Chapter 5: The Call
Marcus answered.
He put the phone on speaker.
“Dean.””
A calm voice came through.
“Marcus. You're home early.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“How did you know?””
A pause.
Then Dean said, “I know a lot of things.””
Marcus's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Did you arrange the transfers?””
Silence.
Then a quiet laugh.
“Vanessa found the box, didn't she?””
Nia flinched.
Marcus noticed.
“You knew she had it.””
“I knew somebody would eventually.””
“You stole from my company.””
“I moved money.””
“You forged documents.””
“I corrected mistakes.””
“You threatened my daughter.””
Dean's voice hardened.
“You should be careful with accusations.””
Ava whispered, “He's scary.””
Marcus put his hand over her shoulder.
Dean continued.
“Look, Marcus. We can resolve this quietly.””
“No.””
“Think about your family.””
“I am.””
“Then understand this. If the trust investigation begins, Nia becomes the center of it.””
Marcus stared at the papers.
“Why?””
“Because her name is attached to everything.””
Dean ended the call.
Marcus lowered the phone.
Nobody spoke.
Finally Nia asked, “What happens now?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Now we find the truth.””
Vanessa gave a shaky laugh.
“You think the police will believe you?””
Marcus turned.
“This isn't about what I think.””
He reached for his laptop.
Vanessa watched him.
“Where are you going?””
“To my office.””
“I'll come with you.””
“No.””
Her eyes flashed.
“You can't just shut me out.””
“I can.””
Marcus looked at Nia.
“And you're coming with me.””
Vanessa stepped into his path.
“You don't know what you'll find.””
Marcus stopped.
“That's exactly why I'm going.””
Nia slipped her hand into Ava's.
Caleb stood.
“I want to go too.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You don't have to.””
“I do.””
The four of them left the dining room.
Vanessa remained standing beside the table.
Her hand rested on the back of her chair.
When the front door shut, her expression changed.
She walked toward the kitchen.
Slowly.
She opened a drawer beneath the sink.
Inside was a second phone.
She checked the screen.
One new message.
*HE KNOWS ABOUT THE BOX. DESTROY EVERYTHING ELSE.*
Vanessa stared at it.
Then looked toward the empty hallway.
She typed back:
*I can't.*
The response came instantly.
*THEN I'LL HANDLE IT MYSELF.*
Marcus's office was across town.
The building was nearly empty at that hour.
He unlocked the door.
Nia stood behind him.
Marcus turned.
“You don't have to be brave anymore.””
She swallowed.
“I wasn't brave.””
“What were you?””
“Scared.””
Marcus touched her shoulder.
“You should have told me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
She pulled out her old phone.
“There are recordings.””
Marcus stared at it.
“How long have you had those?””
“Since April.””
“Why didn't you show me?””
“Because every time I tried, Mom said she'd make you choose.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“She should never have made you carry this.””
Nia looked at him.
“She said you would always choose her.””
Marcus opened the office door.
“Then tonight she was wrong.””
They entered.
The computer came alive.
Marcus opened his accounting system.
The first irregularity appeared within seconds.
A recurring payment.
Then another.
Then dozens.
The money had been moved through four companies.
Marcus leaned closer.
Nia stood beside him.
“That company,” she said.
“What about it?””
“I saw it in Dean's email.””
Marcus clicked.
A list of directors appeared.
His face changed.
One name was familiar.
Very familiar.
Vanessa's.
Marcus stared at the screen.
His wife wasn't just involved.
She was a registered director of one of the companies receiving his money.
Nia whispered, “Dad…”
Marcus opened the transaction history.
The most recent transfer had been made that afternoon.
Three hundred thousand dollars.
Recipient:
*ELISE COLLINS MEMORIAL TRUST.*
Marcus froze.
“That can't be right.””
Nia looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because that account was closed after your mother died.””
He opened the attached transaction record.
A signature appeared at the bottom.
Not his.
Not Dean's.
It belonged to someone else.
Marcus read the name.
Then slowly turned toward Nia.
“Who is this?””
Nia stared at the screen.
“I don't know.””
Marcus zoomed in.
The signature wasn't from a stranger.
It was from someone who had been in their house.
Someone who had stood at their dinner table.
Someone who had watched Nia eat leftovers without saying a word.
May you like
The name on the authorization was:
*Caleb Collins.*
