Chapter 4 - The Man With the Damaged HandMarcus Reed repaired bicycles in a shop under the train tracks.
Callum found him at noon.
Marcus looked up from a wheel.
Then saw Callum.
His left hand stopped.
Two fingers barely moved.
“Calder.”
Callum swallowed.
“I need to ask you about Bay Four.”
Marcus laughed once.
“No, you don’t.”
“I do.”
“You needed to ask fifteen years ago.”
“I thought I hurt you.”
Marcus stared.
Then slowly set down the wrench.
“Your parents really did a number on you.”
Callum felt cold.
“You knew I thought that?”
“Your mother told my mother you were going to be charged if we didn’t settle.”
“What?”
“She said you bypassed the press.”
“I didn’t?”
Marcus walked to the back room.
Returned with a dusty plastic case.
MiniDV tape.
“My lawyer got this from the insurer.”
Callum stared.
“Video?”
“Partial.”
Marcus put it into an old camera.
The screen flickered.
Bay Four.
August 16.
Walter stood beside the press.
Callum appeared briefly, carrying a box.
Walter opened the electrical cabinet.
Reached inside.
Then Callum walked out of frame.
Thirty seconds later, Marcus approached the press.
Walter was still at the controls.
The image jumped.
Marcus screamed.
Callum ran back into frame.
Not away from the controls.
Toward them.
He slammed the emergency stop.
The tape ended.
Callum could not move.
“My father was there.”
Marcus nodded.
“He was running the press.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I tried at the hospital.”
Callum remembered Marcus saying something.
Walter shutting the curtain.
Diane telling Callum he needed rest.
Marcus continued.
“My mother signed the settlement because Walter said if we fought, police would charge you with reckless operation.”
Callum whispered, “You protected me.”
“My mother did.”
“Why?”
“Because you were nineteen and crying outside my hospital room.”
Callum covered his face.
Marcus’s voice softened.
“You kept saying you were sorry.”
“I thought I did it.”
“I know.”
Then Marcus reached for another envelope.
“Your mother visited us twice.”
“What did she want?”
“The tape.”
Callum looked up.
“What did she say?”
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“She said your future was worth more than my hand.”
Callum stared at him.
Marcus continued.
“My mother told her to get out.”
Callum’s phone began ringing.
Diane.
He did not answer.
Again.
Again.
Then a voicemail.
Callum played it on speaker.
Diane’s voice filled the bicycle shop.
“Callum, your father says you’re bothering Marcus Reed. Stop before you reopen things that were settled for a reason.”
Pause.
Then:
“And come get Sadie’s things. I found the rest of her account cards.”
Callum froze.
The rest.
Marcus whispered, “How many cards?”
Callum was already running for the door.
The next chapters are on the left side of your screen.
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