Chapter 7: The Man in My Father's Photograph
I stared at the photograph for nearly five minutes.
Vanessa stood outside my father's office, wearing a black coat and holding a leather folder. Beside her was a man in his early forties, tall, clean-shaven, with a narrow scar running beneath his left eye.
On the back, my father's handwriting identified him as Ethan Cole.
I had never heard that name.
But the date was impossible to ignore.
Three months before I met Vanessa.
My father had died less than a year later.
And according to the letter, Vanessa hadn't entered my life by accident.
I photographed everything in the storage unit, placed the original documents inside my briefcase, and called Daniel.
He answered on the second ring.
"Marcus?""
"I found something.""
I explained the photograph, the letter, and the name Ethan Cole.
Daniel remained silent for several seconds.
"Don't contact Vanessa about this.""
"Why?""
"Because if your father's suspicions were correct, you may be dealing with something much larger than financial misconduct.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Can you find Ethan?""
"I'll try. But first, send me everything.""
I did.
Then I drove home.
Vanessa was waiting in the living room.
She sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, scrolling through her phone. Patricia was beside her, speaking quietly.
When I entered, both women stopped.
"Where have you been?"" Vanessa asked.
"Out.""
"At this hour?""
I placed my briefcase on the dining table.
"Does it matter?""
She stood.
"We need to talk about what happened this morning.""
I looked at her.
"About your explanation that my father had secret debts?""
"Yes.""
"Or about the fact that you apparently knew him before I introduced you?""
Her expression changed.
It was brief, but unmistakable.
Patricia slowly lowered her phone.
Vanessa looked at me.
"What are you talking about?""
I removed the photograph and placed it on the table.
She stared at it.
For the first time since I had known her, she looked genuinely terrified.
"Where did you get that?""
"My father's storage unit.""
She reached for it.
I pulled it away.
"Who is Ethan Cole?""
Patricia stood abruptly.
"Vanessa, don't answer him.""
I turned toward her.
"Why? Do you know him too?""
"That's none of your business.""
I laughed without humor.
"My father is dead, more than a hundred thousand dollars is missing from my daughter's trust, and someone forged documents to transfer his property. Everything connected to this is my business.""
Vanessa sat down.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
She rubbed her forehead.
"I met Ethan through Patricia. He was involved in some financial arrangements your father had.""
"What arrangements?""
"Investments.""
"Which investments?""
"I don't remember the details.""
"Three months before you met me, you were standing outside my father's office with a man involved in his investments. You expect me to believe you don't remember?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Your father was looking for someone to manage his estate.""
"Then why did he write that you were looking for something?""
Vanessa looked away.
Patricia moved toward the stairs.
I stopped her.
"Where are you going?""
"Home.""
"You can leave, but I want you to understand that my attorney will be contacting you about the transfers to your company.""
She turned.
"You think you can scare me with lawyers?""
"No. I think the documents will speak for themselves.""
Patricia picked up her handbag.
Then she leaned toward Vanessa and whispered something.
I couldn't hear the words.
But Vanessa suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Don't.""
Patricia pulled away and left.
The front door slammed.
I looked at my wife.
"What did she just tell you?""
"Nothing.""
"Vanessa.""
She stood and walked toward the staircase.
"Please leave me alone.""
I followed her with my eyes but didn't move.
A few minutes later, I heard her bedroom door lock.
I went upstairs to check on Lily.
She was sitting on her bed, drawing planets in a notebook.
When she saw me, she smiled.
"Did you find Grandpa's things?""
"Some of them.""
"Did he leave anything for me?""
I sat beside her.
"He left something important.""
Her eyes brightened.
"What?""
"A letter.""
"Was it about me?""
I hesitated.
"It mentioned you.""
She put her pencil down.
"Did he say he loved me?""
I opened my briefcase and showed her the photograph of my father.
"He loved you very much.""
Lily touched the picture.
"I remember his hands.""
I smiled sadly.
"His hands?""
"They were always warm. He used to hold mine when we went to the garden.""
I swallowed.
"Yes. He did.""
She studied the photograph.
Then her expression changed.
"That's Vanessa.""
I nodded.
"Did you know she met Grandpa before I did?""
Lily shook her head.
"She used to say Grandpa didn't like her.""
I frowned.
"She said that?""
"Sometimes. She said he thought she was after our money.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"Did she tell you why?""
Lily looked down.
"She said Grandpa was mean because he didn't want the boys to have anything.""
I put the photograph away.
"Sweetheart, you don't need to worry about any of this.""
She nodded.
But before I could leave, she asked one more question.
"Can I keep Grandpa's picture?""
"Of course.""
I kissed her forehead and went downstairs.
My phone rang at 10:16 p.m.
Daniel.
"I found Ethan Cole.""
"Where is he?""
"He's alive. He worked as a financial adviser for your father's investment company.""
"Can I speak to him?""
"Possibly. But there's something you need to know first.""
I sat down.
"What?""
"Ethan left the company shortly before your father died. He filed a complaint alleging that someone had been diverting money from one of Robert's accounts.""
"Who?""
"Patricia Whitmore.""
I closed my eyes.
"Was Vanessa involved?""
"Her name appears in the complaint.""
I gripped the phone.
"What did the complaint say?""
Daniel paused.
"It alleged that Vanessa had approached Ethan about obtaining access to your father's estate through marriage.""
My stomach tightened.
"Through marriage?""
"That's what the document says.""
I stared toward the staircase.
"Can you send it to me?""
"Already did. There's something else. Ethan agreed to meet us tomorrow morning.""
"Where?""
"His office.""
I ended the call and opened the email.
The complaint was four pages long.
I read every word.
Ethan claimed Patricia had approached him about a plan to gain control over certain assets belonging to my father.
He had refused.
Two weeks later, he was dismissed from his position.
The final paragraph contained a sentence that made my hands shake.
I believe the individual identified as Vanessa Whitmore was deliberately introduced into Robert Carter's family circle to gain access to the Carter estate.
I read it again.
Then I heard a floorboard creak.
I looked up.
Vanessa stood at the top of the stairs.
She was holding a glass of water.
Her eyes were fixed on my phone.
"Who are you talking to?"" she asked.
I closed the email.
"My attorney.""
She slowly descended the stairs.
"Marcus, whatever you think you found, you need to stop.""
"Why?""
"Because you're going to destroy people who don't deserve it.""
I stood.
"Did you marry me to get access to my father's money?""
Her glass slipped slightly in her hand.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Your father wasn't supposed to tell you about Ethan.""
