Chapter 9: The Recording That Changed Everything
“That's not my signature.””
My voice sounded weak.
Raymond gave me a sympathetic smile.
“Of course you'll say that.””
Jordan grabbed the document.
“Dad, look at the authorization code.””
Dad examined it.
“What am I looking for?””
“The digital certificate. It was created on September fourteenth.””
I shook my head.
“I didn't create anything.””
Raymond leaned back.
“You used the family laptop that night, didn't you?””
I stared at him.
“How do you know that?””
“Because I have the access logs.””
“Then you know I didn't authorize a transfer.””
He shrugged.
“Your credentials were used.””
Jordan looked at the certificate.
Then he looked at Raymond.
“Who gave you access to the family laptop?””
Raymond smiled.
“Ask your mother.””
Everyone turned toward Mom.
She was standing near the fireplace, her face drained of color.
“Mom?””
She shook her head.
“I didn't give him anything.””
Raymond sighed.
“Denise, this isn't helping.””
Dad stepped toward him.
“Stop speaking to my wife.””
Raymond looked amused.
“Your wife has been helping me for months.””
Mom covered her mouth.
Jordan's expression changed.
“Months?””
Raymond nodded.
“She gave me the original trust documents, the company access codes, and the old digital certificates.””
Dad looked at Mom.
“Why?””
Mom began crying.
“I thought he was trying to save the company.””
“You said that already!””
“I didn't know what he was doing!””
Raymond laughed.
“Of course you didn't.””
Jordan turned toward him.
“Show me the original recording.””
Raymond's smile disappeared.
“What recording?””
“The one you used to blackmail Maya.””
Raymond glanced at me.
For the first time, he looked uncomfortable.
I remembered the recording Jordan had played earlier.
My voice threatening him.
The recording that had started this entire confrontation.
“Jordan,” I whispered.
He looked at me.
“I didn't just find your recording by accident.””
“What do you mean?””
“Three weeks ago, I discovered that someone had been accessing the company security system remotely.””
Dad frowned.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know who was doing it.””
Jordan turned toward Raymond.
“Then I found a folder containing audio files.””
Raymond said nothing.
Jordan continued.
“One of them was Maya's voice. Another was Mom's. There were recordings of Dad's office conversations, too.””
Mom looked horrified.
“Someone recorded us?””
Jordan nodded.
“Someone had been collecting conversations for months.””
I looked at Raymond.
“Why?””
“To make sure everyone stayed quiet,” Jordan replied.
Raymond stood.
“This is getting ridiculous.””
Dad blocked the doorway.
“Sit down.””
Raymond's face hardened.
“You don't want to do this, Marcus.””
“I'm already doing it.””
Jordan connected the external drive to his laptop.
A folder appeared.
Inside were dozens of audio files.
He opened one.
A man's voice came through the speakers.
It was Raymond.
“Denise, the trust needs to be cleared before the girl turns twenty-five.””
Mom's recorded voice answered.
“I don't want to do this anymore.””
Raymond laughed.
“You should have thought about that before you signed the documents.””
“What if Marcus finds out?””
“He won't.””
“And Maya?””
“She doesn't know anything. She's too busy chasing that boyfriend of hers.””
Mom sounded frightened.
“What if she discovers the account?””
Raymond's voice became colder.
“Then we'll make sure she looks responsible for the missing money.””
The recording stopped.
I stared at Mom.
She looked as if she might collapse.
Dad turned toward her.
“Did you know he was planning to blame Maya?””
Mom shook her head.
“No. I swear I didn't.””
Jordan opened another file.
This time, the recording was dated September fourteenth.
The night I had used the laptop.
A woman's voice spoke first.
“It's done.””
Raymond answered.
“Did she open the document?””
“Yes.””
“Did she enter the password?””
“Yes.””
“Good. Then the transfer will look like hers.””
I recognized the woman's voice.
It was Mom's.
My chest tightened.
“Mom?””
She covered her face.
Jordan stopped the recording.
Dad looked at her.
“Denise, what did you do?””
She shook her head violently.
“I didn't know! He told me Maya was only printing a form. He said he needed her account open for a verification.””
Jordan stared at her.
“You knew the document was connected to the trust?””
“I thought it was a harmless verification.””
“You watched her sign into the laptop.””
“I didn't know he was going to use her identity!””
Raymond stepped forward.
“That's enough.””
Jordan opened another recording.
This one began with my voice.
“Why does this form have my name on it?””
Raymond answered.
“Because you're the beneficiary. It's normal paperwork.””
“But why does it say I'm authorizing a transfer?””
“It's just an acknowledgment. Sign it, and I'll make sure the money is protected.””
Then my voice again.
“I don't want to sign anything without Dad.””
Raymond laughed.
“Your father is too busy. Don't make this difficult.””
The recording continued.
A chair moved.
Then a door closed.
And then came a voice I had never heard before.
A younger male voice.
“Raymond, she left.””
Raymond answered.
“Good. Get the file.””
The younger man spoke again.
“What about the recording?””
“Keep it. We'll need it if she becomes a problem.””
Jordan stopped the audio.
Dad stared at Raymond.
“Who was that?””
Raymond didn't answer.
Evelyn looked at the laptop.
“Play it again.””
Jordan did.
This time, I recognized the younger voice.
My stomach dropped.
“Tyler?””
Jordan nodded slowly.
“That's what I've been trying to tell you.””
I felt sick.
The boyfriend I had trusted.
The man I'd sent eight thousand dollars to help.
The person I'd defended when my brother questioned him.
He had been working with Raymond.
I shook my head.
“No.””
Jordan moved closer.
“Maya, listen.””
“No!””
He held my shoulders.
“He wasn't who you thought he was.””
Tears streamed down my face.
“Why would he do this?””
Jordan looked at the screen.
“Because he was paid to get close to you.””
I covered my mouth.
Raymond laughed.
“That's a dramatic accusation.””
Dad turned toward him.
“Who is Tyler?””
Raymond didn't answer.
Evelyn spoke.
“Daniel's old business partner.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She nodded.
“Tyler's real name is Thomas Whitmore.””
The room went silent.
“He's Daniel's son,” she continued.
My head spun.
“Daniel had another child?””
Evelyn nodded.
“After Daniel died, his mother raised him. He grew up believing Robert Carter had destroyed his father's life.””
Raymond smiled.
“Now we're getting somewhere.””
Evelyn turned toward him.
“Did you hire him?””
Raymond shrugged.
“He approached me.””
“To deceive Maya?””
“He wanted access to the trust.””
I felt something inside me collapse.
The phone calls.
The messages.
The tears.
The promises.
All of it had been planned.
I had never been in love with Tyler.
I'd been useful to him.
Jordan squeezed my shoulder.
“I'm sorry.””
I wiped my face.
Then I looked at Raymond.
“You made me steal from my own family.””
He shook his head.
“You chose to transfer the money.””
“And you made sure I thought I was helping someone I loved.””
He said nothing.
Dad picked up his phone.
“I'm calling the authorities.””
Raymond's face hardened.
“Marcus, don't.””
Dad dialed.
Raymond suddenly lunged toward the laptop.
Jordan pulled it away.
The briefcase fell to the floor.
Papers scattered across the carpet.
And from inside the case, a small envelope slid beneath the coffee table.
Evelyn picked it up.
Her hands began trembling as she read the front.
It was addressed to her.
In Grandpa's handwriting.
She opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
She read the first line.
Then her knees nearly buckled.
“What is it?”” I asked.
She looked at me.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Your grandfather knew Raymond was planning to steal the trust.””
Dad frowned.
“Then why didn't he stop him?””
Evelyn turned the paper around.
At the bottom was Grandpa's signature.
And beneath it was a sentence none of us expected.
*If Raymond ever attempts to take the money, the original beneficiary must be identified by DNA before the trust can be released.*
I looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“It means your grandfather never intended for me to receive the money.””
She looked at me.
“He intended for the truth to be proven.””
Then she pointed to the final paragraph.
*The second beneficiary is the child of Daniel Whitmore and Evelyn Carter.*
I stared at the words.
“There's another child?””
Evelyn nodded.
And before anyone could ask another question, she whispered:
“Thomas isn't Daniel's only son.””
May you like
She looked directly at me.
“Your grandfather had a reason for keeping your real family apart.””
