Chapter 8: The Second Car
"Who?""
My mother didn't answer immediately.
She stared at the photograph as though the faces might move if she watched long enough.
I knelt beside her.
"Mom, whoever it was, I need to know.""
She pressed her lips together.
"It was your uncle.""
I frowned.
"My uncle?""
"Your father's younger brother. David.""
I remembered David Carter.
He had visited us a few times when I was a child, but I hadn't seen him in years. After my father died, he disappeared from our lives.
I remembered asking my mother about him once.
She said he had moved overseas.
"Why would Uncle David be following Dad?""
My mother shook her head.
"Your father believed David was helping Richard.""
I sat back.
"Helping him steal the company?""
"Yes.""
I tried to remember the details of my father's business.
He had never discussed the complicated parts with me.
I remembered the smell of his office, the old wooden desk, and the way he used to let me sit in his chair while he reviewed paperwork.
He had always told me that a man's signature was worth more than his word.
Now I was beginning to understand why.
"Did Dad know David was involved?""
My mother nodded.
"He confronted him two weeks before he died.""
"What happened?""
"David came to the house. They argued in the garage. Your father told him he would never forgive him for betraying the family.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"And you didn't tell me?""
"I was afraid.""
"Of David?""
"Of what he might do.""
I stood and walked to the window.
"Where is he now?""
"I don't know.""
I took out my phone and searched for his name.
Nothing useful appeared.
I called Andrew.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"Who was driving the second car?""
There was a pause.
"What did you find out?""
"My mother says it was my uncle David.""
Andrew exhaled.
"Then Evelyn finally told you.""
I gripped the phone.
"You knew?""
"Yes.""
"And you never thought to mention it?""
"Your father specifically instructed me not to reveal certain details unless the trust was threatened.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Apparently, my wife and a man trying to steal my inheritance wasn't enough of a threat.""
"Marcus, please listen. David was never formally charged. The investigators couldn't establish that he had been involved in the accident.""
"Was he at the scene?""
"His vehicle was identified near the road.""
"Then why wasn't he questioned?""
"He was.""
"And?""
"He said he had been driving home from a business meeting.""
I looked at my mother.
"Did you believe him?""
"No," she whispered.
Andrew continued.
"There's something else. David disappeared shortly after Thomas died. He withdrew his remaining interest in the company and left the country.""
"Where did he go?""
"We believe he moved to England. But I haven't confirmed that.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Why would he come back now?""
Andrew answered carefully.
"Because the trust is becoming valuable enough to attract attention again.""
I ended the call after arranging to meet him at his office.
Before leaving, I helped my mother prepare for the hospital appointment.
Vanessa appeared in the hallway.
She was dressed and holding her handbag.
"Where are you going?"" I asked.
"With you.""
"No.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'm still your wife.""
"And my mother is still the person whose medical treatment you interfered with.""
"I made mistakes.""
"Several.""
She stepped closer.
"Marcus, I know I don't deserve your trust right now. But I want to fix this.""
I looked at her.
"Then start by telling me whether you contacted Claire.""
She hesitated.
That was enough.
"When?""
"Yesterday.""
I felt a knot form in my stomach.
"Why?""
"She called me.""
"What did she want?""
"She wanted to know whether you had found the key.""
I stared at her.
"How did she know about the key?""
Vanessa looked away.
"Because I told her.""
I closed my eyes.
"When?""
"Last week.""
"Before or after you moved the money?""
"After.""
I stepped backward.
"You gave Richard's daughter information about my mother's belongings?""
"She said she could help me.""
"Help you do what?""
Vanessa began crying.
"She said if I could get the ledger, everything would be settled. Richard would stop contacting us.""
"And you believed that?""
"I wanted it to be over.""
I looked at the woman I had married.
For the first time, she looked like a complete stranger.
"You're not coming with us.""
She grabbed my sleeve.
"Marcus, please.""
I gently removed her hand.
"Stay away from my mother.""
We left for St. Mary's.
The doctor examined Evelyn and reviewed her previous test results. He explained that the missed appointments had delayed an important evaluation.
He didn't make promises.
He didn't pretend everything would be simple.
But he arranged the next steps and made sure my mother received the care she needed.
When we finally left his office, Evelyn looked exhausted.
I pushed her wheelchair toward the elevator.
"Sweetheart?""
"Yes, Mom?""
"Are you angry with me?""
I stopped.
"What?""
"For not telling you about David.""
I knelt beside her.
"Mom, you've spent your entire life protecting me. You don't have to apologize for being afraid.""
She touched my cheek.
"Your father would have wanted you to know.""
I kissed her forehead.
"Then I'll find out what happened.""
An hour later, I arrived at Andrew's office.
He was waiting with a thick file on his desk.
He looked older than I remembered from the few occasions we'd met.
His gray hair was neatly combed, but his eyes were tired.
"Marcus, sit down.""
I placed the brass key on the desk.
"I want the entire truth.""
Andrew nodded.
"Your father and Richard founded a company called Carter Cole Development. They purchased properties together, but Thomas eventually discovered that Richard and David had been moving assets into separate accounts.""
"How much?""
"At least four million dollars at the time.""
I stared at him.
"And the Northstar trust?""
"Thomas created it using legitimate company assets that he had personally funded. It was meant to protect the family's future.""
"Was it legal?""
"Yes. We have the original documentation.""
"Then why did Richard keep claiming the company belonged to him?""
"Because he believed Thomas had transferred assets without his consent.""
"Did he have evidence?""
Andrew opened a folder.
"He had documents showing some transfers, but none established ownership.""
I looked at the papers.
Then I noticed a photograph tucked into the file.
My father.
My mother.
And a young boy standing between them.
It was me.
On the back, my father's handwriting read:
For Marcus. Everything I built was for his future.
I swallowed.
Andrew slid another document toward me.
"This is the original trust agreement.""
I scanned the first page.
My mother's name appeared as trustee.
My name appeared as the sole beneficiary.
But then I reached the final section.
There was a provision requiring a second beneficiary to be notified if the trust was challenged.
I looked at Andrew.
"Who is this?""
He didn't answer.
I read the name.
*Claire Elizabeth Cole.*
My stomach dropped.
"Why is Claire listed?""
Andrew folded his hands.
"Because your father believed she had been used by her father and wanted to protect her from the consequences of his actions.""
I stared at him.
"You're telling me my wife helped Richard steal a company that was supposed to benefit both me and his daughter?""
Andrew nodded.
"That appears to be what happened.""
I looked again at the document.
A handwritten note appeared beneath Claire's name.
If Richard attempts to claim the assets, Claire must be given an opportunity to establish her own claim independently.
I leaned back.
"Does she have a claim?""
"Not necessarily. But she has a right to be notified.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Vanessa.
*I need to tell you something about Claire. She wasn't the only person Richard recruited.*
I frowned.
Another message appeared.
*There's someone else in your house. Someone who's been helping him for years.*
I looked up at Andrew.
"Who has access to the house?""
"Your mother. You. Your wife.""
I stared at the list.
Then my phone rang.
It was our home security company.
"Mr. Carter, we've detected an unauthorized entry at your property.""
My blood ran cold.
"Where?""
"Your garage.""
"Who entered?""
The operator hesitated.
"According to the camera, someone used an authorized access code.""
"Whose code?""
She checked.
May you like
Then she said:
"Your mother's.""
