Page 29 of Forget Me Not
“As soon as I’m done talking to them.” I ruffled his hair and laughed. My dad shut the door after they walked out and turned to me. The confusion was written all over his face.
“What’s happened?”
“David. Who are you talking to?”
I wasn’t prepared for the rush of emotion that hit me when I heard my mother’s voice. Even with my back turned to her, I could feel her eyes burning into me. This was the moment I dreaded most. Facing my mother after destroying her nearly ten years ago. My dad’s face was a mask of fear and sadness as he watched the moment I turned around.
“Mom,” I croaked out, my voice cracking as I spoke.
“Danny?” Her voice broke with emotion as she stood, frozen in shock. “How is this possible? You look different, but—it’s you, right?”
“Yes.”
I spent the next fifteen minutes explaining what happened and why I left. There was a lot of screaming, crying, and hugging. In fact, she took it better than I could have imagined. I was certain she would demand I leave, so when she didn’t, I was relieved.
“Tell me why you’re here. If you’ve stayed hidden all this time, why reveal yourself now?”
“I’m here working a case that involves the mafia. A local doctor is writing fake prescriptions, giving them access to Dilaudid. It’s caused multiple deaths, and the trail led us here.”
“Okay, I assume this involves Mackenzie somehow?”
“Actually, Austin Craig. He’s the doctor we suspected had ties to the mob.”
“Are you sure?” My dad stood, knocking the chair he was sitting in to the floor.
“Yes.”
My mom gasped. “Mackenzie is with him right now.”
“That’s why I’m here. She’s missing. Her car and purse were left at the diner. Some staff remember seeing her with who I assume was Austin, and another man.”
“Oh, my god.” My mom covered her face with her hands.
“Austin?” My dad started pacing the floor. “You think he took her?”
“If who I believe grabbed her is the one that has her, then she’s in danger. I think Austin is with them, but he isn’t the one who took her.”
“Danny.” Catherine glanced behind me. Her eyes widening. “Drake. Danny is…”
I cut her off. “My son. I know. I figured it out.” I couldn’t hide my elation. Just thinking about the boy made my heart glow with unbridled love. Something I didn’t know was possible until meeting him.
“How are you going to find her?”
“My team will start digging. I promise you, I’ll bring her back.”
“Does Mackenzie know?” My mom tilted her head at me. “That you’re really Danny?”
“Danny?” My son stood behind me, confused.
“Sorry. He wanted to come in for a drink.” Alex shrugged.
“Danny, come here,” my dad said, holding out his hand. “You know Drake, right?”
“You just called him Danny, Grandma.”
“This is going to be hard for you to understand, but my name is really Danny. I work for a government agency that gave me a new name.”
“Like a superhero?” Danny grinned at me.
