Chapter 6: The Brother Who Knew Too Much
Derrick stared at the storage receipt.
Marcus Carter.
His younger brother had always been the charming one, the man who could borrow money with a smile and make a repayment promise sound like a guaranteed business opportunity.
He was also the one person Derrick had spent years trying to help without allowing himself to admit how exhausting it had become.
Marcus had borrowed money for a restaurant that never opened.
Then for a car that had been repossessed.
Then for an investment that had supposedly collapsed through no fault of his own.
Derrick had stopped lending him money the previous year.
That morning, Marcus had called again.
He claimed he needed help covering a temporary business emergency.
Derrick had said no.
Now Marcus's name appeared on a receipt found in Monica's financial folder, connected to an account holding the proceeds from Nia's car.
Derrick looked at his wife.
“Why is my brother's name on this?””
Monica reached for the receipt.
“Give me that.””
He pulled it away.
“Answer the question.””
“I don't know why he used the storage facility.””
“You knew the money was connected to this company.””
“I didn't say that.””
“You transferred the proceeds from Nia's car into Carter Family Services. Then the money went somewhere else. And now I find a receipt with Marcus's name in your folder.””
Monica's eyes flashed.
“Maybe Marcus owes me money.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because you hate him!””
Derrick fell silent.
The answer had come too quickly.
Monica immediately seemed to realize her mistake.
She straightened her blouse.
“I mean, you never wanted me involved in your relationship with your brother.””
Derrick shook his head.
“That doesn't explain why you used my daughter's money.””
“I didn't use her money for myself.””
“Then where is it?””
Monica looked away.
Nia stepped closer to her father.
“Dad, call Uncle Marcus.””
Monica's head snapped toward her.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
Nia frowned.
“Why not?””
“Because this is between your father and me. Marcus has nothing to do with it.””
Derrick's eyes narrowed.
“You just said he might owe you money.””
“I was speculating!””
“Then you won't mind if I ask him.””
Monica's voice sharpened.
“Derrick, please don't do this.””
He was already dialing.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
On the third ring, Marcus answered.
“Big brother! I was just about to call you back.””
Derrick looked at Monica.
“Funny. You called me this morning.””
A pause.
“Yeah, about that loan. I know you said no, but I found another way to handle it.””
Derrick's grip tightened around the phone.
“What way?””
“It's complicated.””
“Then simplify it.””
Marcus laughed nervously.
“What's going on?””
Derrick held up the storage receipt.
“Why is your name on a storage-facility document connected to Carter Family Services LLC?””
Silence.
The entire foyer seemed to hold its breath.
Then Marcus spoke.
“Where did you get that?””
Derrick's face hardened.
“Answer me.””
“Look, whatever Monica told you—”
Derrick stopped breathing for a moment.
Monica closed her eyes.
Kayla stared at her mother.
Nia's fingers went cold.
Derrick spoke into the phone.
“Why did you mention Monica?””
Marcus began stumbling over his words.
“I didn't mean it like that.””
“Like what?””
“Derrick, listen. It's not what you think.””
“Then tell me what it is.””
Marcus exhaled.
“Monica said she'd handle the money.””
Derrick looked directly at his wife.
“What money?””
Marcus went quiet again.
Derrick's voice dropped.
“The money from Nia's car?””
A long pause.
Then Marcus said, “I didn't know it was Nia's car.””
Nia covered her mouth.
Derrick closed his eyes for a second.
When he opened them, the warmth had disappeared from his face.
“What did you do with the money, Marcus?””
“I borrowed it.””
“From whom?””
“Monica.””
“Where did she get it?””
“I don't know!””
“Your name is on the receipt. You knew about the company. You just told me Monica would handle the money. Stop pretending you don't understand what I'm asking.””
Marcus's breathing grew audible through the speaker.
Finally, he said, “She told me it was family money.””
Derrick glanced at Nia.
His daughter stood perfectly still, tears sliding down her cheeks.
Family money.
That was what people called it when they wanted to make someone else's sacrifice sound voluntary.
“How much did you borrow?”” Derrick asked.
Marcus hesitated.
“Marcus.””
“Eight thousand, four hundred dollars.””
The exact amount.
Nia turned away, pressing her sleeve against her face.
Derrick stared at the receipt.
“Did you know that money came from selling Nia's car?””
“No.””
“Did you know the sale was made without her permission?””
“No, Derrick. I swear.””
“Then why did you accept the transfer without asking where it came from?””
“Because Monica said it was money she could lend me!””
Derrick's jaw tightened.
“Did you pay any of it back?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Did you?””
“Not yet.””
“Where is it?””
“Some of it went toward the storage unit and some outstanding bills.””
Derrick looked at the receipt again.
“Why do you need a storage unit?””
Marcus sighed.
“Because I have some business equipment and personal things I couldn't keep at the apartment.””
“What business equipment?””
“Derrick, this isn't helping.””
“Answer the question.””
“Documents. Old files. A few boxes.””
“Documents from what business?””
Marcus fell silent.
Derrick's eyes narrowed.
“Marcus, what are you hiding?””
“I am not hiding anything.””
“Then give me the storage unit number.””
A pause.
“Why?””
“Because I want to know what's inside.””
Marcus's voice rose.
“You can't just show up and start going through my things!””
Derrick looked at Monica.
She had moved closer to the stairs, one hand gripping the railing.
“Why not?”” Derrick asked.
“If there's nothing wrong, why are you afraid of me seeing it?””
Marcus didn't respond.
Then he said something that made Derrick's stomach turn.
“Ask Monica about the account she opened before you got married.””
The words hung in the air.
Derrick slowly lowered the phone.
“Which account?””
Marcus seemed to realize he had said too much.
“I shouldn't have brought that up.””
“Which account, Marcus?””
“I have to go.””
“Don't you dare hang up on me!””
The call ended.
Derrick stared at the screen.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he turned toward Monica.
“What account did you open before we got married?””
Monica's face had become unnaturally pale.
“I don't know what Marcus is talking about.””
“That's twice today you've said you don't know something immediately after someone mentions it.””
“Because he's a liar!””
“Maybe. But he knew about the account.””
Monica shook her head.
“Marcus has always wanted to destroy our marriage. He hates that I married you. He hates that you stopped giving him money. He's using this situation to turn you against me.””
Derrick looked at the folder on the table.
“Then why did he know about Carter Family Services?””
“Because I told him about it!””
The admission came out before she could stop herself.
Nia looked up.
Derrick didn't move.
“You told him about the company?””
Monica pressed her hand against her forehead.
“I was trying to help him get back on his feet.””
“With my money?””
“With family resources!””
“Did you tell him about the purchasing authorization profile too?””
Monica's eyes widened.
For the first time, she looked genuinely shocked.
“I never said anything about a purchasing profile.””
Derrick held up his phone.
“I didn't tell you the bank mentioned one.””
Monica stared at him.
The silence was devastating.
Kayla stepped backward until her shoulders touched the wall.
“Mom?””
Monica turned toward her daughter.
“Don't.””
“What's going on?””
“Nothing you need to worry about.””
“But Dad never told you what the bank said.””
Monica's lips parted.
Kayla looked at her father.
“Dad, I swear I didn't know.””
Derrick's expression softened slightly.
“I believe you didn't understand the whole situation. But I need you to tell me everything your mother told you about the SUV.””
Kayla nodded, wiping her cheeks.
“She said she'd arranged the purchase as a surprise. She told me not to worry about the money because the financing was already approved.””
“Did she say whose name was on the financing?””
“No.””
“Did you sign anything?””
Kayla hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded sheet.
“I signed this at the dealership. Mom said it was just paperwork for the vehicle registration.””
Derrick took the page.
His eyes moved over the heading.
Then he stopped.
It wasn't a registration form.
It was a financial disclosure and guarantor authorization.
His name appeared on the document.
So did Kayla's.
And beneath both names was a clause granting permission to access specified financial information associated with the guarantor's account.
Derrick read it again.
“Kayla,” he said carefully, “did anyone explain what you were signing?””
She shook her head.
“No. Mom just pointed to the lines.””
Derrick looked at Monica.
“You told her this was registration paperwork?””
Monica said nothing.
He placed the document on the table beside the transfer records.
The pieces were beginning to form a picture, but the most important part remained missing.
How had Monica connected the dealership, the SUV purchase, the sale of Nia's car, and the old company account?
And why had Marcus warned him about an account opened before the marriage?
Derrick picked up the anonymous message again.
*Check the paperwork from the car sale. Don't let her destroy it.*
He typed another response.
*Who are you? How do you know about these accounts?*
This time, the reply arrived almost instantly.
*Because I helped Monica open the first one.*
Derrick's face went cold.
A second message appeared.
*And the name on that original account isn't Monica's. It's yours.*
He looked up at his wife.
“Monica,” he whispered, “what did you open in my name before we got married?””
She stared at him, unable to speak.
Then his phone rang.
The caller ID showed a name he hadn't seen in years.
His former business partner.
May you like
And the first words out of the man's mouth were:
“Derrick, whatever you do, don't let Monica access your office safe.””
