Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Marcus stared at the photograph on Daniel's laptop.
The man had gray hair, a narrow face, and a small scar running beneath his left eyebrow.
There was no mistaking him.
Michael Carter.
His late wife's older brother.
The man who had supposedly died in a car accident eleven years earlier.
Marcus slowly pulled out a chair.
“This can't be real.””
Daniel enlarged the photograph.
“Do you recognize him?””
“I attended his funeral.””
Evelyn looked up.
“You did?””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Yes, Mom. I was there. I saw the coffin.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“You saw a closed coffin. Nobody was permitted to identify the body.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“Why?””
“Because the police said the accident had destroyed his face.””
Daniel opened the accompanying records.
“The death certificate was issued in another state. The body was identified through dental records.””
Marcus stared at the screen.
“Who provided those records?””
Daniel scrolled down.
“According to this document, the identification was confirmed by a private investigator named Robert Hayes.””
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“Robert?””
Marcus turned.
“You know him?””
“He was Michael's friend. They used to work together.””
Daniel continued reading.
“There's something else. Michael's death certificate was issued eleven years ago, but the photograph attached to this financial authorization was taken six months ago.””
Marcus stood.
“So he's alive.””
“That's what the evidence suggests,” Daniel replied.
Marcus paced across the study.
His wife's brother had supposedly died shortly before Jordan's second birthday.
Now his photograph was appearing in documents connected to a missing inheritance worth $320,000.
And someone had been paying him.
“Why would Michael want Jordan's money?”” Marcus asked.
Evelyn lowered herself into the chair.
“Your first wife knew he had financial problems. That's why she wanted the trust protected.””
Marcus turned.
“Did she ever tell you he might try to take it?””
“Yes. She told your father that Michael had become obsessed with money. He had borrowed from dangerous people and was desperate to settle his debts.””
Daniel closed the laptop halfway.
“We need to find out whether he's still using the same identity. I'll contact the investigator listed in the records and request verification.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Contact the authorities too.””
Daniel nodded.
“That's already on my list.””
Then Marcus's phone vibrated.
An incoming message.
Unknown number.
*I hear you've been asking about me.*
Marcus stopped breathing for a moment.
Another message appeared.
*Your wife and I had an arrangement. You should have stayed out of it.*
Marcus showed Daniel.
“Can we trace this?””
Daniel examined the number.
“We can preserve it and provide it to investigators. Don't engage.””
But Marcus was already typing.
*Where is my son's money?*
The reply came almost immediately.
*Ask your mother. She knows why the trust was never supposed to reach you.*
Marcus looked toward Evelyn.
She had gone pale.
“Mom?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“Don't believe him.””
“What does he mean?””
“I don't know what he's trying to suggest.””
Marcus placed the phone on the desk.
“Then tell me what happened.””
Evelyn stood.
“Your father and I argued about the trust before he died. He wanted every dollar placed under independent management. I wanted the money available in case Jordan needed something immediately.””
“That's understandable.””
“But your father didn't trust Michael. He believed Michael might try to manipulate me.””
Marcus stared.
“Did Michael contact you?””
Evelyn's silence answered the question.
“When?””
“About six months after your father died.””
“What did he want?””
“He told me he had information about Jordan's inheritance. He said there had been a mistake in the original documents.””
“And you believed him?””
“I was grieving. I was confused. He told me he could help.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“What did you give him?””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“Copies of the original trust documents.””
Daniel immediately looked up.
“When?””
“About ten years ago.””
Marcus stepped back.
“Mom!””
“I didn't know he would use them to steal anything!””
“Those documents contained every account number!””
“I know!””
Her voice broke.
“I know, Marcus!””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Evelyn sat down and covered her face.
“I thought I was helping Jordan. Michael told me he had spoken to the attorney. He said the account needed to be reviewed.””
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“Mrs. Williams, did Michael ever ask you to sign anything?””
Evelyn nodded.
“One document.””
“What document?””
“A confirmation that I had received copies of the trust records.””
Daniel frowned.
“Do you still have it?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus looked at his mother.
“Why didn't you tell me any of this?””
“Because your father warned me not to trust Michael. I was ashamed that I had ignored him.””
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
“And when I discovered the missing money, I realized Michael might have been involved.””
Marcus looked at the old letter from his father.
For the first time, the words made sense.
His father hadn't simply been worried about Vanessa.
He had been worried about the people surrounding Jordan.
And he had left instructions for exactly this kind of situation.
Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
“Brooks.””
He listened.
Then his expression changed.
“Yes. Send me the report immediately.””
He ended the call.
Marcus approached him.
“What happened?””
“The investigator confirmed that Michael Carter is alive.””
“How?””
“He has been using an identity connected to a deceased business associate. He also appears to have maintained contact with Patricia Cole.””
Evelyn whispered.
“Dear God.””
Daniel continued.
“There's a recorded business address connected to him. A storage facility outside the city.””
Marcus grabbed his coat.
“Let's go.””
Daniel blocked his path.
“No.””
Marcus stared at him.
“He stole my son's inheritance!””
“And if you confront him, you could compromise the investigation or put yourself in danger.””
“Then what am I supposed to do?””
“Let the authorities handle the physical investigation. We can preserve evidence and make sure Jordan is protected.””
Marcus clenched his fists.
Then he looked toward the hallway.
Jordan was standing there.
He had heard everything.
“Dad?””
Marcus immediately softened his expression.
“Hey, buddy.””
“Is that man the reason Mom's money disappeared?””
Marcus crouched.
“We're still finding out.””
Jordan looked down.
“Does he hate me?””
The question caught Marcus completely off guard.
“No. Listen to me. None of this happened because of you.””
Jordan nodded.
But he didn't look convinced.
“He took my money before he even knew me.””
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
“Yes.””
Jordan swallowed.
“Then why?””
Marcus had no answer.
Jordan returned to his room.
Evelyn watched him go.
“He shouldn't have to carry this.””
Marcus stood.
“No. He shouldn't.””
An hour later, Daniel received another message from the investigator.
The storage facility had been searched under an appropriate legal process.
Inside one unit, investigators found several boxes of financial records, photographs, and old correspondence.
One photograph showed Michael standing beside Vanessa.
Another showed Patricia.
But the most disturbing discovery was a handwritten notebook.
It contained a list of names and payments.
Jordan's name appeared at the top.
Beside it was a number.
*$320,000.*
Underneath, someone had written:
*FINAL DISTRIBUTION — AFTER THE BOY IS REMOVED.*
Marcus read the words twice.
“Removed from where?””
Daniel looked at the attached notes.
“The house, apparently.””
“Why would that matter?””
Daniel opened another photograph.
It showed a property deed.
Marcus recognized the address.
His own house.
But the deed wasn't in his name alone.
A company called V&M Residential Holdings had filed a claim against the property.
Marcus frowned.
“That's impossible. I own this house.””
Daniel enlarged the document.
“Your wife appears to have registered a financial interest in the property.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I never agreed to that.””
“Then we need to investigate the filing.””
He opened the next attachment.
It was a contract signed by Vanessa.
The document stated that the house would be transferred into the company once Jordan was no longer a resident.
Marcus stared.
The pieces were beginning to fit together.
Vanessa hadn't simply wanted Jordan's inheritance.
She had wanted him out of the house.
And once he was gone, she intended to claim control of the property.
Evelyn whispered.
“She wanted everything.””
Marcus looked at the date.
The transfer was scheduled for the following week.
Then Daniel noticed something at the bottom of the document.
A second signature.
Not Vanessa's.
Not Michael's.
It belonged to Patricia Cole.
But beside the signature was a handwritten note.
*Payment received in full.*
Daniel looked up.
“Marcus, there's another problem.””
“What now?””
“The contract identifies someone as the person who guaranteed the transaction.””
He turned the screen.
Marcus stared.
The guarantor's name was:
May you like
*MARCUS WILLIAMS.*
And the signature was unmistakably forged.
