Page 56 of Protecting Silver
“Decker.” The newcomer grinned. “Can I ask why you wanted me here?”
“Come into my office.” Douglas pointed in the direction he wanted the other man to go. Once inside the office, Douglas closed the door behind him and studied the other man.
“I’ll get right to the point, Daniel arrived earlier today, and can only stay until Tuesday, he has to get back to his office by Wednesday.”
“Okay, but what does that have to do with me?”
“He asked his mother and me whether we ever gave a child up for adoption.”
“Holy shit, do you know why he asked that?”
“No, he said he wanted to talk to everyone about why he’s here. I have no clue why. Anna, Dad, Mom and I discussed the option of finally telling the kids about Mikey. That’s why you’re here.” Douglas opened the wall safe and withdrew a thick file folder, and after closing up the safe, he handed the file to Decker. “This is everything I have on Mikey’s case. I know there isn’t, or you would have contacted me, but are there any new developments?”
John Decker sat heavily in one of the chairs before the desk, took the folder from Douglas, and flipped to the last page. He read it to refresh his memory, then shook his head. “No, and I can’t tell you how pissed I was when the Bureau forced me to retire without solving this case. It still stands as an open case. Stone cold, but still open. I know you probably feel the same way, but in my heart, I pray that Mikey is alive somewhere out there living his life the best way he can. Getting everything he wants and desires.”
“Yeah, that’s how we feel. In our hearts he’s alive and well, but our brains are telling us that it’s been thirty-two years and he’ll forever be a two-year-old.” The two men remained silent for several minutes before Douglas heaved a huge sigh.
“Dinner’s on the table, come join us.” He stood and took the file back from Decker, but instead of returning it to the wall safe, he tucked it under his arm to bring to the kitchen with him. “I have to warn you, everyone is here, Mom, Dad, Anna, myself, and the four kids.”
“Okay, and what were their names again?”
“Bruce, Daniel, Ellie, and Nancy. Daniel is the one that’s home and has to be back in a few days.”
“Back where?” Decker asked as he entered the kitchen behind the other man.
“Chicago,” came the voice of an unfamiliar man, and Decker whipped around and studied Daniel intently. The last time he’d seen the boy, he’d been eight. He walked up to him and held out his hand to shake.
“Decker.”
“Daniel Atwater,” Daniel shook the other man’s hand, and frowned at him. “You a friend of the family?”
“You could say that,” Decker said, then shook the hands of the others present. When he reached Anna and Beatrice, he engulfed them in a hug, and kissed the side of their heads. At one point, Anna whispered her thanks for him being there. It took several minutes to get everyone situated and the food on the table. Everyone made small talk as the dishes were passed, and the food placed on the individual plates.
“This smells delicious. I don’t think I’ve had a home-cooked meal in years,” Decker admitted as he tucked into his meal. He groaned and closed his eyes at his first bite. Shaking his head, he looked over at Douglas and grinned. “Don’t ever piss Anna off, or she might make you cold sandwiches and not delicious meals like this.” They all laughed and continued eating. It wasn’t until they were almost done with the meal that Daniel asked.
“So, who are you, and why are you here?”
Without missing a beat, Decker looked at Daniel, and said, “I’m John Decker, a former FBI agent. The Bureau retired me three years ago. I’m here tonight at your father’s request. I was the FBI agent in charge of Mikey’s case.” Luckily he had talked to Daniel on the phone, and they had decided that Decker would break the ice by bringing up Mikey.
“Who’s Mikey?” Ellie demanded as her head swung back and forth between the older adults and Decker.
Douglas pushed his plate to the side, leaned his folded forearms on the table before him, drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly, before he began, “This family never keeps secrets, except for one. We did it to protect you kids, but with Daniel’s question to us earlier, and I suspect the actual reason he’s here, we’re going to reveal our secret to you four. It’s time you learned what happened.”
Douglas’s statement had everyone riveted to their seats, and holding their breaths in anticipation.
“Earlier today, Daniel asked your mother and I, if we ever gave a baby up for adoption.”
“Why would you ask that?” Ellie demanded of her brother. “Mom and Dad love us, they would never give one of us away.”
Daniel held up his hand. “I learned something, and wanted to find out the truth.” He turned to Decker, and explained, “At work, they call me SSA Atwater.”
“Out of Chicago?”
“Yes, and I came across some information earlier today that had me hopping on the first plane home to get answers.”
“Before we find out why you need answers,” Douglas took over the conversation again, “we want to explain things to you. First, we never, ever gave one of our children up for adoption. However, we did have our oldest son kidnapped right from this home. Agent Decker was the FBI agent assigned to Mikey’s case.”
At his statement, the only sound in the kitchen was the tick tock of the second hand going around on the rooster clock mounted on the wall above the doorway to the mud room. It ticked at least sixty times before anyone spoke.
