Chapter 4: The Boy Who Knew Too Much
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Caleb stood beside the kitchen counter, his fingers trembling around the blue envelope. Vanessa stared at him as if he had just betrayed her in front of a courtroom.
I looked at the photograph.
It showed Maya's painting before it had been destroyed. The purple tree, the yellow house, the three figures beneath the branches.
But something was different.
In the photograph, the painting had a small white label attached to the bottom-right corner.
*PROPERTY OF MAYA CARTER — ORIGINAL ARTWORK.*
Beneath that was another handwritten note.
*Purchased for $2,500.*
I looked up.
"Caleb, where did you get this?""
He glanced at his mother.
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
"Marcus, he's confused. He's been listening to conversations he doesn't understand.""
Caleb shook his head.
"No, Mom.""
"Go upstairs.""
"I said no.""
It was the first time I had heard Caleb speak to his mother that way.
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
"Don't make me repeat myself.""
Caleb looked at me.
"She told me to take pictures of Maya's painting.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because someone wanted to buy it.""
The kitchen suddenly felt smaller.
"Who?""
Caleb swallowed.
"Uncle Stephen.""
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face had gone completely blank.
"Your brother wanted to buy Maya's painting?""
Caleb nodded.
"He said it was worth a lot because it was selected for the competition. Mom said we could sell it and use the money for something important.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Did Maya know?""
"No.""
"Did she agree to sell it?""
Caleb shook his head.
"She wasn't supposed to know.""
Vanessa slammed her palm against the counter.
"That's enough!""
Caleb flinched.
I immediately stepped between them.
"Don't shout at him.""
Vanessa pointed at her son.
"He is making things up because he doesn't want to face the consequences of his own behavior.""
Caleb's eyes filled.
"You told me Maya was selfish. You said she didn't deserve the painting.""
"Caleb!""
"You said if she won the competition, Dad would spend even more money on her.""
I stared at Vanessa.
"Is that true?""
She looked away.
Caleb continued.
"You told me Uncle Stephen had a customer who collected children's artwork. You said the painting could pay for my new gaming computer.""
I slowly turned toward him.
"Your gaming computer?""
He nodded.
"Mom said it would be my birthday present. She said Maya wouldn't need to know.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"How much were you planning to sell it for?""
She folded her arms.
"I never agreed to sell anything.""
Caleb pointed at the photograph.
"Then why did you tell Uncle Stephen to come tomorrow?""
Vanessa's face tightened.
"Go upstairs. Now.""
Caleb didn't move.
I pulled out a chair.
"Caleb, sit down.""
He hesitated before sitting.
I crouched slightly so we were at eye level.
"You're not in trouble for telling me what happened. I need you to tell me everything you remember.""
He rubbed his palms against his jeans.
"Mom said Maya's painting was taking up too much space. Then Uncle Stephen came over last Saturday.""
"Was I home?""
"No. You were in Chicago.""
"What happened?""
Caleb took a breath.
"Uncle Stephen looked at the painting. He took pictures. Then he said he could get two thousand five hundred dollars for it.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Did he give your mother any money?""
Caleb nodded.
"He gave her an envelope.""
"When?""
"Monday.""
Vanessa suddenly grabbed the blue envelope.
I caught her wrist before she could pull it away.
"Don't.""
She stared at my hand.
"Let go of me.""
I released her.
"Caleb, is there anything else?""
He looked toward the staircase.
Then he reached into his pocket and removed a small folded receipt.
"I found this in Mom's purse.""
He placed it on the counter.
It was a receipt from a storage facility.
The date was four days earlier.
The rental agreement listed Vanessa's name.
The unit number was 214.
And the payment was $180.
I stared at it.
"What's in the storage unit?""
Caleb shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Vanessa snatched the receipt.
"You're going through my purse now?""
I stood.
"Why do you have a storage unit?""
"Personal belongings.""
"What personal belongings?""
"My things.""
"Why did you need a separate storage unit?""
She laughed.
"Because I have a husband who interrogates me over everything!""
I looked at the photograph again.
Then at the receipt.
Something wasn't adding up.
"Daniel is going to want to see these documents.""
Vanessa's expression changed immediately.
"You're bringing your lawyer into this?""
"Yes.""
"Over a child's painting?""
"No. Over everything you've done to my daughter.""
She stepped closer.
"Marcus, think carefully. If you start dragging lawyers into our marriage, there won't be anything left.""
I looked at her.
"Maybe there shouldn't be.""
For the first time, she seemed genuinely afraid.
I took the photograph, the receipt, and the notebook.
Then I turned to Caleb.
"Thank you for telling me.""
He nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on the floor.
As I walked toward the stairs, he spoke again.
"Mr. Marcus?""
I stopped.
"Yes?""
He hesitated.
"There's something else.""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"Caleb, don't.""
He ignored her.
"Mom told Uncle Stephen that Maya's grandmother had signed something. She said if you tried to stop the sale, they could still take the money.""
I turned slowly.
"What money?""
Caleb reached into the envelope again.
This time, he removed a photocopy of a bank document.
At the top was the name of Emily's family trust.
My daughter's trust.
And beneath the account information was a transfer request.
The requested amount was $18,000.
The recipient was Bright Future Consulting.
The authorization date was the following Monday.
I stared at the document.
"Where did you get this?""
"Mom left it on the printer.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She was no longer pretending to be angry.
She looked frightened.
"Marcus," she whispered, "I can explain.""
I held up the document.
"Then explain why you tried to transfer eighteen thousand dollars from my daughter's trust.""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
May you like
But before she could answer, Caleb said something that made my blood run cold.
"She already told Uncle Stephen the money was approved.""
