Chapter 4: Uncle Marcus
The man in the doorway didn't look dangerous.
That was what made him terrifying.
Marcus was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a charcoal suit without a tie. His face was calm. Almost too calm. He stood with one hand still resting on the courtroom door.
Avery immediately backed away.
“Uncle Marcus,” she whispered.
Damon stared at him.
Something inside Damon tightened.
Marcus looked at Damon.
“It's been a long time.””
Damon's voice came out rough.
“Why are you here?””
Marcus glanced at Judge Harris.
“I was told I needed to appear.””
Judge Harris remained standing.
“By whom?””
Marcus smiled faintly.
“By someone who believes the truth needs to come out.””
Monique suddenly stood.
“Marcus, leave.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You don't get to tell me that anymore.””
The courtroom went silent.
Damon turned toward Monique.
“You know him.””
“He's my brother,” Monique said.
“I know that.””
Damon pointed at Marcus.
“Why was he in your house that night?””
Marcus's expression changed.
Only slightly.
“I wasn't.””
Avery shook her head.
“You were.””
Marcus looked directly at her.
“Avery, you were very young.””
“I remember you.””
“You remember a lot of things incorrectly.””
Judge Harris stepped forward.
“Mr. Carter.””
Marcus looked at the judge.
“I'm sorry, Your Honor.””
“You will not question the child.””
Marcus nodded.
“Of course.””
Keisha moved closer to Avery.
Marcus's eyes flicked toward her.
“You must be Keisha.””
Keisha stiffened.
“How do you know my name?””
Marcus gave a small shrug.
“People talk.””
Damon stepped between them.
“Don't talk to my wife.””
Marcus's smile disappeared.
“I wasn't talking to her.””
“You were looking at her.””
“And?””
Damon's jaw tightened.
Judge Harris struck the gavel.
“Everyone sits.””
They obeyed.
Marcus took the empty chair behind Monique.
Avery wouldn't look at him.
Judge Harris returned to the document Avery had found.
“Mr. Carter, is this your signature?””
Damon looked at the page.
“Yes.””
“Did you sign this agreement?””
“No.””
“You're certain?””
“I would remember signing something that says my daughter has to believe I abandoned her.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Would you?””
Damon looked at him.
“What?””
“Remember?””
The question landed like a slap.
Damon's breathing changed.
Judge Harris noticed.
“Mr. Marcus Carter, I suggest you choose your words carefully.””
Marcus leaned back.
“My apologies.””
Damon stared at him.
“You knew I couldn't remember.””
Marcus said nothing.
“You knew.””
Still nothing.
Monique whispered, “Marcus, stop.””
He turned toward her.
“You should have stopped a year ago.””
Damon looked between them.
“What happened?””
Monique's eyes filled with tears.
Marcus answered for her.
“Your marriage was already falling apart.””
Keisha's voice was quiet.
“That isn't true.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You weren't there.””
“I was there when Damon came home.””
“Afterward.””
“What does that mean?””
Marcus ignored her.
Damon leaned forward.
“You keep saying things like you know what happened.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Because I do.””
“Then tell me.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because you don't want the answer.””
Damon stood.
“I've spent a year wondering why my daughter was afraid of me.””
Marcus remained seated.
“And now?””
“Now I want the truth.””
Marcus finally looked at Avery.
“She doesn't.””
Avery's hands shook.
Judge Harris noticed.
“Avery, would you like a break?””
Avery nodded.
Keisha crouched beside her.
“Come with me.””
Avery hesitated.
Then she reached for Keisha's hand.
As they walked toward the side door, Marcus spoke softly.
“Avery.””
The little girl stopped.
“Don't listen to him,” she whispered.
Marcus frowned.
“To whom?””
Avery looked at Damon.
“To Dad.””
Damon's face collapsed.
“Avery…”
But she was already gone.
The door closed behind her and Keisha.
Damon turned back toward Marcus.
“What did you do?””
Marcus stared at him.
“I didn't do anything to Avery.””
“Then what did you do to me?””
Marcus's eyes lowered.
For the first time, his confidence cracked.
“I was supposed to make sure you never remembered.””
Damon stopped moving.
Judge Harris leaned forward.
“Make sure he never remembered what?””
Marcus looked toward Monique.
She was crying silently.
May you like
Then he said the one thing nobody in the courtroom expected.
“The night you tried to save your daughter.””
