Chapter 9: The Person Who Knew Too Much
Marcus held the card like it could burn him.
Nobody spoke.
Jordan watched his father’s eyes move across the paper.
Whatever was written there was worse than expected.
“Dad.””
Marcus didn’t answer.
“Who wrote it?””
Slowly, Marcus lowered the card.
The message was short.
Only a few words.
But they changed everything.
“He knows the truth.””
Jordan frowned.
“Who?””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She looked terrified.
Then Marcus looked at David.
David immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Jordan’s heart raced.
“Who is it?””
Marcus turned the card over.
On the back was a signature.
A name.
A name Jordan had heard his entire life.
His father whispered:
“Elliot.””
Jordan frowned.
“Who’s Elliot?””
Nobody answered.
Then Vanessa sat down.
Like her legs couldn’t hold her anymore.
“Your uncle.””
Jordan froze.
“My uncle?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Your mother’s brother.””
Jordan tried to remember.
He couldn’t.
He had heard stories.
Old stories.
But nobody ever talked about him.
“Why don’t I know him?””
Marcus looked away.
“Because he left.””
“When?””
“Years ago.””
“Why?””
The silence returned.
Jordan hated that silence.
It always meant someone was hiding something.
Vanessa looked at the card.
“Elliot knew about the trust.””
Marcus looked at her.
“How?””
She swallowed.
“Because your mother told him.””
Jordan stared.
“My mother trusted him?””
“Yes.””
“Then why is everyone afraid of him?””
Nobody answered.
Finally, David spoke.
“Because he disappeared after your mother died.””
Jordan looked at him.
“And now he’s back?””
David nodded.
The room felt colder.
Marcus walked toward the window.
“This doesn’t make sense.””
Jordan followed.
“What doesn’t?””
Marcus looked at him.
“If Elliot wanted the trust, he would have acted years ago.””
David nodded.
“Unless he was waiting.””
“For what?””
David looked at the box.
“For Jordan to become old enough to access it.””
Jordan felt a chill.
“So this was planned?””
Marcus looked back at Vanessa.
She looked guilty.
“Maybe.””
Jordan’s voice became sharper.
“Maybe?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I didn’t know everything.””
“But you knew enough.””
She lowered her eyes.
“Yes.””
Jordan shook his head.
“How many people knew about my life except me?””
Nobody answered.
That question hurt everyone.
Marcus opened the box.
The lock was still closed.
“We need the key.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.””
“Where did you last see it?””
She thought.
“On my dresser.””
“When?””
“Yesterday morning.””
Marcus looked around.
“Who had access to this apartment?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Brielle quietly said:
“I did.””
Everyone turned.
Jordan stared.
“Brielle?””
She immediately shook her head.
“I didn’t take it.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Then why were you in Vanessa’s room?””
Brielle looked nervous.
“I was looking for something else.””
“What?””
She hesitated.
Jordan saw the fear in her face.
“Brielle.””
She looked at him.
“I was looking for documents.””
Jordan’s chest tightened.
“What documents?””
Brielle looked at her mother.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Tell him.””
Brielle took a shaky breath.
“The papers I used.””
Jordan stared.
“The money?””
Brielle nodded.
“I thought they were just temporary.””
Jordan felt betrayed all over again.
“You knew?””
“I knew something was wrong.””
“And you still signed?””
Tears formed in her eyes.
“I trusted Mom.””
Jordan looked away.
Because that answer hurt.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Did you take the key?””
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
The room went quiet.
Then a sound came from outside.
A knock.
Everyone froze.
Nobody expected anyone.
Marcus looked toward the door.
Another knock.
Stronger.
Jordan felt his heartbeat speed up.
The person outside wasn’t waiting.
They knew someone was inside.
Marcus moved slowly toward the entrance.
His hand reached for the handle.
Vanessa whispered:
“Don’t.””
Marcus stopped.
“Why?””
Her face turned pale.
“Because if that’s who I think it is…”
The door handle moved.
Someone on the other side was trying to open it.
Jordan stood beside his father.
The apartment became silent.
Then a familiar voice came through the door.
“Marcus.””
Everyone froze.
Because the person standing outside wasn’t a stranger.
May you like
It was the person who had been missing for years.
And he had come back for the box.
