Chapter 2: Thirty-Six Pictures
Marcus held Ava’s phone above his shoulder.
Vanessa stopped several feet away.
For once, she wasn't pretending to be offended.
She looked trapped.
“Give me the phone,” she said.
“No.””
“You're making a scene.””
Marcus laughed once, without humor.
“My daughter ate cold leftovers while everybody else had dinner, and I'm making the scene?””
Caleb lowered his eyes.
Ava moved closer to Nia.
Marcus tapped the screen again.
The document photo filled the display.
At the top:
*NIA COLLINS — FINANCIAL RECORDS*
Below it were several account numbers and dates.
Marcus frowned.
“What is this?””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“It's private.””
“It's my daughter's name.””
“It has nothing to do with you.””
Marcus looked up.
“Then why is it on your desk?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Because I was helping her.””
Nia made a small sound.
“You weren't helping me.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“Don't.””
Marcus heard the warning in that single word.
He sat down.
“Nia, come here.””
She slowly approached.
Marcus turned the phone so she could see.
“Have you seen this?””
Nia nodded.
“When?””
“A few months ago.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She looked toward Vanessa.
“Because she said you'd blame me.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“What exactly did she say?””
Nia's voice shook.
“She said you'd think I was stealing from you.””
Vanessa cut in.
“She found paperwork she didn't understand.””
Marcus turned to her.
“Then explain it.””
“There is nothing to explain.””
Marcus stood.
“Everything about this needs explaining.””
Ava tugged at his sleeve.
“Dad.””
He looked down.
“There are videos too.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“You recorded me?””
Ava nodded.
“Only when Nia was crying.””
Caleb finally spoke.
“Mom told me not to get involved.””
Marcus turned toward his son.
“What did she tell you?””
Caleb stared at his plate.
“She said Nia was trouble.””
Nia closed her eyes.
Marcus slowly pulled out the chair beside her.
“Tell me everything.””
Caleb swallowed.
“Mom said Nia stole twenty dollars from Ava.””
Ava shook her head.
“She didn't.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What happened?””
“I dropped it at school.””
Vanessa slammed her palm on the table.
“This is absurd. You're interrogating your children because they don't understand adult issues.””
Marcus's eyes never left her.
“Then help them understand.””
He swiped through the pictures.
There were nights.
Hundreds of them weren't there, but there were enough.
Nia eating alone.
Nia washing dishes while everyone else watched television.
Nia standing beside a locked pantry.
A picture of Vanessa taking a plate from Nia's hands.
Another of Vanessa pouring Nia's food into the garbage.
The timestamp was 9:03 p.m.
Marcus stared at it.
“You threw away her dinner?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“She refused to eat.””
Nia whispered, “Because she put hot sauce on it after I asked for it plain.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Why?””
“She needs discipline.””
“Discipline isn't starvation.””
“I never starved her.””
Marcus took a breath.
“Then why was there no protein on her plate?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Ava reached over and tapped the screen.
“That's not the worst one.””
Marcus looked.
The final photo was a close-up of a typed letter.
The header showed a law firm.
Marcus read the first line.
*Notice of proposed transfer of custodial assets.*
His pulse quickened.
“What assets?””
Vanessa's face went white.
“Marcus.””
He looked at her.
“What did you transfer?””
“I didn't.””
The room seemed to shrink.
Marcus turned the phone toward her.
“Then why is your signature at the bottom?””
Vanessa stared at the image.
Then she whispered something Marcus almost didn't hear.
“I wasn't supposed to sign it.””
“What?””
She stepped back.
“I was told the transfer had already been approved.””
“By whom?””
Vanessa looked at the doorway.
And for the first time that evening, she looked genuinely afraid.
“Your business partner.””
Marcus went still.
“Dean?””
Vanessa nodded.
Nia whispered, “That's why she was mad at me.””
Marcus turned to his daughter.
“Why?””
Nia reached into the pocket of her hoodie.
She pulled out a tiny brass key.
“I found the other papers.””
Marcus stared at it.
“What does that key open?””
May you like
Nia looked at Vanessa.
“The box she told me never to touch.””
