Chapter 3: The Plan to Get Rid of Jordan
The front doorbell rang at 8:47 p.m.
Vanessa looked toward the hallway.
Then she looked at Marcus.
“Who is that?””
Marcus didn't answer.
He walked to the door and opened it.
A tall man in a navy suit stood outside, carrying a leather briefcase.
“Good evening, Marcus.””
“Daniel. Come in.””
Daniel Brooks had been Marcus's attorney for nearly eleven years. He had handled his business contracts, reviewed property documents, and helped settle his late father's estate.
He was not easily surprised.
But when he entered the dining room and saw the scattered bank statements, the photograph of Jordan outside the grocery store, and Vanessa standing with her arms crossed, his expression changed.
“What happened?””
Marcus handed him the documents.
“I need you to look at these. All of them.””
Daniel put his briefcase on the table.
He examined the first bank statement.
Then the photograph.
Then the notarized agreement.
His eyebrows drew together.
“Where did you get these?””
“My mother collected them.””
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“Mrs. Williams.””
“Daniel.””
He nodded respectfully.
Then he returned to the papers.
“Marcus, I need to ask you something. Did you authorize Vanessa to collect rent from Jordan?””
“No.””
“Did you authorize anyone to open a bank account using your signature?””
“No.””
“Did you sign this agreement?””
Marcus pointed at the signature.
“That isn't mine.””
Daniel removed his glasses.
“Then we have a serious problem.””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“Oh, please. You're acting as if I've committed some terrible crime.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Mrs. Williams, a minor cannot simply be treated as a tenant in his parent's home because a stepparent decides to collect money.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“It's a family arrangement.””
“Then why was the agreement notarized?””
She said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“And why does it contain a clause suggesting that a fourteen-year-old can be removed from the property for failure to pay?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“He's making everything sound worse than it is.””
Marcus folded his arms.
“Explain the clause.””
“I wanted Jordan to understand that living here was a privilege.””
“Living with his father is a privilege?””
“You know what I mean!””
“No,” Marcus replied.
“For once, I want you to explain exactly what you mean.””
Vanessa turned away.
Daniel opened his briefcase and removed a yellow legal pad.
“Before we discuss anything else, I'd like to see the original agreement and any communications relating to it.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't have to give you anything.””
“You don't have to,” Daniel replied.
“But refusing to provide documents may become relevant later.””
Evelyn reached into her handbag.
“I have something else.””
She placed a small USB drive on the table.
Vanessa stared at it.
“Where did you get that?””
Evelyn met her eyes.
“Your kitchen drawer.””
Vanessa took a step forward.
“You went through my things?””
“I was looking for Jordan's birth certificate. You had moved it.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“Why would you move his birth certificate?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Evelyn continued.
“I found this drive inside an envelope marked HOUSEHOLD BILLS. I didn't know what was on it, so I asked someone I trust to make a copy.””
Daniel picked it up.
“Do you know what's on here?””
“Some documents. Emails. Screenshots.””
Vanessa's face had gone pale.
“Those are private.””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“If these records are authentic, they may be important. I'll review them properly.””
He connected the drive to his laptop.
Several folders appeared.
One was labeled BANK.
Another was labeled SCHOOL.
The third was labeled JORDAN.
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
Daniel opened the folder.
There were scanned documents, photographs, and printed emails.
The first document was a letter from Vanessa to the school counselor.
It stated that Jordan had developed behavioral problems, had become financially irresponsible, and frequently stole money from the household.
Marcus read it twice.
“She told the school my son was stealing?””
Evelyn nodded.
“I found out when Jordan's teacher called me.””
Marcus turned toward his son.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Jordan looked at the carpet.
“I tried.””
Marcus froze.
“When?””
“Last month. I told you Vanessa said the school didn't want me there anymore.””
Marcus remembered.
He had been in his home office, preparing for a meeting.
He had told Jordan to stop exaggerating and listen to his stepmother.
The memory made his chest ache.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
Daniel opened another file.
It contained an email exchange between Vanessa and a woman named Patricia.
The subject line read:
*JORDAN'S NEXT PLACEMENT.*
Marcus frowned.
“Who is Patricia?””
Vanessa quickly stepped forward.
“That's none of your business.””
Daniel continued reading.
The email was dated six weeks earlier.
Vanessa had written:
I've spoken to Marcus. He agrees Jordan needs more structure, but he doesn't know the details yet. I think we can have him placed with his grandmother temporarily. Once he's gone, the house will finally be peaceful.
Marcus looked at his mother.
Evelyn's expression hardened.
“Did she contact you?””
“No,” Evelyn answered.
“And I would never agree to take Jordan without knowing why he was being sent away.””
Daniel opened the next email.
Patricia had replied:
If the father signs the temporary guardianship form, the process should be straightforward. We just need him to understand that Jordan's behavior is becoming unmanageable.
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“You were planning to send my son away?””
Vanessa threw her hands up.
“I was trying to help him!””
“By making me believe he was a thief?””
“He was disrespectful!””
“By making him beg for money?””
“He needed discipline!””
“By forging my signature?””
Vanessa fell silent.
Madison had been standing near the staircase, listening.
Now she slowly walked into the room.
“Mom, stop.””
Vanessa turned.
“Go upstairs!””
“No.””
“Madison!””
“I said no!””
The teenager's voice cracked.
“You told me Dad was going to send Jordan away because he was dangerous.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Did you believe that?””
Madison nodded.
“Mom showed me messages. She said Jordan was stealing from her. She said he was making things up to get attention.””
Jordan stared at his stepsister.
Madison wiped her face.
“But I knew he wasn't dangerous.””
“Then why didn't you say anything?”” Jordan asked.
She looked at him helplessly.
“Because I didn't want Mom to get mad at me.””
Jordan let out a small, bitter laugh.
“Welcome to the club.””
Madison began crying.
“I know. I'm sorry.””
Jordan turned away.
Daniel continued examining the emails.
“Marcus, there's another message here.””
He clicked on an attachment.
A scanned form appeared.
It was a temporary guardianship application.
Marcus recognized the property address and Jordan's personal information.
At the bottom was a section labeled PARENTAL CONSENT.
His name was already typed into the signature field.
But the signature had not yet been completed.
The proposed guardian was listed as Evelyn Williams.
Marcus looked at his mother.
“Mom, she wanted to send Jordan to you?””
Evelyn nodded slowly.
“Without asking me.””
Daniel examined the date.
“There's something unusual about this application.””
“What?””
“It was prepared three weeks ago, but the proposed transfer date is tomorrow.””
Marcus felt the room tilt.
“Tomorrow?””
Daniel nodded.
“If this had been submitted with the appropriate signatures, there might have been an attempt to initiate an emergency placement.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You're making this sound like kidnapping!””
Daniel closed the laptop.
“I'm not making it sound like anything. I'm telling you what the documents appear to show.””
Marcus looked at his wife.
“Why tomorrow?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“I was going to talk to you.””
“You've had fourteen months to talk to me!””
“I couldn't live like this anymore!””
Marcus stared at her.
“Like what?””
“With Jordan constantly causing problems! Everything in this house revolves around him!””
Jordan looked up.
“I don't even ask for anything.””
Vanessa pointed at him.
“See? That's exactly what I'm talking about! He acts innocent, and everyone feels sorry for him!””
Marcus moved between them.
“Don't point at my son.””
Vanessa's voice grew louder.
“You've spent your entire marriage making me feel like I come second!””
Marcus stared at her.
“My son lost his mother. He came into this marriage needing a family. I trusted you to love him.””
“I have my own children!””
“And I never asked you to love him more than yours. I asked you not to hurt him.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don't understand what I've sacrificed.””
Evelyn slowly stood.
“Then perhaps you should explain the money you took from me.””
Vanessa turned.
“What?””
Evelyn reached into her handbag and removed a final envelope.
“I sent you money every month because you told me Jordan needed extra support. You said he was struggling with school supplies, clothing, and medical expenses.””
Marcus frowned.
“Mom, how much did you send her?””
Evelyn's voice was steady.
“Two hundred dollars a month for school expenses. Three hundred for clothing and necessities. I also sent an additional five hundred dollars twice when she claimed Jordan needed tutoring.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You told my mother Jordan needed tutoring?””
Vanessa looked away.
Evelyn placed several receipts on the table.
“Here's the problem. I contacted the tutoring center. They have no record of Jordan ever being enrolled.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Daniel looked through the receipts.
“Mrs. Williams, did you keep records of every transfer?””
“Every single one.””
“Good. Don't delete anything.””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed her handbag.
“I'm leaving.””
Marcus stepped aside.
“You're free to go.””
She stopped.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
“You can't throw me out!””
“This is my house.””
“I'm your wife!””
“And Jordan is my son.””
Vanessa stared at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she turned toward Madison and Tyler.
“Get your things. We're leaving.””
Tyler appeared at the bottom of the staircase.
“Where are we going?””
Vanessa grabbed his hand.
“Somewhere your father doesn't control everything.””
Madison didn't move.
“Mom, I don't want to go.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“You're coming with me.””
“No.””
The single word seemed to shock everyone.
Madison looked at Marcus.
“I want to stay until I understand what's happening. And I want to tell the truth about the account.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with fury.
“You ungrateful little—”
“Enough!”” Marcus shouted.
Daniel stepped between them.
“Everyone needs to calm down. There are children in this house, and this situation needs to be handled properly.””
Vanessa stood trembling.
Then she looked at Marcus with an expression he had never seen before.
“You think you've won?””
Marcus didn't answer.
She leaned closer.
“You have no idea what you're about to lose.””
She picked up her handbag and walked toward the front door.
But before she left, she turned around.
“Ask your mother what happened to Jordan's real inheritance.””
Marcus frowned.
“What inheritance?””
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“Go ahead, Evelyn. Tell him.””
Evelyn's face went completely still.
Marcus slowly turned toward his mother.
“Mom?””
The elderly woman lowered her eyes.
For the first time that night, she looked afraid.
Vanessa opened the front door.
“That's right,” she said.
“Ask her why she never told you that Jordan's mother left him money.””
Then she stepped outside.
The door slammed.
Marcus stood motionless.
His mother had spent the entire evening exposing Vanessa's lies.
But now there was another secret.
One that had existed long before Vanessa entered their lives.
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“What inheritance?””
Evelyn reached into her handbag and pulled out a small, faded envelope.
Her hands were shaking.
“Your first wife left Jordan a trust fund, son.””
Marcus stared at her.
“How much?””
Evelyn swallowed.
“Three hundred and twenty thousand dollars.””
Marcus felt the air leave his lungs.
“Where is it now?””
Evelyn slowly placed the envelope on the table.
Inside was a bank statement.
The balance printed at the top was zero.
May you like
And beneath the final withdrawal was a signature Marcus recognized.
His own.
