Chapter 9: The Betrayal That Started Seven Years Ago
Daniel Price called me at 7:12 the following morning.
I was sitting at Angela's kitchen table, reviewing documents Patricia had sent overnight.
His name appeared on my screen.
I stared at it for several seconds.
Then I answered.
"Daniel.""
"Marcus.""
His voice sounded tired.
"We need to talk.""
"About what?""
"Everything.""
I leaned back.
"That's a big subject.""
"Meet me.""
"Where?""
"There's a diner off Peachtree. Ten o'clock.""
I glanced toward Angela.
She shook her head slightly.
I understood.
"Why should I trust you?""
"You shouldn't.""
That answer surprised me.
Daniel continued.
"But if you want to know what Denise and Gregory were doing before Alicia died, you need to hear it from someone who was there.""
I stared at the paperwork.
"Why now?""
"Because I made a mistake.""
"What kind of mistake?""
"I thought Denise would keep her promises.""
There was a long silence.
Then he added:
"And now she's trying to make me take the blame for everything.""
I ended the call without agreeing.
Immediately, I called Patricia.
She listened carefully.
"Do not meet him alone.""
"I wasn't planning to.""
"I'll arrange for an investigator to accompany you. We also need to establish whether he's willing to provide a recorded statement.""
"Should I tell him?""
"No. Let him speak naturally. Don't threaten him, promise him anything, or suggest answers.""
I nodded.
"I want the truth.""
"So do I.""
At 9:45, I arrived at the diner with a private investigator Patricia had arranged.
His name was Samuel Reed.
He sat at a separate booth with a clear view of the entrance.
Daniel arrived at 10:03.
He looked older than I remembered.
His hair was thinning, his face was drawn, and he wore a dark jacket that appeared to be two sizes too large.
He spotted me and approached.
"Marcus.""
"Daniel.""
He slid into the booth.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he looked at Samuel.
"Who's that?""
"Someone making sure this conversation stays honest.""
Daniel nodded.
"Fair enough.""
A waitress approached.
"Coffee?""
"Black," Daniel said.
I ordered the same.
When she left, Daniel rubbed his hands together.
"I don't know where to begin.""
"Start with Alicia.""
His eyes dropped.
"Your wife was smarter than any of us gave her credit for.""
"Don't talk about her like you knew her.""
"I did know her.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
He sighed.
"Through Gregory. He introduced us to her family's financial arrangements. At first, it was supposed to be a legitimate property investment.""
"Using my daughter's inheritance?""
"Yes.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Explain.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Gregory discovered that Alicia's father had placed the Willow Creek property in a trust. The property had appreciated significantly, and there were restrictions preventing it from being sold or used as collateral without specific authorization.""
"So you tried to change the documents.""
"Gregory did.""
"And you helped him.""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
The admission came without hesitation.
"Why?""
"Money.""
I stared at him.
"How much?""
"More than I deserved.""
The waitress returned with our coffee.
Neither of us touched it.
Daniel continued.
"Gregory believed that if the trust documents were altered, he could gain control of the property. He had access to old records through his financial work. I handled the investment side.""
"And Denise?""
Daniel looked toward the window.
"She came into the picture because Gregory was her brother.""
"She was involved from the beginning?""
"Yes.""
I leaned forward.
"Did she meet Alicia?""
"Several times.""
"Why?""
"To convince her to change the trust arrangements.""
I stared at him.
"Why would Alicia agree?""
"She didn't.""
Daniel looked down.
"She discovered what we were doing.""
My hands tightened.
"What happened next?""
"She threatened to expose us.""
"And you?""
"I wanted to walk away.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to believe that?""
"No. I don't expect you to believe anything I say.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a small envelope.
"I kept copies.""
I looked at it.
"Of what?""
"Emails, financial statements, and messages between Gregory and Denise.""
He slid it across the table.
I didn't touch it.
"Why keep them?""
"Because I knew this could happen.""
"Then why didn't you come forward seven years ago?""
Daniel's face twisted.
"Because I was a coward.""
For the first time, his voice cracked.
"I had a wife. Two children. A mortgage. I thought I could fix things quietly.""
"And what happened to Alicia?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I don't know.""
I stared at him.
"What do you mean?""
"I know she confronted Denise. I know Gregory was furious. I know someone accessed the insurance application. But I wasn't in the hospital when she died.""
"Did you threaten her?""
"No.""
"Did Denise?""
Daniel looked at me.
"She told Alicia that if she didn't cooperate, her family would lose everything.""
My stomach tightened.
"Which family?""
"Yours.""
I leaned forward.
"Tell me exactly what happened during Alicia's final week.""
Daniel took a breath.
"On October 14, Alicia discovered that someone had accessed the trust documents. She contacted Harold Whitman and asked him to secure the original paperwork.""
I nodded.
"That's in the letter.""
"On October 16, she met Denise at the bank.""
"Robert has the recording.""
Daniel's face changed.
"Robert?""
"Ellis.""
Daniel looked frightened.
"You have the recording?""
"Yes.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Then you know Denise was involved.""
"I know she was there. I want to know what happened afterward.""
Daniel stared at his coffee.
"On October 18, Gregory called me. He said Alicia was planning to meet with a lawyer and hand over everything she had.""
"What did he want you to do?""
"He wanted me to retrieve the financial documents from her house.""
"Did you?""
Daniel nodded.
I felt sick.
"What did you take?""
"Copies of insurance paperwork and some old trust records.""
"Did you enter the house?""
"Yes.""
"Was Alicia there?""
"No. She was at the hospital.""
I looked at him.
"How did you know?""
"Denise told us.""
The room seemed to go silent.
I remembered those days.
Alicia had been admitted after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Doctors had initially suspected an infection.
Then complications developed.
I had spent almost every waking hour at the hospital.
I had barely left her side.
"Did Denise visit her?""
Daniel nodded.
"Once.""
My throat tightened.
"Why?""
"To get her to sign something.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"The insurance amendment.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"Was Alicia conscious?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not according to what Gregory told me.""
"Then who signed it?""
"Denise.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"You're saying she forged my wife's signature?""
Daniel nodded.
"And you knew?""
"I found out afterward.""
I stood abruptly.
"You're telling me you knew my wife was being robbed while she was dying, and you did nothing?""
Daniel lowered his head.
"I know.""
I wanted to hit him.
I wanted to drag him outside and make him explain every minute of the last seven years.
But Samuel shifted slightly in his booth, and I remembered Patricia's instructions.
I sat down again.
"Continue.""
Daniel swallowed.
"After Alicia died, Gregory arranged for the insurance payment to be released. Denise received the money and transferred it into the company account.""
"How much did she keep?""
"Nothing.""
I stared at him.
"Nothing?""
"She was supposed to receive a percentage. But most of the money went to Gregory and the investment company.""
"Then why did she marry me?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Because Gregory wanted access to your business.""
I felt something inside me go cold.
"Explain.""
"Your construction company had several valuable contracts. You owned property, equipment, and had good relationships with lenders. Gregory believed you could be persuaded to finance a development project.""
"Through Denise.""
"Yes.""
I leaned back.
The pieces were fitting together in the ugliest possible way.
The charming woman.
The shared grief.
The convenient relationship.
The marriage.
The financial access.
The home equity loan.
It had all been about getting close enough to my assets to take what they couldn't reach from outside.
"Did Denise ever love me?""
Daniel looked at me.
"I don't know.""
"Did she intend to marry me before we met?""
He hesitated.
Then he nodded.
"Gregory arranged for her to attend events where you were expected to be.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"The charity event?""
"Yes.""
"The restaurant?""
"She knew you went there.""
I stared at him.
"And the boys?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"She had children. She used that connection because she knew you wanted a family.""
I couldn't speak.
For three years, I'd believed I'd found someone who understood my grief.
Instead, someone had studied it.
Then Daniel said something that made everything worse.
"Marcus, there's another reason Denise wanted Maya out of the house.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"She found out about Alicia's original trust document.""
"Where?""
"Inside the safe deposit box.""
I frowned.
"We haven't opened it.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's because Gregory had the key.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
"After Alicia died, Denise took it from her personal belongings. She gave it to Gregory.""
My heart pounded.
"Does he still have it?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why hasn't he opened the box?""
"Because he doesn't have legal authority.""
I slowly leaned forward.
"What's inside?""
Daniel looked at me.
"The original trust agreement. And a letter Alicia wrote explaining why the house was protected.""
"Why would that matter now?""
"Because the trust contains a clause that gives Maya control of the property at fifteen.""
I froze.
Maya had turned fifteen three months earlier.
Daniel continued.
"Once she reaches that age, certain restrictions change. If the original document is presented, the property becomes hers outright, subject to the remaining trust conditions.""
I stared at him.
"And Denise knows this?""
"Yes.""
"That's why she wanted Maya sent away?""
Daniel nodded.
"She wanted the property transferred before the trust matured.""
I felt my pulse pounding in my ears.
"How long have they known?""
"Since Alicia died.""
I stood again.
This time, I didn't sit back down.
"Who else is involved?""
Daniel looked up.
"Gregory. Denise. Me.""
"Anyone else?""
He hesitated.
Then he said:
"There's one more person.""
"Who?""
Daniel reached into his jacket again and removed a photograph.
He placed it on the table.
I looked down.
It showed Denise standing outside a bank with a woman.
The woman was holding a folder.
I recognized her immediately.
Patricia Coleman.
My attorney.
I stared at the photograph.
"Why is Patricia standing with Denise?""
Daniel shook his head.
"That's what I was hoping you could tell me.""
My mind raced.
Patricia had been helping me.
She had investigated the loan.
She had found the property filing.
She had arranged the meetings.
But what if Daniel was lying?
What if this was another attempt to divide me from the one person who could help?
I picked up the photograph.
"When was this taken?""
"Six months ago.""
I looked closer.
The location was outside the building where Patricia's firm had its offices.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Marcus, I don't know whether Patricia was involved. But Gregory told Denise that your attorney would never be a problem.""
I stared at the photograph.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Patricia appeared.
*Marcus, we have secured an emergency court order protecting the Willow Creek property. I need you and Maya to come to my office immediately. There's something important I need to explain.*
I looked at Daniel.
He was watching me carefully.
"Don't trust anyone too quickly," he said.
I put the photograph in my pocket.
Then I walked out of the diner.
May you like
Because I had just discovered that the people involved in destroying my first wife's estate might still be operating inside my second marriage.
And I was no longer certain which side my own attorney was on.
