Chapter 6: What Denise Never Told Him
“No.””
Denise backed away from the monitor.
Marcus stared at her.
“You told me she was dead.””
“She was.””
“You just saw her.””
“I know what I saw.””
Darius stepped closer.
“What's her name?””
Denise didn't answer.
Marcus turned toward her.
“Denise.””
She swallowed.
“Monique.””
Jordan looked confused.
“Mom, you have a sister?””
Denise nodded slowly.
“I had a sister.””
Marcus's voice became quieter.
“You said she died in a car accident.””
“She did.””
Darius shook his head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
Darius pulled the flash drive from his pocket again.
“That's not what happened.””
Marcus stared.
“You know about her?””
“I know what happened that night.””
Denise's eyes filled with tears.
“Darius, stop.””
“You've hidden it long enough.””
Marcus turned toward his wife.
“What is he talking about?””
Denise looked at the floor.
“I didn't have a choice.””
“You always have a choice.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
She couldn't answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Denise, what did you do?””
She looked up.
“I lied.””
The words barely escaped her mouth.
Marcus waited.
“About Monique?””
Denise nodded.
“She didn't die.””
Jordan's eyes widened.
“What?””
Denise wiped her face.
“She survived the crash.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Then why did you tell me she was dead?””
“Because she disappeared.””
“That's not an answer.””
“She disappeared after the accident.””
Darius interrupted.
“She didn't disappear.””
Denise closed her eyes.
“She ran.””
“From whom?”” Marcus asked.
Denise looked at him.
“From your business partner.””
Marcus went still.
“My business partner?””
“Calvin.””
The name hung in the room.
Darius nodded.
“Exactly.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Calvin died eight years ago.””
“His body did,” Darius said.
Marcus stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
Darius placed the flash drive on the table.
“The man who died wasn't Calvin.””
Nobody spoke.
Darius continued.
“Calvin staged his death. He disappeared with millions from your company.””
Marcus looked at Denise.
“And Monique knew?””
“She found out,” Denise whispered.
Maya stepped forward.
“How does Tiana fit into this?””
Denise looked toward the hallway.
“I don't know.””
Darius answered.
“She does.””
Everyone turned.
Darius opened the security footage on his phone.
A hidden clip appeared.
Tiana was sitting at a table.
Across from her sat someone whose face wasn't visible.
The timestamp was from earlier that evening.
Tiana's voice was clear.
“I did everything you asked.””
The unseen person replied.
“You haven't finished.””
“I made Jordan look guilty.””
“You need Marcus to believe it.””
“I can't do that.””
“You already did.””
Tiana lowered her head.
“Please don't hurt my family.””
The person leaned forward.
“Then bring me the phone.””
Maya's face drained of color.
Her red-cased phone.
The recording continued.
Tiana whispered, “What phone?””
“The one Maya keeps.””
Maya slowly looked down at her phone.
Marcus looked at her.
“What is on your phone?””
“I don't know.””
Darius looked at Maya.
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
“It may be the reason everyone is in danger.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Maya.””
She held the phone tighter.
“I don't know what they're talking about.””
Darius reached into his pocket.
“I do.””
He pulled out a photograph.
Maya looked at it.
Her face changed.
The photograph showed her leaving the penthouse two nights earlier.
Someone had been following her.
Behind her, reflected in a storefront window, was the same dark-suited man from the hallway.
Darius.
Maya looked up.
“You were following me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.””
Marcus stepped between them.
“Start explaining.””
Darius looked directly at Maya.
“Your phone contains a recording.””
“Of what?””
“Your father's meeting.””
Marcus frowned.
“I haven't had a private meeting in weeks.””
Darius shook his head.
“Not with you.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Then who?””
Darius's answer came quietly.
“Your wife.””
Denise went rigid.
Marcus slowly turned toward her.
“Denise?””
She couldn't speak.
Darius continued.
“The recording was made three nights ago.””
Marcus stared at his wife.
“Who were you meeting?””
Denise's face crumpled.
“I didn't know who he was.””
“Who?””
She looked toward the dark hallway.
Her voice broke.
“Calvin.””
Marcus's entire body stiffened.
“That’s impossible.””
Denise shook her head.
“He came back.””
Maya whispered, “Dad…”
Marcus didn't move.
Then Maya's phone vibrated.
Everyone jumped.
A new message appeared.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER: ASK DENISE WHAT SHE PROMISED CALVIN.*
Marcus looked at his wife.
Denise started crying.
And from the hallway came a man's voice.
“Tell him.””
Marcus slowly turned toward the darkness.
The voice came again.
“Tell your husband what you promised me.””
A figure stepped into the red emergency light.
Not Monique.
Not Darius.
A man Marcus hadn't seen in eight years.
May you like
Calvin smiled.
“Or I'll tell him myself.””
