Chapter 13: The Man Standing at the Door
Marcus stared at the front entrance.
Thomas Reed was outside.
The man Vanessa had once called her brother. The man whose name appeared in a financial dispute. The man who had apparently received forty thousand dollars from an account connected to Elena's financial institution.
Richard stood beside Marcus.
“Don't let him inside until we've established who he is.””
Marcus nodded.
Daniel approached the door but didn't open it.
“Sir, there's a gentleman asking for you.””
“I know. Ask him to wait.””
Marcus looked through the glass panel.
A tall man in a dark jacket stood on the porch. He looked tired, with unshaven cheeks and a nervous expression. He kept glancing toward the street as if expecting someone to appear.
Richard called the police non-emergency line to document the unexpected visit, then asked Marcus to speak to Thomas through the door.
“Why are you here?”” Marcus asked.
Thomas stepped closer.
“Because Vanessa knows I've been talking.””
“Talking to whom?””
“To people who can expose her.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“Start explaining.””
Thomas looked toward the street again.
“I have the original authorization document. The one she used to access Elena's financial information.””
“Why should I believe you?””
“You shouldn't. That's why I'm bringing the document.””
Richard stepped into view.
“Mr. Reed, I'm Richard Cole, Mr. Hayes's attorney. If you have evidence, you can provide it through the proper channels.””
Thomas looked relieved.
“Fine. But I need protection.””
Richard's expression remained neutral.
“From whom?””
Thomas gave a bitter laugh.
“You already know.””
Marcus opened the door just enough to speak.
“Did you help Vanessa?””
Thomas looked down.
“Yes.””
The answer landed heavily.
“Did you know what she was planning?””
“Not at first.””
“Did you know my wife was dying?””
Thomas's face changed.
“I knew she was sick. I didn't know how bad it was.””
“Then why were you at the hospital?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Vanessa said she needed me to collect some paperwork.””
“What paperwork?””
“A financial authorization form. She told me Elena had agreed to let her handle certain accounts.””
Richard intervened.
“Did you see Elena sign it?””
“No.””
“Did you witness her signing it?””
“No.””
“Did you know the signature was forged?””
Thomas swallowed.
“I suspected.””
Marcus took a step toward him.
“You suspected someone forged my dying wife's signature, and you helped?””
Thomas didn't look away.
“I was in debt. Vanessa said she could pay it off if I helped her get some documents.””
Marcus's hands curled into fists.
Richard placed a hand on his arm.
“Let's hear the rest.””
Thomas took a large envelope from his jacket.
“I have the original.””
Richard asked him to place it on a small table just inside the entrance.
Thomas did.
The document was several pages long.
At the top was Elena's name.
Below it was a statement authorizing Vanessa to communicate with a financial institution and request information about Maya's inheritance trust.
The signature looked convincing.
But Marcus recognized something immediately.
“That isn't Elena's signature.””
Richard examined it.
“We'll need a handwriting expert to confirm.””
Thomas nodded.
“She never signed it.””
“Then how did you get it?”” Marcus asked.
“Vanessa gave it to me. She said she'd arranged everything.””
Richard turned to the final page.
There was a witness signature.
Thomas Reed.
“You signed this?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“She told me it was only to confirm that she had shown me the document. She said the signature was already there.””
Richard looked up.
“That's not what this page says.””
Thomas's face tightened.
“I know that now.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Why didn't you come forward sooner?””
Thomas looked toward the hallway.
“Because she threatened me.””
“With what?””
“She said she'd tell the police I helped her. She had messages showing I'd been paid. She said if I talked, I'd go to prison and lose everything.””
Richard placed the document inside a protective folder.
“Mr. Reed, you may have exposed yourself to legal consequences. You should obtain independent legal advice before making a formal statement.””
Thomas nodded.
“I understand.””
Then he looked at Marcus.
“There's something else. Vanessa didn't just want Maya's inheritance.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“What else?””
“She wanted the house.””
Richard looked up sharply.
Thomas continued.
“Vanessa said if she could establish that you were an unfit father and get temporary guardianship of Maya, she could create a reason to challenge the way Elena's estate was being administered.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It does if you know about the insurance policy.””
Richard went still.
“What insurance policy?””
Thomas looked at him.
“An old life insurance policy Elena had. It was supposed to provide for Maya if anything happened to her.””
Marcus felt his heart pound.
“Elena had insurance?””
Thomas nodded.
“Vanessa told me the beneficiary arrangements were being reviewed.””
Richard's expression darkened.
“Do you have documentation?””
Thomas took another envelope from his jacket.
“I have copies of the correspondence.””
Richard accepted it.
Marcus could barely speak.
“How much?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Four hundred thousand dollars.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
He had never known about that policy.
Or perhaps Elena had told him, and he had forgotten during the chaos of her illness.
Thomas continued.
“Vanessa wanted to be named as the person managing the money until Maya turned eighteen.””
Richard opened the envelope.
Inside were letters from an insurance company, copies of forms, and a request to update beneficiary administration.
The request had not been completed.
The company had asked for additional verification.
That explained why Vanessa had become so desperate to obtain the original documents.
Marcus looked at Thomas.
“Did she ever tell you what happened at the hospital?””
Thomas hesitated.
“She said Elena became difficult. That she refused to cooperate. Vanessa said the doctor was going to help her convince Elena to sign.””
“Which doctor?””
“I don't know his name.””
Marcus felt anger rising again.
“Did you hear Vanessa say anything about delaying treatment?””
Thomas shook his head.
“No. I swear I didn't.””
“Did you hear her say anything about changing the hospital records?””
Thomas looked down.
“She said she needed time before you arrived.””
Marcus's face went pale.
Richard asked quietly, “What did she mean by that?””
Thomas swallowed.
“She said if you came before Elena signed the paperwork, you'd ruin everything.””
The room fell silent.
Then a small voice came from the hallway.
“Daddy?””
Marcus turned.
Maya stood there holding her stuffed rabbit.
She looked at Thomas.
“Who is that?””
Marcus immediately moved toward her.
“Someone Daddy needs to talk to, sweetheart.””
“Is he a friend?””
“No.””
Maya looked at Thomas for a moment.
Then she whispered:
“Is he here because of Vanessa?””
Marcus crouched.
“Why do you ask?””
Maya clutched her rabbit.
“Because Vanessa said someone was going to come and take the papers.””
Marcus felt his blood turn cold.
“What papers, sweetheart?””
Maya looked toward the stairs.
“The ones in Mommy's music box.””
Richard stepped forward.
“What did Vanessa tell you?””
Maya's voice became smaller.
“She said if Daddy found them, everybody would know she wasn't supposed to have them.””
Marcus hugged his daughter.
“It's okay. You're safe.””
Maya buried her face in his shoulder.
Then she whispered something that made Richard and Thomas exchange a look.
“Vanessa said she was coming back tonight.””
Marcus slowly raised his head.
“Tonight?””
Maya nodded.
“She said she had to get something before Grandma came.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
May you like
The music box was still missing.
And Vanessa knew exactly where it was.
