Chapter 7: Someone Was Watching My Children
I stared at the photograph on my phone.
Noah and Maya stood outside my front door, their wet jackets clinging to their bodies. The timestamp showed 12:09 a.m., eight minutes before I had opened the door.
Whoever had taken it had been standing close enough to see my children crying.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
If you want your children safe, stop investigating.
Daniel took my phone.
"Don't respond.""
"Someone followed them here.""
"Possibly. We need to establish who took this photograph and when.""
"Daniel, they were standing outside my house in the rain. Someone was watching them.""
"I understand.""
"No, you don't.""
My voice rose.
"That person watched my seven-year-old daughter shiver on my doorstep and decided to take a picture instead of helping her.""
Daniel didn't argue.
He handed the phone back.
"Call the police. Report the threat. And Marcus, don't tell anyone where the children will be staying.""
I called immediately.
An officer arrived forty minutes later and took a statement. He photographed the message and the original image on my phone.
He also asked whether I suspected anyone.
I gave him the names of Vanessa, Richard, Caroline, and Ethan.
When I mentioned the trust and the suspicious financial transactions, he recommended that I preserve all the original records and forward the financial evidence to the appropriate investigators.
After he left, I stood in the hallway outside Noah's bedroom.
The door was slightly open.
A small strip of yellow light fell across the carpet.
I pushed it gently.
Noah was awake, sitting against his pillows.
"Hey, buddy.""
He looked at me.
"Are the bad people coming back?""
I sat beside him.
"No one's coming through that door without going through me first.""
He nodded, but he didn't look convinced.
"Dad?""
"Yeah?""
"Did Mom do something bad?""
I took a breath.
"Your mom has made some choices that adults need to figure out. But none of this is your fault.""
He stared at his blanket.
"She told us you were dangerous.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What else did she say?""
"That you were trying to take her money.""
I reached for his hand.
"Noah, I want you to remember something. You never have to choose between your parents. You can love your mother and still tell me when something makes you uncomfortable.""
He looked at me.
"Can I tell you something without you getting mad?""
"Always.""
"Mom told us to say we liked the hotel.""
I didn't move.
"Why?""
"Because she said the judge might ask us.""
"Did you like it?""
He shook his head.
"There was a loud machine outside our window. Maya cried because she couldn't find her rabbit one night. Mom said she was being annoying.""
I looked toward Maya's room.
"Did anyone hurt you?""
"No.""
He paused.
"But Ethan shouted at Mom a lot.""
I squeezed his hand.
"Thank you for telling me.""
When I left his room, my phone rang.
Daniel.
"We've identified the phone number that sent the threat.""
"Who?""
"It's a prepaid number. The message was routed through a temporary online service. We don't have a verified sender yet.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Can we trace the photograph?""
"Our forensic specialist is examining the original file. The metadata may help.""
"Anything else?""
"Yes. I spoke with the trust administrator. There was an unusual login to the trust account yesterday evening.""
My stomach tightened.
"From where?""
"Richard Hale's office.""
I looked at the clock.
It was almost midnight.
"Did he access the money?""
"No confirmed transfer. But someone attempted to download the original trust documents.""
"Can we lock him out?""
"Patricia is working with the trustee. We're requesting immediate protective measures.""
I looked toward the children's bedrooms.
"Do it.""
The next morning, I arrived at Reed Construction Group before seven.
Olivia was already waiting outside my office.
She looked pale.
"Mr. Reed, I need to show you something.""
She closed the door behind us.
On her computer was a spreadsheet showing payments from the company's operating account.
Several transactions had been made to Northbridge Residential Services.
But one payment was different.
$75,000.
The recipient was listed as a private security company.
I leaned closer.
"Who approved this?""
Olivia clicked the authorization field.
Richard Hale.
"What's the date?""
"Yesterday.""
I stared at her.
"Yesterday?""
"Yes.""
"Why would Richard pay a security company yesterday?""
Olivia opened the attached invoice.
The description read:
Residential protection and personnel monitoring.
There was an address beneath it.
My home.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
"Someone paid to monitor my house using company money.""
Olivia nodded.
"I found another invoice.""
She opened it.
This one listed the hotel where Vanessa and the children had stayed.
The description was different.
Temporary family accommodation and witness management.
Witness management.
I read the words again.
"Who submitted this?""
"Mr. Hale's assistant.""
"Have you spoken to Richard?""
"No.""
"Good. Don't.""
I called Daniel and sent him the invoices.
He immediately told me to preserve the records and avoid accessing Richard's private accounts.
Then Olivia opened another document.
"There's something else, sir.""
It was a list of people who had received payments from Northbridge.
One name appeared three times.
Caroline Hale.
I looked at the amounts.
$12,000.
$18,000.
$25,000.
"Why was Richard's wife receiving money from Vanessa's company?""
Olivia shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I leaned back.
Then my office door opened.
Richard walked in.
He didn't knock.
"Marcus, we need to talk.""
I closed the spreadsheet.
"About what?""
He looked at Olivia.
"Could you give us a moment?""
"Olivia can stay.""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Fine.""
He placed a document on my desk.
"I understand you've been making inquiries into company expenses.""
"That's correct.""
"You've been asking questions about me.""
"That's also correct.""
He pulled out a chair.
"Then let me save you some time. The payments were legitimate.""
"Why did the company pay for surveillance at my house?""
He froze.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"That wasn't surveillance.""
"What was it?""
"Security.""
"Who requested it?""
"Vanessa.""
I leaned forward.
"Why?""
"She was concerned about your behavior.""
I laughed.
"She has a court order, Richard. Why would she need a security company watching my children?""
He looked toward Olivia.
"Can we speak privately?""
"No.""
Richard's voice dropped.
"You're making a serious mistake, Marcus.""
I stood.
"Then explain the $450,000.""
He didn't answer.
"Explain the trust withdrawal.""
Nothing.
"Explain why your wife was listed as an emergency contact for my children.""
Richard slowly picked up his document.
Then he looked me directly in the eyes.
"Your father made promises he couldn't keep.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"What promises?""
Richard walked toward the door.
"Ask your wife.""
He opened it.
Then he stopped.
"Actually, don't. She's already told you more than she should have.""
He left.
Olivia waited until his footsteps disappeared.
"Mr. Reed?""
I turned toward her.
"Yes?""
"Should I be worried?""
I looked at the security invoice again.
"Yes," I said quietly.
"I think all of us should be.""
That evening, Daniel called with an update.
"The photograph of your children was taken from a vehicle parked across the street. We found a partial plate number.""
"Who owns the vehicle?""
"Caroline Hale.""
I closed my eyes.
Then Daniel added:
"Marcus, there's something else. The security company that received the $75,000 has agreed to provide information. Their manager says Richard personally requested surveillance of your property.""
"What was he looking for?""
Daniel paused.
"Apparently, he was trying to determine whether your father had left anything at the house.""
I looked toward the living room.
My father's old photographs were still displayed on the shelves.
Then Daniel said:
"He also asked whether the children had access to your father's belongings.""
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Because there was one thing in my house that my father had specifically asked me never to throw away.
And I suddenly realized Richard might know exactly where it was.
