Chapter 4: The Man in the Photograph
I stared at the photograph for so long that the edges began to blur.
Vanessa was sitting in the passenger seat of a black SUV, smiling at a man I'd never seen before. His hand rested on the back of her seat, and she was leaning toward him in a way that made my stomach tighten.
The date printed on the photograph was six weeks earlier.
Six weeks.
That was the same week she'd told me she was visiting her sister because she needed help preparing for the baby.
I looked up at Chloe.
“Who is this man?””
Chloe glanced at Vanessa.
“His name is Adrian.””
“Adrian what?””
“Adrian Cole.””
Vanessa let out a sharp laugh.
“This is ridiculous.””
I turned toward her.
“Do you know him?””
“Of course I know him. He's a financial consultant.””
“Why were you sitting in his car?””
“He was helping me with something.””
“What something?””
Vanessa crossed her arms over her chest.
“Something that doesn't concern you.””
I couldn't believe what I'd just heard.
“I'm your husband. You're eight months pregnant with my child. What exactly could you be doing that doesn't concern me?””
Chloe opened the envelope and removed another photograph.
“There's more.””
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Chloe, put that away.””
“No.””
“I'm warning you.””
Chloe's voice trembled, but she held her ground.
“I'm done covering for you.””
She placed a second photograph on the counter.
This one showed Vanessa and Adrian entering a hotel.
I recognized the building.
It was the Riverside Hotel downtown.
I'd stayed there during a business conference the previous year.
“When was this?”” I asked.
“Four weeks ago,” Chloe answered.
Vanessa shook her head.
“We went there for a meeting.””
“A meeting?”” I repeated.
“Yes. Adrian was helping me arrange something.””
“What?””
She looked at Chloe.
Chloe lowered her eyes.
I felt the anger building in my chest.
“Vanessa, tell me the truth.””
She suddenly placed both hands over her stomach.
“Can we not do this? I'm having contractions.””
Everything stopped.
“What?””
“My stomach is tightening. I think something is wrong.””
I immediately stepped toward her.
“Should I call an ambulance?””
Vanessa nodded.
But as I reached for my phone, Chloe grabbed my wrist.
“Wait.””
I turned.
“What are you doing?””
Chloe looked directly at her sister.
“Vanessa, don't use the baby.””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
“I'm pregnant. I'm in pain.””
Chloe pulled a folded paper from the envelope.
“Then explain why you were texting Adrian yesterday about how to make Marcus panic.””
I looked at the message.
If he starts asking too many questions, I'll use the pregnancy. He'll back down.
Another message followed.
He's terrified of losing the baby. That's the one thing I can always control.
I looked at Vanessa.
She was no longer holding her stomach.
Her hands had dropped to her sides.
“Where did you get those messages?”” she demanded.
“Ryan,” Chloe answered.
“Ryan stole my private information!””
“He found it because you left your tablet open.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“You betrayed me.””
Chloe shook her head.
“No. I finally stopped helping you betray everyone else.””
I stepped between them.
“Enough. Both of you.””
Vanessa immediately moved toward me.
“Marcus, please. You know me. You know I'd never do anything to hurt our baby.””
I looked at her.
“Then tell me who Adrian is.””
“He's a business contact.””
“Why were you meeting him at a hotel?””
“Because I didn't want your mother interfering.””
That answer made no sense.
“My mother doesn't even know him.””
Vanessa looked away.
I picked up the first photograph again.
There was something written on the back that I hadn't noticed before.
A phone number.
And beneath it, a short handwritten message.
Ask him about the apartment.
I turned to Chloe.
“What apartment?””
Chloe took a deep breath.
“Vanessa has been looking at apartments.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
“She told Adrian she wanted somewhere to stay after the baby was born.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“That's not true.””
Chloe continued.
“She also asked him to help her move money.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“What money?””
Chloe hesitated.
“Your money, Marcus.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She didn't deny it.
Instead, she reached for her phone.
“I need to call someone.””
“Who?””
“That's none of your business.””
I stepped closer.
“Don't walk away from this.””
She looked at me with an expression I had never seen before.
“You should have thought about that before choosing your mother over your wife.””
Then she walked upstairs.
The front door opened moments later.
My mother stood there holding a grocery bag.
She had apparently gone to the neighborhood store.
She looked from Chloe to me.
“What's happened?””
I couldn't answer.
She noticed the photographs on the counter.
Her eyes moved to the picture of Vanessa and Adrian.
Then she quietly put down the groceries.
“Marcus,” she said, “I think you need to see something else.””
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small envelope.
It contained a printed bank statement.
At the top was my name.
Below it was a transfer authorization I had never signed.
My mother pointed to the destination account.
“Do you recognize this account?””
I read the name.
Adrian Cole.
May you like
The amount was $48,000.
And the transfer date was scheduled for the following morning.
