Chapter 10 - Jonathan Vale
Jonathan Vale had not disappeared.
He had become Daniel Voss.
A retired accountant living under a legally changed name in Oregon.
Federal investigators found him because Richard’s letter included an old Social Security number.
Voss refused to speak by phone.
Michael flew west with Detective Morales and Rachel.
Emma stayed in Chicago with Lily under police protection.
Voss opened his door after staring at Michael through the glass for nearly a full minute.
“You have her eyes,” he said.
Michael’s throat tightened. “Diane’s?”
“No. Mine.”
The old man stepped aside.
Inside, the house smelled like coffee and cedar.
There were no family photographs.
Voss sat across from Michael and looked at him without blinking.
“Did you know?” Michael asked.
“That you existed? Yes.”
“That I was your son?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you leave?”
“Because Diane told me Richard would destroy me.”
Michael’s jaw tightened. “Richard knew.”
“Not at first.”
Voss looked down.
“When he found out, he came to see me. I thought he was going to kill me.”
“What did he do?”
“He asked me to stay away.”
Michael flinched.
Voss continued. “Not because he hated you. Because he loved you. You were three. You called him Dad. He said I had no right to tear apart a child’s life because two adults had made a mess.”
Michael stared at the floor.
“Why did you change your name?”
“Diane.”
Voss’s face hardened.
“She started moving money through accounts I managed. When I refused to sign false statements, she threatened to tell Richard everything and blame me for the theft.”
“Did she steal then too?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Enough to know she would never stop.”
Voss stood and opened a desk drawer.
He placed an old cassette tape on the table.
“I recorded her once.”
“What’s on it?”
“Diane telling me exactly what would happen if Richard ever learned where the money went.”
Morales leaned forward. “Where did it go?”
Voss looked at Michael.
“To buy control of Bennett Group from inside the family.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It will.” Voss pushed the tape toward him. “Because the first person Diane paid wasn’t a banker.”
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“Who was it?”
“Your uncle Stephen.”
