.
Let’s face it, he could be a bum for all you know.
He didn’t think so, though. His voice on the phone had been educated, polished, and he’d sounded intelligent.

A sudden gust of cold air made him look up from his cup nervously but it wasn’t him, just a couple with their arms around each other with eyes for no one else. He was just about to look away when they stopped and held the door for someone coming in behind them.

The man smiled and thanked them before looking around the interior. Michael knew immediately it was him and raised his hand in a small awkward wave. The man smiled and made his way through the tables over to him. He was tall, over 6ft, and slim under his long dark overcoat. As he got closer, Michael could see that the coat was an expensive one and that underneath he wore a pair of dark chino’s and a white shirt. His shoes looked like they may have been handmade and they just added to the aura of wealth that exuded from him.

“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.

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.”