Chapter 8: The Passenger in the Black SUV
For several seconds, Marcus couldn't speak.
Andrew the Black SUV
For several seconds, Marcus couldn't speak.
Andrew had been driving?
His brother, the man who had taken Maya from school, might have been behind the wheel on the night Elena died.
had been driving?
His brother, the man who had taken Maya from school, might have been behind the wheel on the night Elena died.
Marcus grabbed the back of a chair.
“Explain.””
Vanessa removed her coat and placed it over the sofaMarcus grabbed the back of a chair.
“Explain.””
Vanessa removed her coat and placed it over the sofa.
“You're jumping to conclusions.””
“You just told me Andrew was driving.””
“I said he was involved.””
“.
“You're jumping to conclusions.””
“You just told me Andrew was driving.””
“I said he was involved.””
“Don't play games with me.””
Vanessa glanced toward Maya.
“Can we have this conversation without the child?””
Marcus moved closer.
Don't play games with me.””
Vanessa glanced toward Maya.
“Can we have this conversation without the child?””
Marcus moved closer.
“You lost that privilege when you used her trust account to fund your lifestyle.””
Vanessa“You lost that privilege when you used her trust account to fund your lifestyle.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“You think you're some innocent victim? You spent years ignoring what was happening's expression hardened.
“You think you're some innocent victim? You spent years ignoring what was happening in your own house.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Is that your defense?””
“No. It's the truth.””
She turned in your own house.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Is that your defense?””
“No. It's the truth.””
She turned toward the window.
“Elena toward the window.
“Elena knew Andrew and I knew Andrew and I were together. were together. She knew about the hospital records.
She knew about the inheritance She knew about the hospital records. She knew about the inheritance agreement. And she was threatening to destroy everything.””
Olivia interrupted.
“Because you were stealing agreement. And she was threatening to destroy everything.””
Olivia interrupted.
“Because you were stealing from her daughter.””
Van from her daughter.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“You don't know what you're talking aboutessa turned sharply.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“I was there when Elena discovered the transfers.””
Vanessa laughed.
“And you did nothing.””
Olivia's face went pale.
Marcus raised his hand.
“Enough. I want.””
“I was there when Elena discovered the transfers.””
Vanessa laughed.
“And you did nothing.””
Olivia's face went pale.
Marcus raised his hand.
“Enough. I want one answer. What happened that night?””
Vanessa looked at him for a long moment.
Then she spoke.
“Andrew was supposed to meet Elena at the hospital. He wanted the original one answer. What happened that night?””
Vanessa looked at him for a long moment.
Then she spoke.
“Andrew was supposed to meet Elena at the hospital. He wanted the original documents. He believed she would hand them over if he promised to leave Maya alone.””
“Did she?””
“No.””
“What happened next?””
“They argued.””
“Where?””
“At the parking documents. He believed she would hand them over if he promised to leave Maya alone.””
“Did she?””
“No.””
“What happened next?””
“They argued.””
“Where?””
“At the parking garage.””
Marcus looked at Olivia.
“Is that what Elena told you?””
Olivia shook her head.
“No. She said she was meeting Vanessa.””
Vanessa gave a bitter smile garage.””
Marcus looked at Olivia.
“Is that what Elena told you?””
Olivia shook her head.
“No. She said she was meeting Vanessa.””
Vanessa gave a bitter smile.
“Because she knew Andrew was waiting for me to arrive.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“You were there too?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you tell me Elena was alone?””
Vanessa shrugged.
“Because she knew Andrew was waiting for me to arrive.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“You were there too?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you tell me Elena was alone?””
Vanessa shrugged.
“Because I didn't want to be dragged into a police investigation.””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Was Andrew in the car with Elena?””
Vanessa looked away.
“No.””
“Then where.
“Because I didn't want to be dragged into a police investigation.””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Was Andrew in the car with Elena?””
Vanessa looked away.
“No.””
“Then where was he?””
“He was following her.””
Marcus felt the room tilt.
“Following her?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She left the garage. Andrew followed in the black SUV. I was in another vehicle was he?””
“He was following her.””
Marcus felt the room tilt.
“Following her?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She left the garage. Andrew followed in the black SUV. I was in another vehicle behind them.””
Olivia covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“And you watched?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
“Did you see the crash?””
Her silence was enough.
Marcus stepped forward behind them.””
Olivia covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“And you watched?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
“Did you see the crash?””
Her silence was enough.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Did you see my wife die?””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“I saw the car go off the road.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I called Andrew.””
Marcus slammed his hand against.
“Did you see my wife die?””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“I saw the car go off the road.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I called Andrew.””
Marcus slammed his hand against the desk.
“Why didn't you call an ambulance?””
Vanessa flinched.
“I panicked!””
“You watched a woman crash and called the man following her instead of emergency services?””
“I didn't the desk.
“Why didn't you call an ambulance?””
Vanessa flinched.
“I panicked!””
“You watched a woman crash and called the man following her instead of emergency services?””
“I didn't know how badly she was hurt!””
Marcus looked at her with disgust.
“You're lying.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I was know how badly she was hurt!””
Marcus looked at her with disgust.
“You're lying.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid. Andrew told afraid. Andrew told me to leave. He said he would handle it.””
Marcus took me to leave. He said he would handle it.””
Marcus took out his phone.
“Daniel, call the police. We have a confession.””
Van out his phone.
“Daniel, call the police. We have a confession.””
Vanessa suddenly lunged forward.
“Don't!””
A security guard stepped into the doorway.
Marcus raised his hand.
“Keep heressa suddenly lunged forward.
“Don't!””
A security guard stepped into the doorway.
Marcus raised his hand.
“Keep her away from Maya.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You don't understand. Andrew wasn't the only one who wanted Elena gone.””
Marcus froze.
“What away from Maya.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You don't understand. Andrew wasn't the only one who wanted Elena gone.””
Marcus froze.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Your mother knew.””
The words landed harder than anything else she had said.
Marcus stared at her.
“My mother was dead before Elena.””
does that mean?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Your mother knew.””
The words landed harder than anything else she had said.
Marcus stared at her.
“My mother was dead before Elena.””
“No. Your mother was alive when Elena discovered the truth.””
Marcus felt confused.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa looked toward Olivia.
““No. Your mother was alive when Elena discovered the truth.””
Marcus felt confused.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa looked toward Olivia.
“Tell him.””
Olivia lowered her eyes.
Marcus turned to her.
“Olivia?””
She nodded slowly.
Tell him.””
Olivia lowered her eyes.
Marcus turned to her.
“Olivia?””
She nodded slowly.
“Your mother, Margaret Carter, knew about Andrew's relationship with Elena before Maya was born.””
Marcus stepped backward.
“Your mother, Margaret Carter, knew about Andrew's relationship with Elena before Maya was born.””
Marcus stepped backward.
“That isn't possible.””
“She knew,” Olivia repeated“That isn't possible.””
“She knew,” Olivia repeated.
“And she tried to keep the family together.””
Marcus shook his head.
“My mother loved Elena.””
“She did,” Olivia said quietly.
“.
“And she tried to keep the family together.””
Marcus shook his head.
“My mother loved Elena.””
“She did,” Olivia said quietly.
“But she also believed that the family name and theBut she also believed that the family name and the company mattered more than exposing the scandal.””
Marcus stared company mattered more than exposing the scandal.””
Marcus stared at the photograph of his mother on the bookshelf.
His mother had always been strict, but he had never thought she would protect Andrew at Elena's expense.
“What did she do?””
Olivia at the photograph of his mother on the bookshelf.
His mother had always been strict, but he had never thought she would protect Andrew at Elena's expense.
“What did she do?””
Olivia looked at Vanessa.
“She arranged for the original hospital records to be hidden. She also pressured Elena to remain silent.””
Marcus felt sick.
“And the night Elena died?””
Vanessa spoke.
“ looked at Vanessa.
“She arranged for the original hospital records to be hidden. She also pressured Elena to remain silent.””
Marcus felt sick.
“And the night Elena died?””
Vanessa spoke.
“Your mother had already told Andrew that Elena was planning to expose everything. She knew he was going to confront her.””
“Did she tell him to follow her?””
“No.””
“Did sheYour mother had already told Andrew that Elena was planning to expose everything. She knew he was going to confront her.””
“Did she tell him to follow her?””
“No.””
“Did she tell him to stop?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“I don't know.””
Marcus looked at Olivia.
“Is there proof?””
Olivia nodded.
“Your mother kept a diary. Elena found tell him to stop?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“I don't know.””
Marcus looked at Olivia.
“Is there proof?””
Olivia nodded.
“Your mother kept a diary. Elena found it shortly before her death.””
Marcus stared.
“Where is it?””
Olivia opened her bag it shortly before her death.””
Marcus stared.
“Where is it?””
Olivia opened her bag.
“That's what I've been trying to recover.””
She removed a photograph of a leather-bound diary.
On the cover was a gold inscription.
*Margaret Carter — Private Family Records.*
.
“That's what I've been trying to recover.””
She removed a photograph of a leather-bound diary.
On the cover was a gold inscription.
*Margaret Carter — Private Family Records.*
Marcus recognized it immediately.
His mother had kept that diary in her bedroom.
He remembered seeing it on her bedside table when she was ill.
“Where didMarcus recognized it immediately.
His mother had kept that diary in her bedroom.
He remembered seeing it on her bedside table when she was ill.
“Where did you find this?””
“In Elena's storage unit. She had hidden it before the accident.””
“Then why don't you have the diary?””
Olivia you find this?””
“In Elena's storage unit. She had hidden it before the accident.””
“Then why don't you have the diary?””
Olivia looked down.
“Because someone broke into the unit last month.””
Marcus's expression changed.
“Who?””
“The looked down.
“Because someone broke into the unit last month.””
Marcus's expression changed.
“Who?””
“The security footage was erased.””
He turned toward Vanessa.
“ security footage was erased.””
He turned toward Vanessa.
“Did you take it?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Did you take it?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Andrew?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus stared at her.
Then he asked a different question.
“Why are you here?””
Vanessa's eyes filled again.
“Because Andrew is“Andrew?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus stared at her.
Then he asked a different question.
“Why are you here?””
Vanessa's eyes filled again.
“Because Andrew is planning something worse.””
“What?””
“He wants Maya declared legally dependent on him. He believes that if he can obtain temporary custody, he can force you into a settlement.””
planning something worse.””
“What?””
“He wants Maya declared legally dependent on him. He believes that if he can obtain temporary custody, he can force you into a settlement.””
Marcus frowned.
“What settlement?””
Vanessa took a document from her handbag.
It was a proposed agreement.
The first page contained Marcus's name.
TheMarcus frowned.
“What settlement?””
Vanessa took a document from her handbag.
It was a proposed agreement.
The first page contained Marcus's name.
The second contained Maya's.
And the third contained a clause that would transfer control of the Carter family inheritance to Andrew.
Marcus read the final paragraph.
It required second contained Maya's.
And the third contained a clause that would transfer control of the Carter family inheritance to Andrew.
Marcus read the final paragraph.
It required him to sign away certain parental and financial rights in exchange for Andrew withdrawing the custody petition.
Marcus him to sign away certain parental and financial rights in exchange for Andrew withdrawing the custody petition.
Marcus looked up.
“You expected me to sign this?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Andrew said you'd agree if you believed Maya looked up.
“You expected me to sign this?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Andrew said you'd agree if you believed Maya was safer with him.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“He thinks I'll was safer with him.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“He thinks I'll trade my daughter for money?””
Vanessa looked away.
“He believes you can be manipulated.””
Marcus tore the agreement in half.
Then trade my daughter for money?””
Vanessa looked away.
“He believes you can be manipulated.””
Marcus tore the agreement in half.
Then he tore it again.
“Tell him he can come and ask me himself.””
Vanessa looked he tore it again.
“Tell him he can come and ask me himself.””
Vanessa looked at the pieces of paper on the floor.
“You don't understand how dangerous he is.””
Marcus stepped toward the door at the pieces of paper on the floor.
“You don't understand how dangerous he is.””
Marcus stepped toward the door.
“Neither do you.””
An hour later, Daniel arrived.
“Neither do you.””
An hour later, Daniel arrived with two security officers and a folder of new financial records.
“Marcus, we found something.””
Marcus stood with two security officers and a folder of new financial records.
“Marcus, we found something.””
Marcus stood in the hallway.
“What?””
Daniel opened the folder.
“Andrew transferred the missing $1.2 million into a holding company. We traced the company to an in the hallway.
“What?””
Daniel opened the folder.
“Andrew transferred the missing $1.2 million into a holding company. We traced the company to an offshore investment structure.””
“Can we freeze it?””
“Not yet. We need a court order.””
Marcus offshore investment structure.””
“Can we freeze it?””
“Not yet. We need a court order.””
Marcus looked toward the study.
Vanessa was sitting with Olivia, watched by security.
“There's another problem,” Daniel continued.
“What looked toward the study.
Vanessa was sitting with Olivia, watched by security.
“There's another problem,” Daniel continued.
“What?””
“The DNA report Andrew submitted wasn't generated from?””
“The DNA report Andrew submitted wasn't generated from a legitimate sample collection.””
Marcus frowned.
“How do you know?””
“Because the laboratory number belongs to a test a legitimate sample collection.””
Marcus frowned.
“How do you know?””
“Because the laboratory number belongs to a test performed two years ago on a different individual.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Whose test?””
Daniel looked down.
“Your late wife performed two years ago on a different individual.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Whose test?””
Daniel looked down.
“Your late wife.””
Marcus felt the air leave his lungs.
“Elena?””
Daniel nodded.
“The laboratory confirmed that the report had been altered. The original test was.””
Marcus felt the air leave his lungs.
“Elena?””
Daniel nodded.
“The laboratory confirmed that the report had been altered. The original test was ordered privately by Elena.””
Marcus turned toward Olivia.
She looked as though she already knew.
ordered privately by Elena.””
Marcus turned toward Olivia.
She looked as though she already knew.
“What was Elena testing?””
Olivia hesitated.
Then she answered.
“She was trying to confirm whether Andrew was Maya“What was Elena testing?””
Olivia hesitated.
Then she answered.
“She was trying to confirm whether Andrew was Maya's biological father.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“And what did the original test say?””
Olivia lowered her voice.
“It said something unexpected.””
Before's biological father.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“And what did the original test say?””
Olivia lowered her voice.
“It said something unexpected.””
Before Marcus could ask another question, his phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
“Marcus Carter.””
A man spoke.
“Mr. Carter, Marcus could ask another question, his phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
“Marcus Carter.””
A man spoke.
“Mr. Carter, this is Detective Paul Reeves.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“What do you want?””
“I understand you've been reviewing the this is Detective Paul Reeves.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“What do you want?””
“I understand you've been reviewing the circumstances surrounding your wife's accident.””
“I have.””
“I'd advise you to stop.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Why circumstances surrounding your wife's accident.””
“I have.””
“I'd advise you to stop.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Why?””
“Because the original investigation was conducted properly.””
“Then you won't mind explaining?””
“Because the original investigation was conducted properly.””
“Then you won't mind explaining why the evidence was altered.””
A pause.
Then Reeves said something that made Marcus's blood run cold.
“Mr. Carter, your wife wasn't why the evidence was altered.””
A pause.
Then Reeves said something that made Marcus's blood run cold.
“Mr. Carter, your wife wasn't the only person in that vehicle that night.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
“What?””
“There was another passenger.””
“Who?””
the only person in that vehicle that night.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
“What?””
“There was another passenger.””
“Who?””
The detective lowered his voice.
“Your daughter.””
Marcus looked toward Maya.
She was sitting on the sofa, drawing quietlyThe detective lowered his voice.
“Your daughter.””
Marcus looked toward Maya.
She was sitting on the sofa, drawing quietly.
“No,” he whispered.
Reeves continued.
“We have reason to believe the child was present in the vehicle before the crash.””
.
“No,” he whispered.
Reeves continued.
“We have reason to believe the child was present in the vehicle before the crash.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Maya was three yearsMarcus gripped the phone.
“Maya was three years old. She was at home.””
“That's what the original report says.””
“Then why are you telling me this?””
The detective paused.
“Because the person old. She was at home.””
“That's what the original report says.””
“Then why are you telling me this?””
The detective paused.
“Because the person who removed her from the vehicle was never identified.””
The call ended.
Marcus stood frozen.
Then Maya looked up from her drawing.
who removed her from the vehicle was never identified.””
The call ended.
Marcus stood frozen.
Then Maya looked up from her drawing.
“Daddy?””
He turned toward her.
She held up a picture of a car.
A woman was sitting in the driver's seat.
A little girl was beside her“Daddy?””
He turned toward her.
She held up a picture of a car.
A woman was sitting in the driver's seat.
A little girl was beside her.
And behind them was a black SUV.
Maya pointed to the drawing.
“That's the night Mommy went away.””
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
And behind them was a black SUV.
Maya pointed to the drawing.
“That's the night Mommy went away.””
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
He crouched in front of her.
“Sweetheart, do you remember that night?””
Maya nodded slowly.
“I was in the car.””
.
He crouched in front of her.
“Sweetheart, do you remember that night?””
Maya nodded slowly.
“I was in the car.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What happened?””
She looked down at the paper.
“Mommy told me to hide under the blanket.””
Then she whisperedMarcus stared at her.
“What happened?””
She looked down at the paper.
“Mommy told me to hide under the blanket.””
Then she whispered:
“And somebody came to get me after the crash.””
Marcus's voice shook.
“Who?””
M:
“And somebody came to get me after the crash.””
Marcus's voice shook.
“Who?””
May you like
Maya lifted her eyes.
“Grandma.””
