Chapter 9: The Second Voice
The room became painfully quiet.
I looked at Daniel.
"Who else was in the car?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I don't know the person's identity.""
"Then how can you say Marcus identified them?""
"Because the recording contains two voices.""
Margaret closed her laptop.
"Mr. Reeves, we need to be precise. Do you have access to the original recording?""
"No. The police have it.""
"Which department?""
"County investigators. The case was reopened two years ago after an anonymous tip.""
I looked at him.
"Two years ago?""
Daniel nodded.
"Someone sent them copies of Marcus's financial records.""
"Who?""
He hesitated.
"Tiana.""
I stared at him.
"Why would she send evidence against herself?""
"She didn't. She sent a letter accusing me of involvement in Marcus's death. The investigators found discrepancies in her story and reopened the case.""
Margaret immediately took notes.
"Did the police interview her?""
"Yes. She claimed she hadn't seen Marcus that evening.""
I remembered the photograph.
The bank documents.
The insurance payments.
The baby.
"She lied.""
Daniel nodded.
"And when the investigators asked about the second person in the car, she refused to answer.""
I looked toward Micah.
He was laughing at something Jalen had whispered.
I felt a terrible sadness.
Two boys.
Two different mothers.
Two different histories.
And one woman who had apparently spent years using both children as pieces in a financial scheme.
"Could the second person have been Micah's mother?"" I asked.
Daniel shook his head.
"Tiana was the person driving. Marcus was in the passenger seat.""
"Then who was behind them?""
"Someone else was in the vehicle.""
I leaned forward.
"You're saying there were three people?""
Daniel nodded.
"That's what Marcus said in the voicemail.""
Margaret immediately picked up her phone.
"I'm contacting the investigators.""
She stepped into the hallway.
I remained with Daniel.
"Tell me about the accident.""
He looked down at his hands.
"Marcus had discovered that Tiana was using a false identity in one of his business accounts. He planned to report it. That evening, he asked me to meet him.""
"Did you?""
"No. I was out of town.""
"Did you know he was going to see Tiana?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Daniel exhaled.
"Because he believed she had information about a missing insurance payment.""
I stared at him.
"Was that payment connected to me?""
Daniel nodded.
"Your brother had taken out a policy naming you as the beneficiary.""
I felt a chill.
"What?""
"After his accident, the beneficiary was changed to Tiana.""
I shook my head.
"That couldn't have happened.""
"It did. The paperwork was submitted four days before his death.""
"Did Marcus sign it?""
Daniel looked at me.
"That's what the investigators are trying to establish.""
My mind raced.
If Tiana had changed the beneficiary, she had gained access to money that should have gone to me.
And she had later used that money to purchase property.
Property that had eventually been sold.
Money that had disappeared into the same network of accounts as Jalen's inheritance.
I turned toward Margaret as she returned.
"What did they say?""
"They've agreed to meet us tomorrow. They'll review the original recording and the case file.""
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
It was my mother.
I hadn't spoken to her in three days.
I answered.
"Mom?""
Her voice was trembling.
"Darius, where are you?""
"Why?""
"Because Tiana is here.""
My body went rigid.
"Where?""
"At my house.""
"Don't let her in.""
"It's too late. She's already inside.""
I stood.
"Mom, listen to me. Leave the house if you can.""
"Darius, she says you have Micah and you're keeping him from her.""
"Mom, she's lying. I'm protecting the boys.""
There was a pause.
Then my mother whispered:
"She brought something.""
"What?""
"A birth certificate.""
I closed my eyes.
"Whose?""
"Micah's.""
I looked at Daniel.
My mother continued.
"There's another name listed under father.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Mom, what name?""
She began crying.
"Marcus.""
I couldn't breathe.
"That's impossible.""
"That's what I told her. But Tiana says she has proof.""
I gripped the phone.
"What else?""
My mother lowered her voice.
"She says Marcus promised her that Micah would inherit his entire estate.""
I stared at Daniel.
He slowly shook his head.
"That's not true," he whispered.
I put the call on speaker.
"Mom, don't sign anything. Don't agree to anything.""
Tiana's voice suddenly came through in the background.
"Darius? Is that you?""
I said nothing.
She laughed.
"Your mother is very upset. You should come and explain why you're keeping my son from me.""
"Micah is safe.""
"He's my child.""
"Then why did you leave him with me while you starved his brother?""
There was silence.
Then Tiana spoke quietly.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"I know exactly what I'm doing.""
"No, Darius. You think this is about money. It isn't.""
"Then what is it about?""
Her voice became colder.
"Marcus promised me a life. Vanessa took it away. And you were supposed to help me get it back.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
"What did you do to my brother?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she said something that made Daniel close his eyes.
"Ask your mother why Marcus was driving my car that night.""
The call disconnected.
I stood frozen.
My mother called back immediately.
This time, she was sobbing.
"Darius, there's something you need to know.""
"What?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Marcus wasn't alone when he died. I knew someone else was there.""
"Who?""
My mother whispered a name.
A name I had never expected.
"Your father.""
I looked at Daniel.
He slowly sat down.
Then he said:
"That explains why the second recording was sealed.""
My phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a number I hadn't seen in years.
My father's old mobile number.
But my father had been dead for eight years.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Darius, don't believe what Tiana tells you.""
I stopped breathing.
The voice continued.
"I'm not your father. But I was there the night Marcus died.""
May you like
And then he said:
"My name is Robert Hayes. I'm the man your father paid to keep quiet.""
