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By Root 649 0

threats to me to lend credence to the idea that the Russians had long arms. He certainly convinced me that was the case. I honestly believed I was in danger." Charles paused, clearing his throat. "But in retrospect, I think the real reason Brady had me die was to try to flush out Sarah and Julia. He thought Sarah cared for me. He thought if anything would draw her out of hiding, it would be my funeral. She'd come to the service; then he would find out if Julia had the stones."

Alex had never considered that possibility. It made sense. "And later? He never told you anything over the years? What about the other day? Why did Brady make you disappear again?"

"He didn't want me to tell you the story. He tried to convince me I needed to keep silent for your protection, but I knew you wouldn't stop looking. And I couldn't stand the thought of you searching for answers that might risk your life, so I wanted to help you. In the end, I almost got you killed. You found the treasure, and Brady followed you to it."

"So the whole government moving you out of your house again, that was all engineered by Brady? He had a hell of a lot of power."

"Yes," Charles agreed. "Too much. No one ever suspected he was a double agent. Now I believe we may find out other terrible crimes he committed over the years."

"So there was never a time in the last twenty-five years when you didn't think you could come out of hiding?" Alex queried again. "You must have wondered if the danger still existed."

"I know you can't understand, but for at least the first five or six years, I did still believe in the danger. Brady would occasionally catch up to me, relay information that I now know was false. He would question me about Sarah, ask me if I'd heard from her. He kept saying he wanted her to come in, to stop hiding, to be able to live her own life. They were more lies, but I believed him. And then there came a time when I just didn't think I had the right to go back and interrupt your life. Your mother had remarried. You seemed to be doing well."

"And how would you know that?"

"I told you, I watched you sometimes, at school or at one of your games."

It gave Alex the chills to think his father had been that close to him, and he'd never known.

The front door suddenly opened. "Alex, is that you?" his mother asked. "Who are you talking to?"

Fortunately, his father had his back to the front door. Charles was staring straight at Alex, and there was suddenly fear in his eyes. Alex didn't know what to do, how to make this easier for everyone involved. As soon as his father turned around, she'd get the shock of her life.

"Mom," he said tentatively, "I want you to take a deep breath and try to stay calm."

Her eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"

"It's Dad," Alex said. He nodded to Charles. "Turn around."

His father turned so slowly, Alex felt like he was watching a movie. His mother's eyes grew wider and wider until she let out a small cry, putting a hand to her heart.

"No," she said, shaking her head, backing toward the front door.

Alex jogged around his father and up the steps to his mother, putting his arm around her trembling shoulders.

"Who is he?" she whispered.

"It's Dad," Alex said. "He's alive. He's been alive all these years."

His father put up a hand in entreaty. "Kate," he murmured. "I'm sorry."

She put up her own hand as he took a step forward. "This isn't possible. I must be dreaming. This is a nightmare and you're both in it."

"It's real, Mom." Alex's hand tightened on her shoulder. "You always thought his death was suspicious. That's because it never happened."

"I don't understand."

"He's- "

"Let me explain," Charles said firmly. "I need to do this, not you, Alex. Can I come in, Kate? Can I tell you what happened and why?"

Kate turned to look at Alex, her eyes seeking confirmation. "Is it really him?"

"Yes."

For a moment, she looked lost, panicked, completely unlike the mother he'd known. But ever so slowly, she regained her composure. Her back stiffened. Her head went up. Her jaw tightened.

"Then I guess you should come in,"