Chapter 9: The Uncle Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I read the letter again.
Then I read it a third time.
My father had written about Uncle Thomas as if he were still alive.
But I remembered his funeral.
I remembered the black hearse, the flowers, and my mother holding my arm while people offered condolences.
I remembered seeing a closed casket.
I remembered my father standing beside it, his face pale and expressionless.
I had never questioned anything.
"Daniel, this has to be a mistake.""
He shook his head.
"I wish it were.""
I placed the letter on the table.
"Who was buried in that coffin?""
"That's one of the questions we're investigating.""
Nia reached for my hand.
"Marcus, who was your uncle?""
I took a breath.
"Thomas was Dad's older brother. He worked in finance. He was always around when I was growing up, but he disappeared from our lives when I was a teenager.""
"Why?""
I rubbed my forehead.
"My father said they had a disagreement over money.""
Daniel nodded.
"That matches what we found.""
He opened his laptop.
"Your father and Thomas were involved in a property investment partnership. According to the surviving records, the partnership ended after a significant financial dispute.""
"How significant?""
"Approximately $1.8 million.""
I stared at him.
"That's a lot of money.""
"Your father believed Thomas had transferred funds without authorization. There was an investigation, but the case never reached a final judgment.""
"Why not?""
"Because Thomas reportedly died before the proceedings were completed.""
I looked toward Nia.
She was listening carefully.
Daniel continued.
"However, the estate records contain inconsistencies. There is no verified death certificate in the original file, only a notice submitted by a funeral service.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Who submitted it?""
Daniel turned the laptop toward me.
My mother's name appeared.
Diane Williams.
I stood.
"My mother arranged his funeral?""
"She handled several administrative matters.""
"Why?""
"According to the records, Thomas had no immediate family available.""
I laughed bitterly.
"He had my father.""
"Your father disputed the arrangement.""
I froze.
"What?""
Daniel opened another scanned document.
It was a letter dated four years before my uncle's supposed death.
My father's handwriting was unmistakable.
I will not allow Diane to make decisions regarding Thomas's estate. She knows what happened, and she knows why I refuse to sign.
I stared at the sentence.
"Why would my mother be involved in my uncle's estate?""
Daniel shook his head.
"We need the complete records before drawing conclusions.""
Nia leaned forward.
"Could this be connected to the trust?""
Daniel nodded.
"Possibly. Your father named Thomas specifically in the inheritance restrictions. That suggests he believed Thomas might attempt to interfere with the money.""
I looked at the original letter.
There was another paragraph near the bottom.
If Diane approaches you with documents concerning your child, do not sign anything until you have spoken to an independent attorney.
I felt a chill.
My father had anticipated something like this.
He had known my mother might try to control the inheritance.
But why?
I called my mother.
She answered after the fourth ring.
"Marcus?""
"Who is Thomas?""
Silence.
Then she laughed nervously.
"What kind of question is that?""
"Did Uncle Thomas die?""
"Of course he did.""
"Then why does Dad's letter say he might interfere with my child's inheritance?""
Diane's voice became sharp.
"Where did you get that letter?""
"That's not what I asked.""
"Your father was confused toward the end.""
"My father died suddenly. He wasn't confused.""
She sighed.
"Marcus, you're listening to people who want to destroy this family.""
"Did you arrange Uncle Thomas's funeral?""
"I don't see why that's relevant.""
"Answer me.""
"Yes. I did.""
"Why?""
"Because someone had to.""
"Who identified the body?""
She paused.
"I don't remember.""
"You don't remember?""
"It was a long time ago.""
I stared at the phone.
"Mom, I want you to tell me the truth.""
Her voice lowered.
"Your father made mistakes, Marcus. He wasn't the man you think he was.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"What mistakes?""
"Ask him.""
"He's dead.""
"Exactly.""
Then she hung up.
I stared at the screen.
Nia moved closer.
"Marcus?""
I shook my head.
"I don't understand.""
Daniel closed his laptop.
"There's something else we found.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"Your uncle's name appears in a recent company filing.""
I froze.
"Where?""
"Bright Future Family Services.""
I stared at him.
"That's Rebecca's company.""
"Yes.""
"How is that possible?""
Daniel turned the laptop around again.
The filing listed a silent investor.
Thomas Williams.
I felt the room tilt.
"That's his name.""
Daniel nodded.
"And the investment was made three months before the company was registered.""
Nia covered her mouth.
"He's alive.""
"That's what the records suggest," Daniel said.
I stood and walked to the window.
My uncle had supposedly died when I was twenty-three.
Now his name was appearing in a company connected to my mother, my sister, and the attempted transfer of my child's inheritance.
Nothing made sense.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Marcus?""
"Who's speaking?""
"It's Thomas.""
I stopped breathing.
"Uncle Thomas?""
There was a long silence.
Then he said:
"Your mother told me you would eventually find out.""
My hand tightened around the phone.
"Where are you?""
"That isn't important.""
"Are you alive?""
A quiet laugh.
"Apparently.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was already signaling for me to put the call on speaker.
I did.
Thomas continued.
"Your father made a terrible mistake by trusting Diane with certain documents.""
"What documents?""
"The trust.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why are you involved with Bright Future Family Services?""
He sighed.
"Because Diane promised me something.""
"What?""
"Access to the money your father left.""
I stared at the wall.
"Why would she do that?""
"Because she needs help getting around the restrictions.""
Daniel was writing rapidly.
I asked, "What restrictions?""
Thomas laughed again.
"Your father knew what I had done. He knew I couldn't be trusted with the inheritance.""
"What did you do?""
There was a pause.
Then Thomas said something that made my blood run cold.
"I didn't steal your father's money, Marcus. I only moved it before he could give it away.""
I felt my face grow hot.
"How much?""
"Enough to keep Diane comfortable.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was shaking his head.
I continued.
"Did you fake your death?""
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"Your mother arranged that.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why?""
"Because your father was going to report us.""
"Us?""
"Your mother and me.""
My stomach twisted.
I thought about the letter.
The fake paternity report.
The guardianship documents.
The trust.
The attempted transfer.
"How long have you been working together?""
"Since before your father died.""
I felt sick.
"Why are you calling me?""
Thomas's voice changed.
For the first time, he sounded afraid.
"Because Diane has gone too far.""
I looked toward Nia.
"Too far how?""
"She was supposed to secure the guardianship paperwork, trigger the trust, and transfer the management funds. I never agreed to anything involving Rebecca taking the child.""
I stared at the phone.
"Then why was Rebecca listed as the proposed guardian?""
"Because Diane wanted a backup plan.""
"What backup plan?""
Thomas took a breath.
"Marcus, your mother has been telling everyone that Nia is unfit. But the truth is that Diane doesn't want the baby because she loves children.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then why?""
"Because your father placed something else inside that trust.""
"What?""
"A second inheritance.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"How much?""
Thomas gave me a figure.
It was nearly twice the amount Daniel had mentioned.
I stared at him.
"Why didn't Daniel know about it?""
"Because it isn't listed in the ordinary trust summary.""
Daniel leaned toward the phone.
"Thomas, this is Daniel Foster, Marcus's attorney. Where is the original document?""
Thomas laughed bitterly.
"Your father hid it.""
"Where?""
"Somewhere Diane has been searching for years.""
I looked at the old letter.
My father had written about one person he didn't want controlling the money.
Uncle Thomas.
And now Thomas was telling me my mother had spent years searching for something hidden inside the trust.
"Why tell me now?"" I asked.
Thomas was quiet for several seconds.
Then he answered.
"Because Diane has decided she doesn't need me anymore.""
"What does that mean?""
"It means she's planning to move before the baby arrives.""
"Move where?""
"Out of the country.""
I froze.
"With whom?""
Thomas's answer was barely audible.
"Rebecca.""
I looked at Nia.
She was gripping the armrest.
Then Thomas said the words that made me stand up.
"And Marcus, there's one more thing you need to know.""
"What?""
"Your mother already has a copy of Nia's hospital admission schedule.""
My blood ran cold.
"How?""
"I don't know. But she told Rebecca they only had one chance to get the baby before you understood what your father really left behind.""
The call ended.
I immediately looked at Daniel.
"Contact the hospital. Now.""
Daniel picked up his phone.
Nia stood beside me, trembling.
I wrapped my arms around her.
And then my phone buzzed again.
A message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph.
Nia's hospital admission schedule.
May you like
Beneath it was a single sentence.
*"Tell your wife to enjoy the next few weeks. She won't be bringing the baby home.""*
