Chapter 7: My Brother Knew Everything
I called Marcus before Monica could say another word.
He answered on the first ring.
“Darius, listen to me before you do something you can't take back.””
I stood beside the dining room window, watching the last of the afternoon sunlight spill across the lawn. Behind me, Monica sat rigidly at the table, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea she hadn't touched.
“You have thirty seconds,” I told him.
Marcus exhaled sharply.
“Monica told you about the money?””
“She told me you received thirty-five thousand dollars. I want to know why.””
“Because I needed help.””
“You told me you were handling your problems.””
“I was trying to.””
“With money my wife took from our household?””
A long silence followed.
Then Marcus said something that made me grip the windowsill.
“Darius, I didn't know she was taking money from your account.””
I turned toward Monica.
She stared at me, her face drained of color.
“Then why did you tell her to keep it secret?””
“I didn't tell her to steal anything. I told her not to tell you until I could explain.””
“Explain what?””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Meet me somewhere. Not over the phone.””
“No. You have five seconds to tell me why my wife gave you thirty-five thousand dollars.””
“Because I was trying to stop the same thing from happening to you.””
My stomach tightened.
“What thing?””
Before he could answer, the call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
Then my phone rang again.
This time, it was a number I didn't recognize.
“Mr. Coleman?”” a man asked.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Calvin Reed. I believe your wife has mentioned me.””
I looked at Monica.
She had risen from her chair.
“Put him on speaker,” I told her.
She shook her head desperately.
I ignored the gesture.
“Go ahead,” I said into the phone.
“Your wife borrowed money from me. We have an agreement, and I need to discuss repayment.””
“I understand she borrowed money. I did not authorize her to borrow against my property or use my financial information.””
There was a pause.
“I'm not calling about your property, Mr. Coleman. I'm calling because your brother has stopped answering his phone, and I was told you might know where he is.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“What does my brother have to do with your loan?””
“That's a question you should ask him.””
“I'm asking you.””
Calvin sighed.
“Your wife approached me months ago because she wanted to help Marcus with a business investment. She said she had access to family money and could repay me after the investment started generating returns.””
Monica shook her head violently.
“That's not true,” she whispered.
I looked at her.
“Be quiet.””
Calvin continued.
“Marcus told her he had a business opportunity. She asked me for a short-term loan. I gave her twenty thousand dollars. Later, she requested another thirty-five thousand.””
“Why?””
“He said the deal needed additional capital.””
I looked at Monica again.
She was crying silently now.
“What deal?”” I asked.
“I'm not entirely sure. Marcus was supposed to repay me from the profits.””
“And did he?””
“No.””
I closed my eyes briefly.
“Then why did you lend him more money?””
“Because your wife guaranteed that the funds were available. She told me she was expecting money from a property-related transaction.””
The room seemed to stop moving.
I glanced at the document on the table.
The forged signature.
The trust.
The equity line.
The furniture.
Suddenly, all the pieces seemed connected, but I still couldn't see the complete picture.
“Mr. Reed,” I said, “did my wife tell you I had agreed to borrow against my house?””
“Yes.””
“Did you see any signed authorization from me?””
“No. I was told the paperwork was being prepared.””
“Then you have no permission from me to use my home as collateral.””
“I'm not claiming that I do. I'm trying to recover my money.””
“Then communicate with the person who borrowed it. Don't contact my family as though I'm responsible for her debt.””
I ended the call.
Monica sank into her chair.
I looked at her.
“You told me you borrowed money to help your mother.””
“I did help Mom.””
“You also gave money to Marcus.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She covered her face.
“Because Marcus said he would repay it.””
“That's not an answer.””
She lowered her hands.
“He told me he had an investment opportunity. He said he could double the money in a few months. He promised that once the profits came in, I could repay Calvin, replace the money from our renovation account, and still have enough to help Mom.””
“And you believed him?””
“He showed me documents.””
“What documents?””
“Business projections. Contracts. Emails from investors.””
I stared at her.
“Did you verify any of them?””
She shook her head.
I walked to the table and sat across from her.
“Monica, you risked our home because my brother showed you some paperwork?””
“I thought I was helping the family.””
“No. You were gambling with money you didn't have permission to use.””
She flinched.
My mother, who had been quietly listening from the adjoining kitchen, stepped into the dining room.
“Darius,” she said, “you need to hear what Marcus has to say before you decide what happened.””
I looked at her.
“Mom, he took money from my wife and told her to keep it secret.””
“I know. But your brother has been ashamed of his situation for a long time. That doesn't excuse anything. It means you should find out the whole truth.””
I rubbed my face.
“I'm tired of finding out the truth one lie at a time.””
Mom placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Then stop asking people who are frightened what they want you to believe. Ask for evidence.””
Her words settled into the silence.
I opened my laptop again.
I downloaded the bank statements, saved the loan agreement, and copied the documents Monica had shown me. Then I emailed everything to myself and to the attorney.
Monica watched me.
“Are you going to report me?””
“I haven't decided anything beyond protecting myself and finding out what happened.””
“You don't love me anymore?””
I looked at the wedding ring on her finger.
“I loved the woman I believed I married. I don't know what to do with the person who has been making these decisions behind my back.””
She began sobbing again.
For once, I didn't rush to comfort her.
My phone vibrated.
Marcus had sent another message.
*THE $35,000 WASN'T FOR ME. I PUT IT INTO THE ACCOUNT MONICA GAVE ME. SHE SAID IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE HOUSE SAFE.*
I read it twice.
Then I typed back.
*WHAT ACCOUNT?*
The reply arrived almost immediately.
*CALL ME. I'LL SEND YOU THE STATEMENTS. BUT DARIUS, YOU NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING ELSE.*
Another message followed.
*MONICA DIDN'T START THE PLAN TO TRANSFER THE HOUSE. SHE WAS FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS FROM SOMEONE WHO ALREADY KNEW YOUR FINANCES.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
Monica had gone completely still.
“Who gave you the instructions?”” I asked.
She shook her head.
“Darius, please.””
“Who?””
She looked toward my mother.
Then toward the staircase.
Finally, she whispered, “Your father.””
May you like
My father had been dead for six years.
And suddenly, I understood that the secret threatening my marriage might have begun long before Monica ever ordered the furniture.
