Chapter 8: The Recording That Didn't Exist
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"What recording?""
Claire pressed both hands against her face.
"The one Ethan said would prove Malik had been alone with Maya.""
Malik stepped forward.
"That's impossible.""
Claire shook her head.
"He said he had it.""
"Did you see it?"" I asked.
"No.""
"Did he show it to you?""
"No.""
"Then why did you believe him?""
She began crying.
"Because he said he would send it to the police if I didn't cooperate.""
Malik stared at her.
"So you believed him?""
Claire nodded.
"And you still let Maya accuse me?""
"I thought I could protect you both.""
Malik laughed.
It was a terrible sound.
"You protected nobody.""
I looked at Claire.
"Did Ethan threaten to release this recording before or after Maya accused Malik?""
"Before.""
My stomach tightened.
"How long before?""
"Two days.""
I turned toward Maya.
"Did you know about this?""
She nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
Malik stepped backward.
"You're kidding.""
Maya began crying.
"Ethan said he had a video.""
"What video?"" I asked.
"He said he recorded us.""
"Where?""
"In the house.""
My hands curled.
"How?""
She looked at Claire.
"Mom let him install a device.""
I turned toward my wife.
"What device?""
Claire looked terrified.
"I thought it was a motion sensor.""
"Where?""
"Upstairs.""
Malik immediately looked toward the staircase.
"Which room?""
Maya whispered:
"Mine.""
I felt sick.
I stood and walked upstairs.
Everyone followed.
Maya's bedroom was at the end of the hallway.
I opened the door.
The room looked ordinary.
A white bed.
A vanity.
A large wardrobe.
A collection of photographs.
I examined the corners.
Then I noticed a small black device attached to the bookshelf.
It was about the size of a matchbox.
I removed it carefully.
"Is this what you're talking about?""
Maya nodded.
I turned it over.
There was a tiny lens.
I felt rage rise through my chest.
Someone had installed a recording device inside my stepdaughter's bedroom.
Without my knowledge.
Without Malik's knowledge.
And possibly without Maya fully understanding what it was capable of recording.
I placed it inside a plastic bag.
"Nobody touches anything else.""
I called the police and explained that we had discovered a suspicious recording device connected to a suspected financial fraud.
While waiting, I contacted the attorney again.
He advised us to preserve the device and not attempt to access or delete its contents.
An officer arrived forty minutes later.
He photographed the device, documented its location, and took statements.
When I mentioned Ethan, the officer asked whether we had any messages from him.
I showed him the threats.
He examined them carefully.
"Keep these originals. Don't delete anything.""
Then he asked Maya to explain how she met Ethan.
She sat on the edge of her bed.
Her hands were trembling.
"I met him at a party.""
"Where?""
"At a friend's house.""
"When?""
"About eight months ago.""
"What happened after that?""
Maya swallowed.
"He started messaging me. He was nice. He said I was mature for my age.""
The officer nodded.
"Did he ask you for money?""
"Not immediately.""
"What did he ask for?""
"At first, pictures of my father's financial documents.""
I looked up.
"My documents?""
She nodded.
"He said he was helping me start a business. He told me he needed proof that our family had enough money to qualify for an investment program.""
The officer wrote something down.
"Did you believe him?""
"Yes.""
"Did your mother know?""
Maya looked toward Claire.
"Eventually.""
The officer turned to my wife.
"Mrs. Bennett, did you knowingly provide these documents?""
Claire's voice trembled.
"Some of them.""
"Why?""
"He threatened to expose Maya.""
The officer looked at her.
"Expose her how?""
Claire hesitated.
Then she answered.
"He said he had recordings that would make everyone believe she was involved in something illegal.""
The officer asked another question.
"Did he threaten to make a false accusation against Malik?""
Claire started crying.
"Yes.""
Malik stood near the door.
His face was pale.
"Then why did you believe him instead of me?""
Claire looked at him.
"I didn't know what was true anymore.""
He shook his head.
"You knew enough to let me suffer.""
The officer finished his notes.
Then he looked at me.
"Mr. Bennett, we need to investigate the financial documents separately. But this may involve identity fraud, attempted property fraud, and threats.""
I nodded.
"Whatever you need.""
After the officers left, Maya remained sitting on her bed.
Claire approached her.
"Sweetheart...""
Maya moved away.
"Don't.""
Claire stopped.
"Please.""
"You told me Ethan was helping us.""
"I thought he was.""
"You gave him the papers.""
"I didn't understand what he was doing.""
Maya began crying.
"Neither did I.""
I stood in the doorway.
For the first time, I saw something different in her face.
Not just fear of being caught.
Fear of what Ethan might do next.
My phone vibrated.
A message from the attorney.
We located an additional filing connected to the property. Please call immediately.
I stepped into the hallway.
"Hello?""
"Mr. Bennett, we found something important.""
"What?""
"The lender's records show that the property agreement was supported by a power of attorney document.""
I frowned.
"What power of attorney?""
"One allegedly signed by you.""
I stopped walking.
"I never signed a power of attorney.""
"That's what we suspected.""
"Who submitted it?""
"The filing came through an account registered to Claire Bennett.""
I closed my eyes.
"Is it valid?""
"We cannot determine that yet. But the signature appears to be another forgery.""
I exhaled.
"What's the next step?""
"We need to establish who created the document and whether the lender relied on it.""
I thanked him.
Then I returned to the bedroom.
Claire was sitting beside Maya.
Both women looked exhausted.
I held up my phone.
"There's another document.""
Claire looked at me.
"What?""
"A power of attorney.""
Her face went white.
I placed the phone on the dresser.
"Apparently, someone used a document claiming I gave you authority over my property.""
Claire began shaking.
"I never asked for that.""
"Did you sign it?""
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
My stomach dropped.
"Why?""
"Ethan told me it was necessary to release the loan.""
"Did you know it carried my signature?""
"No. He said you had already approved it.""
I stared at her.
"You believed him?""
"I wanted to believe him.""
I looked at the woman I'd married.
The woman I'd trusted with my children.
The woman I'd given a place in my home.
Then my phone vibrated again.
This time, it was Malik.
He was standing downstairs.
"Hey, Dad.""
"What is it?""
He held up his phone.
"I just got an email.""
"From who?""
"The credit company.""
I walked toward him.
"What does it say?""
He turned the screen toward me.
A new account had been opened in his name.
The balance was nearly thirty thousand dollars.
And beneath the account details was a transaction timestamp.
It had been created that morning.
While we were all inside the house.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then Malik whispered:
"Dad, someone is still using my identity.""
