Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Sale
“Because Leonard Cole isn't the man who bought your daughter's car.””
For a moment, nobody moved.
The house phone continued ringing on its charging base, its bright display illuminating the edge of the living room table. Sunlight poured through the enormous front windows, exposing every detail of Monica's frightened expression.
Derek slowly lowered his hand.
“What did you just say?””
Monica swallowed.
“I said you need to let this go.””
“No.”” Derek held up the sale form.
“You said Leonard Cole isn't the man who bought Nia's car. Then you said he's the man who told you to sell it. Those are two very different statements.””
Nia stood beside her father, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
“Who actually bought my car?””
Monica looked at her.
“I can't explain everything right now.””
“Then explain one thing,” Nia replied.
“Where is my car?””
Monica pressed her lips together.
Derek picked up the ringing phone.
“I'm answering this.””
“Derek, don't!””
He pressed the green button and placed the phone against his ear.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Derek glanced at the screen to confirm the call was connected.
“Hello? Who is this?””
A man's voice finally came through, low and controlled.
“Mr. Carter. I've been waiting for you to answer.””
Derek's shoulders stiffened.
“Leonard Cole?””
“That's right.””
“Why are you calling my house?””
“Because your wife hasn't fulfilled her end of our agreement.””
Monica closed her eyes.
Nia looked from her stepmother to her father.
Derek tightened his grip on the phone.
“What agreement?””
The man chuckled softly.
“You should ask Monica. She seemed perfectly comfortable discussing it when we met.””
“When did you meet my wife?””
“Three weeks ago.””
Nia felt the blood drain from her face.
Three weeks ago.
The same week her car disappeared.
Derek moved toward the window, keeping his eyes on Monica.
“Did you purchase my daughter's vehicle?””
“Not personally.””
“Then who did?””
“Mr. Carter, I don't think you understand the situation. I paid for something.
Your wife arranged the transfer. Everyone was supposed to benefit.””
“Benefit from what?””
“That's a conversation you should have with your wife.””
Derek's voice rose.
“You called my house for weeks. You had my daughter's car sold. Now you're telling me everyone was supposed to benefit, and you expect me to believe you did nothing wrong?””
“I'm telling you that your wife made promises.””
Monica stepped forward.
“Leonard, stop talking.””
The voice on the phone fell silent.
Then the man laughed again.
“Ah. Monica is there.””
Derek stared at his wife.
“You knew he was going to call?””
Monica reached for the handset.
Derek turned away from her.
“Don't touch me.””
The words stopped her cold.
Nia had never heard her father speak to Monica like that.
Not once.
On the phone, Leonard continued.
“Mr. Carter, there's a reason I need this settled today. I don't enjoy being kept waiting, and I certainly don't enjoy discovering that someone has changed the terms of an agreement.””
“What terms?”” Derek demanded.
“Ask your wife what she promised me in exchange for the vehicle.””
Monica shook her head violently.
“Hang up, Derek.””
Derek covered the mouthpiece.
“Tell me the truth.””
“I am trying to protect you.””
“From a man who says you made promises to him?””
“You don't know who he is!””
“Then tell me!””
Monica's eyes filled with tears, but Nia noticed something disturbing beneath them. Her stepmother wasn't simply afraid of being exposed.
She seemed afraid of what would happen if Derek learned the entire truth.
Nia stepped closer to the phone.
“Mr. Cole?””
Derek looked at her sharply.
Monica whispered, “Nia, don't.””
But Nia continued.
“My name is Nia Carter. You have my car. I want to know where it is.””
The man's tone changed immediately.
“Nia.””
He said her name as though he had known it for years.
“You've grown up.””
Nia's skin prickled.
“What does that mean?””
“It means your mother would have been proud of you.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Nia gripped the edge of the table.
“Did you know my mother?””
Monica lunged for the phone.
Derek caught her wrist before she reached it.
“Answer her question,” he ordered.
Leonard sighed.
“Your mother was a good woman. Better than the people who surrounded her, unfortunately.””
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
“My mother died twelve years ago.””
“I know exactly when she died.””
“Then how do you know me?””
“Because I knew her before you were born.””
Monica jerked her arm free.
“That's enough!””
Her voice cracked through the living room.
Everyone stared at her.
On the phone, Leonard spoke again.
“Monica, you were supposed to tell Derek the truth before I had to.””
Monica's face went white.
Derek lowered the phone slightly.
“What truth?””
No answer.
“Monica, what truth?””
The man on the line gave a long breath.
“Mr. Carter, the car was never the real reason I came back into your lives.””
Derek's eyes narrowed.
“Came back?””
“Yes.””
“Back from where?””
“Ask Monica who was supposed to receive the money from the sale. Then ask her why your daughter's name was crossed off the document.””
Nia stared at the form still resting on the table.
A new thought struck her.
“What money?”” she whispered.
Leonard heard her.
“The money that was supposed to be released when your eighteenth birthday arrived.””
Derek went completely still.
Monica's tears finally spilled over.
Nia looked at her father.
“Dad? What is he talking about?””
Derek didn't answer.
He was staring at Monica as if he were seeing a stranger.
“Your eighteenth birthday?”” he repeated.
Leonard's voice grew colder.
“Monica knows exactly what I'm talking about. She also knows that if the money isn't released today, the next document I bring to your house won't be a vehicle registration.””
“What will it be?”” Derek asked.
“A document proving who has been lying to Nia about her mother's estate.””
The call ended.
Derek stood motionless with the handset pressed against his palm.
Outside, Kayla's new SUV gleamed beneath the afternoon sun.
Inside, Nia looked at the woman who had helped raise her, searching for some sign that the words she'd just heard were a misunderstanding.
Monica wiped her cheeks.
“Nia, sweetheart, I can explain.””
Nia stepped backward.
“Don't call me that.””
“Nia—”
“Did my mother leave me money?””
Monica said nothing.
Derek placed the phone on the table.
“Monica,” he said quietly, “tell us where the money is.””
Monica looked toward the hallway.
Then toward the front door.
And finally, at the small home office where the old papers had been hidden.
“There is something you both need to understand,” she whispered.
Derek's jaw tightened.
“Then start talking.””
Monica reached into her handbag and pulled out a small brass key.
“The money isn't in a bank account anymore.””
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She placed the key on the table.
“It's in the house.””
