Chapter 6: The Man Waiting in the Car
Nobody moved until the SUV's headlights went dark.
Andre stepped toward the window, keeping his body away from the glass.
“Do you know that vehicle?””
Loretta shook her head.
Camille had gone completely still.
Eleanor noticed.
“Mrs. Mitchell, do you recognize the car?””
Camille stared at the curtains.
“No.””
Eleanor followed her gaze.
“You're a poor liar tonight.””
Camille turned sharply.
“I said I don't know who it is!””
“Then you won't mind if we call the police.””
“Please don't.””
Andre stared at his wife.
“Why are you so afraid of calling the police?””
“Because Marcus told me what would happen if I did.””
“What did he say?””
“He said the sale would happen with or without my help. He said if anyone interfered, the people involved would lose more than money.””
Andre's jaw tightened.
“You accepted fifty thousand dollars from a man who threatened your family, and you never thought to tell me?””
“I thought I could fix it before it got this far!””
“How?””
Camille looked toward Loretta.
“I was supposed to get your mother to sign the final paperwork. Once she signed, the transaction would be completed, and Marcus would pay the rest.””
Loretta felt a bitter laugh rise in her throat.
“So that was the plan. You destroy my birthday party, frighten me, and then somehow convince me to sign away my home?””
“No!””
“Then why did you say this party was over?””
Camille's eyes filled again.
“Because Marcus said the paperwork had to be signed tonight. I thought if I made everyone leave, I could speak to you privately.””
“You flipped a cake across a table full of guests.””
“I panicked!””
“You didn't panic when you took his money.””
Camille flinched.
Andre turned away, his shoulders rigid.
Eleanor placed a hand on Loretta's arm.
“We need to focus on the immediate threat. If someone is outside, we should not approach the vehicle. I'll call the police and report the messages, the attempted sale, and the suspicious documents.””
Loretta nodded.
“Do that.””
Eleanor stepped into the dining room to make the call.
Andre remained near the window.
Camille sat down again, staring at her hands.
For several seconds, the only sound was the soft ticking of the clock.
Then Loretta sat opposite her.
“Tell me about the first meeting with Marcus.””
Camille lifted her head.
“Why?””
“Because I need to know how this began.””
Camille rubbed her palms against her dress.
“It was at a fundraising dinner in April. A developer sponsored the event, and Marcus introduced himself as someone who specialized in luxury property acquisitions. He said he'd noticed your house and believed the land could be worth much more than the current market price.””
“And you told him I owned it.””
“Yes.””
“Did he ask whether I wanted to sell?””
“No. He asked whether there were any disputes involving the property.””
Loretta's eyes narrowed.
“What did you say?””
“I told him there weren't any.””
“Then why did he continue?””
Camille swallowed.
“He said he had information suggesting there might be an old financial agreement connected to the house.””
Loretta leaned forward.
“What information?””
“He mentioned Walter's name.””
For the first time, Camille sounded more frightened than defensive.
“He knew things about your husband that I didn't understand. He knew where Walter had worked. He knew the name of his old construction company. He even knew about a warehouse Walter had sold before he retired.””
Loretta remembered the warehouse.
Walter had sold it years before his death, telling her only that he needed to close a chapter of his business life.
She had never questioned him.
“Did Marcus show you any evidence?””
“A few pages from an old contract.””
“Did you read them?””
“Yes.””
“What did they say?””
Camille looked toward the window.
“They mentioned a partnership, a property trust, and a financial obligation that would become enforceable after Walter's death.””
Loretta's heartbeat quickened.
“Did you see his signature?””
“I think so.””
“And you believed the document?””
“At first, yes. Marcus said the agreement meant your house could be seized if the outstanding obligation wasn't resolved.””
“Then why did he offer to buy it?””
“He said the purchase would settle the obligation and leave enough money for everyone to start over.””
“Everyone?””
“Me and Andre.””
Loretta's expression hardened.
“He promised you money from the sale.””
“He said we'd receive a substantial amount.””
“How much?””
“Three million dollars.””
Andre turned from the window.
“Three million?””
Camille nodded miserably.
“Marcus said the property could sell for almost eight million. He said the debt and fees would be deducted, and the rest would be distributed according to the agreement.””
Loretta stared at her.
“Did he tell you how much I would receive?””
Camille shook her head.
“He said that depended on the final paperwork.””
“So you were willing to help him sell my home without knowing what I would receive.””
“I thought he had a legal claim!””
“You thought the man offering you three million dollars was telling the truth.””
Camille lowered her eyes.
Loretta stood and walked to the window.
The SUV remained parked outside.
A man sat behind the steering wheel, his face obscured by reflections from the bright interior lights. He wasn't looking at the house anymore.
He was looking at his phone.
Loretta stepped away from the window.
“Eleanor needs to know about the three million dollars.””
Camille nodded.
“I'll tell her everything.””
“Now you will.””
The attorney returned to the living room.
“The police are on their way. They advised us not to approach the vehicle or leave the house until officers arrive.””
Loretta showed her the messages and explained Camille's account of the three-million-dollar promise.
Eleanor listened without interrupting.
When Loretta finished, the attorney took a slow breath.
“Marcus's story may be designed to create urgency and make the proposed sale appear to be the only solution. We need independent verification of every claim.””
“What about the safe-deposit box?”” Loretta asked.
“We can discuss it with the officers. If it contains evidence, we need to preserve it properly.””
Loretta looked at the brass key.
“But if someone removes the contents before morning?””
“Then we document the threat and ask the police to help secure the location.””
Before anyone could respond, the SUV's driver's door opened.
The man stepped onto the pavement.
He was tall, dressed in a charcoal suit, and carrying a slim black umbrella despite the clear sky. He walked toward the front gate with the confidence of someone who believed the property already belonged to him.
Andre moved in front of his mother.
“Stay back.””
Loretta watched the man stop beneath the porch light.
He looked directly through the window.
Then he raised his hand and knocked on the glass.
Three slow taps.
Camille began shaking.
Eleanor immediately moved the family away from the window.
“Do not open the door.””
The man reached into his jacket and held up a white envelope.
He pointed toward Loretta.
Then he mouthed two words.
*PAGE SEVEN.*
Andre's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
He answered without speaking.
A man's voice came through, smooth and unhurried.
“Good evening, Andre.””
Andre's face tightened.
“Who is this?””
“You can call me Marcus.””
Loretta moved closer.
Andre put the call on speaker.
“What do you want?””
“I'm calling to prevent a misunderstanding. Your mother has received some unfortunate information, and I would like to resolve it peacefully.””
“You've been threatening us.””
“I've been offering a business solution.””
“You forged a document.””
“I have no idea what you're talking about.””
Loretta leaned toward the phone.
“You know exactly what we're talking about, Mr. Bell.””
A brief pause followed.
Then Marcus laughed softly.
“Mrs. Mitchell. I've heard a great deal about you.””
“Then you know I don't sign documents I haven't read.””
“Your husband understood the importance of honoring agreements.””
“My husband is dead. I am alive. And you will not sell my home.””
Marcus's voice lost its warmth.
“Your husband left behind obligations that you may not fully understand.””
“Then provide the original agreement to my attorney.””
“I would be happy to discuss that in person.””
“You're standing outside my house. You can hand it to the police.””
Another pause.
Then Marcus said, “The police cannot change the terms of a contract.””
Eleanor stepped closer to the phone.
“Mr. Bell, this is Eleanor Price, legal counsel for Loretta Mitchell. Any further communication concerning this property should be directed through my office. We will not authorize a transfer without reviewing the original documents and verifying the validity of the claimed agreement.””
Marcus gave a quiet chuckle.
“Of course, Ms. Price. I'm familiar with your work.””
“Then you know better than to attempt a transfer based on questionable authority.””
“I'm sure we'll sort everything out.””
The call ended.
Outside, Marcus lowered his phone.
He slipped the envelope through the narrow gap beneath the front gate, turned, and walked back to his SUV.
Nobody followed him.
Within seconds, the vehicle pulled away.
Loretta waited until its taillights disappeared before stepping onto the porch with Eleanor beside her. They retrieved the envelope without leaving the property line.
Inside was a photograph.
Walter stood beside a younger Marcus Bell in front of a brick warehouse. Both men were smiling, their hands clasped in a firm handshake.
On the back, Walter had written a date and a sentence in his familiar handwriting:
*If anything happens to me, make sure Loretta never pays for my mistake.*
Loretta's fingers began to tremble.
“What mistake?”” she whispered.
Eleanor turned the photograph over again.
Beneath Walter's handwriting, someone had added a new line in black ink.
*ASK YOUR SON WHAT HE DID WITH THE MONEY.*
Andre stared at the words.
“I don't know what that means.””
Loretta looked at him.
“Have you ever received money from Marcus Bell?””
“No.””
“Have you ever met him?””
Andre hesitated.
Camille looked up sharply.
“Andre?””
He pressed his lips together.
“Mom, I met him once.””
“When?””
“About six months ago.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know he was connected to Dad!””
“What did you discuss?””
Andre looked toward the photograph.
“He said he had information about a business Walter had been involved in. He offered to show me the records, but I refused.””
“Did he offer you money?””
Andre didn't answer immediately.
Camille stood.
“Andre, tell her the truth.””
He turned toward his wife.
“What truth?””
“The money you received.””
Andre's face drained of color.
“I didn't receive money.””
Camille stared at him.
“You told me the transfer was a reimbursement.””
“For what?””
“For the loan you took out last year.””
Loretta felt her breath catch.
Andre looked at his mother, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Then he whispered, “Mom, there's something I never told you about the house.””
Before Loretta could ask another question, the front doorbell rang.
Two police officers stood outside.
And behind them, approaching from the street with a leather briefcase in his hand, was a man Loretta had not seen since her husband's funeral.
Her husband's former business partner.
The man Walter had once described as the only person he would never trust with a secret.
His name was *Samuel Cross*.
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And the first thing he said when Loretta opened the door was:
“Please tell me Marcus hasn't shown you page seven.””
