Chapter 9: The Last Lie
Malcolm stared at the screen.
His father's face appeared clearly now.
Older.
Angry.
Standing beneath the porch light of the old house.
Across from him stood Tasha.
Young.
Terrified.
Holding the silver necklace.
Lena covered her mouth.
“No.””
Malcolm looked at Tasha.
“You gave him the necklace?””
Tasha's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“I had no choice.””
“You always say that.””
The masked man stepped closer.
“You want the rest?””
Malcolm looked at him.
“Who are you?””
The man ignored the question.
“Ask her what happened after she gave your father the necklace.””
Malcolm turned to Tasha.
“What happened?””
Tasha couldn't speak.
Lena stepped forward.
“You told him I was dead.””
Tasha shook her head.
“No.””
“You did.””
“I told him what your father wanted me to say.””
Malcolm's face hardened.
“Did you tell my family she was dead?””
“Yes.””
The word barely escaped her.
Malcolm stepped back.
Tasha reached for him.
“Malcolm, please.””
He moved away.
“Don't.””
“I was nineteen.””
“You lied for twelve years.””
“I was threatened.””
“By my father?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because he threatened to kill you.””
Malcolm's jaw tightened.
“And you believed him?””
“I saw what he did to Lena.””
Lena interrupted.
“He didn't hurt me.””
Everyone turned.
Tasha stared at her.
“What?””
“He didn't hurt me.””
Lena looked at Malcolm.
“Dad never touched me.””
Malcolm frowned.
“Then who did?””
Lena looked at the masked man.
The man didn't move.
“I don't know,” she whispered.
Tasha's face suddenly changed.
She stared at the man's hands.
At the black gloves.
Then at the way he stood.
“No.””
The man tilted his head.
Tasha backed away.
“You're dead.””
Malcolm looked at her.
“Who?””
She whispered a name.
“Marcus.””
The man laughed.
“Still afraid of me, Tasha?””
Malcolm's heart pounded.
“Who is Marcus?””
Tasha couldn't answer.
Lena stepped closer to Malcolm.
“Marcus was Dad's business partner.””
The masked man slowly removed one glove.
Then the other.
He reached up.
Pulled away the mask.
Malcolm stared.
He had never seen the man's face before.
But Tasha had.
Her expression collapsed.
Marcus smiled.
“Hello, Tasha.””
Malcolm stepped between them.
“You have my mother.””
“Yes.””
“What do you want?””
Marcus looked at Lena.
“She has something that belongs to me.””
Lena shook her head.
“I don't have anything.””
Marcus smiled.
“You have the records.””
“What records?””
Malcolm asked.
Marcus looked at him.
“The records that prove your father wasn't the mastermind.””
Malcolm froze.
“What?””
Marcus nodded toward Tasha.
“She knows.””
Malcolm turned.
“Tasha.””
She was trembling.
Marcus continued.
“Your father took the blame for someone else.””
“Who?””
Marcus smiled.
“Your bride.””
Malcolm stared at Tasha.
“No.””
Tasha began crying.
“It's not what it sounds like.””
Marcus laughed.
“She was the one who found the accounts.””
Tasha shook her head.
“I found them by accident.””
“She discovered the money.””
“I didn't know what it was.””
“She tried to expose it.””
“Yes.””
“Then your father threatened her.””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at Malcolm.
“But your bride made a deal.””
Malcolm's voice dropped.
“What deal?””
Tasha stepped forward.
“I agreed to keep quiet.””
“For what?””
Marcus answered.
“Your father's protection.””
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
“Protection from what?””
Marcus smiled.
“From me.””
Lena suddenly grabbed Malcolm's arm.
“Don't listen to him.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Tell him the truth.””
Lena shook her head.
“You're lying.””
“Am I?””
He held up his phone.
A new video appeared.
It showed Malcolm's mother sitting in the chair.
Then another person entered the room.
Malcolm leaned closer.
The figure stopped in front of his mother.
Malcolm recognized the posture immediately.
His mother looked up.
“Please.””
The figure removed a hood.
Malcolm's blood ran cold.
It wasn't Marcus.
It wasn't Tasha.
It wasn't anyone he expected.
It was a woman.
A Black woman with silver hair.
Malcolm whispered,
“Mom?””
The video showed his mother looking directly at the camera.
Then the woman standing beside her turned.
Malcolm couldn't breathe.
It was Nia.
But Nia wasn't crying anymore.
She was calm.
Almost cold.
Marcus looked at Malcolm.
“You've been asking why Tasha knew her.””
Malcolm stared at the screen.
Nia leaned toward his mother and whispered something.
His mother began crying.
Then Nia looked directly into the camera.
“Tell Malcolm the truth.””
The video ended.
Malcolm turned toward the stairs.
“Nia!””
No answer.
Tasha suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Malcolm, don't go.””
He pulled free.
“Why?””
Tasha's voice broke.
“Because if you find out who she really is, you'll hate me forever.””
Malcolm stared at her.
“You're already asking me to hate you.””
Tasha shook her head.
“You don't understand.””
“What don't I understand?””
She looked toward Lena.
Then toward Marcus.
Finally, she whispered,
“Nia isn't your sister.””
Malcolm froze.
Tasha took a breath.
“She is the person your sister trusted most.””
A loud crash came from the ballroom above.
Then the lights went out again.
In the darkness, Marcus whispered,
“And now your mother knows what Nia did.””
A scream echoed from upstairs.
Malcolm ran toward the stairs.
Behind him, Tasha shouted,
“Malcolm, wait!””
But he was already gone.
And halfway up the staircase, his phone buzzed with one final message:
May you like
*COME TO THE ALTAR ALONE.*
*BRING THE BROKEN CHARM.*
