Chapter 6: The Deed Hidden Behind the Family Portrait
I read the message three times.
*Ask Nia what happened to the original deed. Because the person who stole it is still living in your house.*
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Nia stood in the doorway, holding the photograph of her father.
"Marcus?""
I turned my phone toward her.
She read the message.
Her face went pale.
"Who sent this?""
"I don't know.""
"Let me see the photograph again.""
I handed her the phone.
She stared at the image.
Her fingers began trembling.
"That's my father.""
"I know.""
"No, Marcus. Look at the woman standing behind him.""
I enlarged the photograph.
There were three people in the image.
James Carter stood beside my grandfather. Both men were holding a rolled document.
Behind them stood a younger woman wearing a dark coat.
It was Diane.
My mother.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"That's impossible.""
Nia looked at me.
"Your mother knew my father.""
I zoomed in further.
The date was printed in the bottom corner.
November 1998.
I was eight years old.
My grandfather had told me that James Carter was a dishonest accountant who had tried to steal company money.
But the photograph suggested something very different.
"Why would your father be standing with my grandfather?"" I asked.
Nia shook her head.
"I don't know. My mother never explained everything. She only told me that James trusted your grandfather once.""
"Once?""
"Until he discovered something.""
I looked toward the staircase.
My mother was downstairs.
And suddenly, I wasn't sure I wanted to see her again.
I called Daniel.
"Where are you?""
"At the office.""
"I need you at Sterling Manor.""
"What's happened?""
"Bring the trust documents. And don't tell anyone you're coming.""
He hesitated.
"Marcus, I found something else.""
"What?""
"The company your grandfather created has been receiving rental income for twenty years.""
"From which properties?""
"Several commercial developments. Some of the largest properties Sterling Properties owns.""
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense. Those properties belong to our company.""
"That's what I thought. But the original ownership records list Sterling Heritage Holdings as the legal owner.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who controls that company?""
"According to the most recent filing, the controlling trustee is Diane Sterling.""
My mother.
I looked at Nia.
She was staring at the photograph.
"Daniel, get here now.""
I ended the call.
Then I looked at Nia.
"Your mother said your father left something behind. The metal box?""
"Yes.""
"Where is it?""
"At her old house.""
"Can we get it tonight?""
Nia glanced toward Noah's bedroom.
"Not without waking him.""
I nodded.
"Then tomorrow morning.""
She looked at me carefully.
"Marcus, if your mother really took something from my father, this could become dangerous.""
I almost smiled.
"She's my mother.""
Nia didn't smile back.
"That's what scares me.""
At 10:30 p.m., I went downstairs.
Diane was sitting in the formal living room with a glass of wine.
She had changed out of her red gown and was wearing a cream-colored silk robe.
Vanessa and Claire were gone.
My mother looked up.
"You're still awake.""
I stood beside the fireplace.
"Who is James Carter?""
Her glass stopped halfway to her mouth.
"What?""
"James Carter. Nia's father.""
She set the glass down.
"Why are you asking me?""
"Because I found a photograph of you standing beside him and my grandfather.""
Diane stared at me.
Then she slowly leaned back.
"Where did you find that?""
"Does it matter?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
She rubbed her forehead.
"Marcus, your grandfather had many business relationships. That photograph doesn't prove anything.""
"Daniel says you control Sterling Heritage Holdings.""
Her face changed.
"Daniel has no business discussing private family matters with you.""
"He's my business partner.""
"He's an employee.""
"No. He's someone who tells me the truth.""
Diane stood.
"Your grandfather left that company to me because he trusted me.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because it was never relevant.""
"To my son's inheritance?""
She went quiet.
I stepped closer.
"What happened to James Carter's land?""
My mother looked toward the hallway.
Then she whispered, "You don't know what you're getting involved in.""
"Tell me.""
"Your grandfather made mistakes.""
"What kind of mistakes?""
"Business mistakes.""
"Did he steal the land?""
Her expression hardened.
"Watch your words.""
"Did he?""
Diane walked toward the fireplace and picked up a framed photograph of my grandfather.
"Robert was a complicated man. He built an empire from nothing. Sometimes people around him were hurt.""
"Was James Carter one of those people?""
She didn't answer.
I placed my phone on the table and opened the photograph.
"Look at this.""
Diane glanced at the screen.
Her hand trembled.
Then she did something I never expected.
She picked up the photograph frame and threw it against the fireplace.
Glass shattered.
The photograph fell face down.
"Enough!"" she shouted.
I stared at her.
"Why are you so afraid of this?""
"Because you don't understand what your grandfather was protecting!""
"What?""
She looked at me.
For a moment, I saw something beyond anger.
Genuine fear.
"Your grandfather didn't steal that land," she whispered.
"Then who did?""
She looked toward the stairs.
And said a name.
"Claire's father.""
I felt the room go cold.
"Richard Whitmore?""
Diane nodded.
"He altered the records. Robert discovered it too late.""
"Then why was James Carter involved?""
"Because James found the original deed.""
I stared at her.
"Where is it?""
Diane closed her eyes.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I swear.""
I took a breath.
"Then why did Nia's father die?""
My mother looked at me.
And her answer changed everything.
"Because he refused to give Richard the deed.""
The next morning, Daniel arrived at Sterling Manor carrying a leather briefcase.
He entered my office and placed three thick folders on the desk.
"I spent most of the night reviewing the records," he said.
"Tell me what you found.""
He opened the first folder.
"Sterling Heritage Holdings owns the original land rights for seven major developments. The company has been receiving income, but the money has been transferred through several private accounts.""
"Whose accounts?""
"Mostly Diane's.""
I stared at him.
"How much?""
"Approximately forty-two million dollars over the last eleven years.""
I sat down.
"Forty-two million?""
Daniel nodded.
"There's more. Your grandfather established the trust specifically for Noah. But there's a condition.""
"What condition?""
Daniel turned the page.
"Before Noah can receive full control, the original land deed must be presented and the ownership dispute resolved.""
"Who can present it?""
"James Carter's legal heirs.""
Nia entered the office.
She had changed into jeans and a pale blue sweater.
Noah was upstairs with Mrs. Alvarez.
"That would be me," she said.
Daniel looked at her.
"You're James Carter's daughter?""
Nia nodded.
Daniel closed the folder.
"Then we need to find that deed.""
Nia placed her mother's photograph on the desk.
"My father left a metal box.""
Daniel examined it.
"Do you know where?""
"Yes. But I need to tell you something first.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
She swallowed.
"My mother didn't just tell me to stay away from the Sterling family.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small brass key.
"She told me that if anything ever happened to her, I should open the box and give its contents to Marcus.""
I stared at the key.
"Why didn't you tell me last night?""
"Because I was afraid of what we'd find.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Where is the box?""
Nia looked at me.
"At my mother's house.""
I stood.
"Let's go.""
But before we could leave, my office door opened.
Diane stood there.
She was holding a photograph of Noah.
Her expression was calm again.
Too calm.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said.
I looked at her.
"Why?""
She glanced at the brass key.
Then whispered:
"Because your grandfather didn't put the deed in that box.""
She looked directly at Nia.
"He put something else there.""
May you like
And then she said the words that made Nia drop the key.
"Your father's death certificate.""
