Chapter 24 - Marcus disappears again
After Harold’s plea, I called Marcus.
Not through the encrypted app.
Normal number.
He answered:
“You alive?”
“Apparently.”
“How’s Jake?”
“Better.”
“Christine?”
“Working.”
“And you?”
“Annoying.”
“Consistent.”
I smiled.
Then:
“Thank you.”
“For telling you no repeatedly?”
“Yes.”
“That was most of the job.”
I asked whether he wanted dinner sometime.
He said:
“No.”
I laughed.
“Still charming.”
Then he became serious.
“Nathan, close the door again.”
Old life.
Old reflex.
Old certainty that every strange detail might connect.
He was right.
I deleted the encrypted app after confirming there was no retention need.
No dramatic burning of a phone.
Just uninstall.
Password manager entry removed.
Done.
The one person from my old life had not helped me destroy anyone.
May you like
He helped me avoid becoming the kind of father who believed fear gave him special permission.
That mattered more.
