Chapter 4: The Man Waiting in the Snow
The black car remained outside the mansion for nearly a minute.
Its headlights illuminated the falling snow, casting long shadows across the empty driveway.
Evelyn stood beside the study window, holding her phone.
Marcus approached her.
"Mom, step away from the window.""
She didn't move.
"Someone is watching us.""
"I can see that.""
"Do you think it's David?""
Marcus looked toward the vehicle.
"I don't know. But nobody is going anywhere alone tonight.""
Daniel pulled the curtains closed.
"I'll call security.""
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
It was a strange, brittle sound.
"Security? Really? You're all acting like we're in some crime movie.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"You're going to explain everything.""
"I've already explained.""
"No, Vanessa. You've denied, shouted, and blamed my mother. That's not an explanation.""
Vanessa walked toward the desk and picked up her champagne glass.
Her hands were shaking.
"Your father was a complicated man.""
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
"Robert was many things. Complicated wasn't one of them.""
Vanessa took a sip.
"You didn't know everything about him.""
"I was married to him for forty-one years.""
"And you think that means he told you everything?""
The question landed harder than Vanessa probably intended.
Evelyn looked at the letter.
For the first time that evening, a small seed of doubt entered her mind.
Had Robert really hidden something from her?
Marcus stepped closer to his wife.
"Tell us about David.""
Vanessa placed the glass down.
"David Mercer was an investor. Your father introduced us.""
Marcus stared at her.
"My father introduced you?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did you lie about knowing him?""
"Because I knew you'd react like this.""
Daniel folded his arms.
"What was the investment?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Robert had been developing a private investment project. He needed additional capital, and David was supposed to provide it.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"Robert never mentioned any investment project.""
"Because he didn't want you involved.""
"That doesn't sound like my husband.""
Vanessa laughed without humor.
"Well, perhaps you didn't know him as well as you thought.""
Evelyn walked toward her.
"Be very careful with your next words.""
Vanessa met her gaze.
"Robert borrowed money from David. A lot of money. When he died, the agreement wasn't settled.""
Marcus frowned.
"How much?""
"Seven million dollars.""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
Vanessa looked at him.
"You weren't there.""
"Neither were you when Robert made most of his business decisions.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"David expected repayment. When Marcus inherited the company, the responsibility transferred to him.""
Marcus looked stunned.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because I was trying to protect you.""
"By secretly transferring money?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Evelyn returned to the letter.
There was something about Vanessa's explanation that didn't fit.
Robert had built his company slowly, carefully, and without unnecessary debt. He hated borrowing money unless he had a guaranteed way to repay it.
Seven million dollars was not a small obligation.
If he had borrowed that much, he would have told her.
Unless the debt had never belonged to him.
"Vanessa," Evelyn said, "show me the agreement.""
Vanessa looked away.
"I don't have it.""
"Where is it?""
"David has it.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Then why don't we ask him?""
Vanessa laughed again.
"Because he won't talk to you.""
"Why not?""
"Because he's dead.""
Marcus went completely still.
"What?""
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"David Mercer died three weeks ago.""
Evelyn's phone nearly slipped from her hand.
She looked at the photograph from the unknown number.
The man standing outside the storage unit looked very much alive.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
Vanessa shrugged.
"I heard about it from one of his associates.""
Marcus stared at her.
"You told us he visited the house three weeks ago.""
"He did.""
"Then how could he be dead?""
Vanessa's face changed.
She realized what she had said.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Where did you hear about his death?""
"From his company.""
"Which company?""
"I don't remember.""
"Vanessa.""
"I said I don't remember!""
Marcus picked up his phone.
"Daniel, get the security footage from the driveway.""
Daniel left the study.
Evelyn looked at her son.
"Marcus, I think we should go to the police.""
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
"No.""
Marcus turned.
"Why not?""
"Because they'll investigate everything. They'll look at the company, the transfers, the house. They'll drag your father's name through the mud.""
"Then perhaps we should find out why.""
Vanessa approached him.
"Baby, listen to me. I made mistakes. I know that. But everything I did was for us.""
Marcus stepped away.
"Don't call me that.""
Her eyes widened.
"Marcus—"
"Not tonight.""
A knock sounded at the study door.
Sarah, the young housekeeper, stood outside.
"Mr. Williams?""
"What is it?""
"There's a gentleman at the front door.""
Marcus frowned.
"Who?""
"He says his name is David.""
Vanessa dropped her glass.
It shattered against the wooden floor.
Evelyn stared at her.
Marcus turned slowly.
"Didn't you just tell us David was dead?""
Vanessa's lips moved.
No sound came out.
Then the doorbell rang again.
Marcus walked toward the foyer, followed by Evelyn and Daniel.
Vanessa remained in the study.
At the entrance, a tall man stood beneath the chandelier.
He wore a dark overcoat, leather gloves, and a gray scarf. Snow clung to his shoulders.
His silver watch reflected the golden light.
Evelyn recognized him immediately.
It was the man from the photograph.
The man Vanessa had introduced as her financial consultant.
David Mercer smiled politely.
"Good evening, Marcus.""
Marcus didn't return the greeting.
"Who are you?""
David glanced past him.
"Your wife has told you about me, I assume.""
"She told us you were dead.""
David's smile disappeared.
"Then she's been lying to you about more than I expected.""
He removed his gloves.
"May I come in?""
Marcus blocked the doorway.
"No.""
David nodded.
"Understandable.""
He reached into his coat and removed a sealed envelope.
"Then perhaps you'll take this.""
Marcus didn't accept it.
"What is it?""
"Something your father left behind.""
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Robert is dead.""
David looked at her.
"I know, Mrs. Williams. I attended his funeral.""
"Then why are you here?""
"Because your husband has inherited a problem that should have been resolved before Robert died.""
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"What problem?""
David looked directly at Marcus.
"Your father sold me a controlling interest in Williams Development.""
Marcus stared.
"That's impossible. I own the company.""
"Not all of it.""
Daniel came forward.
"How much?""
David smiled faintly.
"Forty-nine percent.""
Marcus shook his head.
"No. My father left me his shares.""
"Some of them.""
"Show me proof.""
David handed over the envelope.
Marcus opened it.
Inside was a photocopy of a share transfer agreement.
The document bore Robert's signature.
It also contained a witness signature.
Vanessa Williams.
Marcus looked at his wife.
She had appeared at the top of the staircase.
Her face was ghostly white.
"Vanessa?""
She gripped the railing.
"Marcus, don't listen to him.""
David looked amused.
"Your wife was present when the agreement was signed.""
Evelyn examined the document.
Then she noticed the date.
It was dated four months after Robert's funeral.
Her blood ran cold.
"That's impossible.""
David turned toward her.
"Why?""
"Because Robert was already dead.""
For the first time, David's smile vanished.
Marcus looked at the document again.
The signature was Robert's.
The date was not.
Evelyn looked directly at David.
"Someone forged my husband's signature.""
David slipped his gloves back on.
"Perhaps.""
"Who?""
He glanced up at Vanessa.
Then back at Evelyn.
"That's exactly what I came to discuss.""
He stepped backward into the snow.
"Tomorrow morning, nine o'clock. The old warehouse. Bring the original letter and the brass key.""
Marcus moved toward him.
"You're not leaving until you explain.""
David smiled.
"Ask your wife what happened on the night your father died.""
Then he walked into the darkness.
The black car pulled away.
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
"What happened the night Dad died?""
Vanessa began crying.
But before she could answer, Evelyn's phone vibrated again.
A final message appeared.
Do not trust David. He was not the man who signed the agreement. The real David Mercer died eleven months ago.
Evelyn stared at the screen.
Then she looked toward the staircase.
Because the woman standing there had just whispered something that made her understand how deep the deception went.
May you like
"Marcus," Vanessa said.
"I know who that man really is.""
