Chapter 9: She Tried to Take My Son
I arrived at Daniel's office at eight the next morning.
He was waiting with a folder open on his desk.
I barely sat down before asking the question.
"What exactly did Denise file?""
Daniel turned the document toward me.
It was an application seeking temporary guardianship authority over Malik.
I read the first page.
Then the second.
My name appeared repeatedly.
So did Malik's.
But the allegations were what made my hands shake.
According to the application, I had become emotionally unstable following Angela's death.
It claimed that I had failed to provide consistent supervision.
It described Malik as emotionally disturbed, increasingly defiant, and difficult to manage.
And it presented Denise as the responsible adult who had supposedly taken over his daily care.
I looked at Daniel.
"She wrote this?""
"She submitted it through an attorney.""
I continued reading.
There were statements about Malik refusing chores, arguing about meals, and allegedly threatening family members.
None of it was true.
Then I reached the medical section.
A report from a counseling clinic had been attached.
I recognized the name of the clinic.
Malik had attended two sessions there after Angela died.
The report had been altered.
It suggested that Malik had ongoing behavioral problems requiring close supervision.
I looked up.
"Who gave her this?""
Daniel tapped the document.
"The report appears to have been provided by someone who had access to an old file.""
"Can she do that?""
"We'll challenge the authenticity and relevance of the document. But I want you to understand the seriousness of this.""
I leaned forward.
"She is trying to take my son.""
"She's trying to establish herself as the responsible guardian.""
"She's his stepmother.""
"Which makes the circumstances more complicated than a stranger filing a petition.""
I stood.
"What do we do?""
Daniel remained calm.
"First, we document everything. Second, we respond through the court. Third, we make sure Malik has independent support.""
I nodded.
"Whatever he needs.""
Daniel closed the folder.
"One more thing. The application includes an affidavit from Jordan.""
I froze.
"What?""
He showed me the page.
Jordan's name was at the bottom.
It claimed he had witnessed Malik behaving aggressively toward Denise.
I stared at the signature.
"Jordan didn't write this.""
"Have you spoken to him?""
"Yes. He told me the truth.""
Daniel nodded.
"Then we need to establish how his signature ended up here.""
I called Jordan immediately.
He answered in a panic.
"Marcus?""
"Jordan, I need to ask you something.""
"Is it about the papers?""
I looked at Daniel.
"What papers?""
"The ones Mom made me sign.""
My heart stopped.
"When?""
"Last week.""
"What did she tell you?""
"She said it was a school form.""
I closed my eyes.
"Jordan, did you read it?""
"No.""
"Did you know it was about Malik?""
He started crying.
"She told me it was just saying he was difficult sometimes. She said it wouldn't hurt him.""
I gripped the phone.
"Jordan, listen to me. You need to tell the truth. Nothing else matters.""
"I know.""
"Did you see the whole document?""
"No. She only showed me the last page.""
I took a breath.
"Thank you for telling me.""
After the call, Daniel wrote something down.
"We'll need a statement from him, provided he's willing.""
"He'll cooperate.""
"Good.""
I returned home that afternoon.
Denise was waiting in the living room.
She was sitting on the couch with a glass of water.
When I entered, she stood.
"Where have you been?""
"At my attorney's office.""
She sighed.
"Of course.""
I placed the court documents on the table.
"Why did you file this?""
She looked at the papers.
Then she shrugged.
"Because someone needed to do something.""
"You accused me of being an unfit father.""
"I said you weren't making good decisions.""
"You claimed Malik was dangerous.""
"He can be difficult.""
"He's sixteen!""
She raised her voice.
"And I have been dealing with him every single day!""
I stared at her.
"You mean cleaning up after him? Making him wash cars? Refusing to feed him?""
Her face hardened.
"You don't know what happens when you're gone.""
I took out my phone.
"Then let's talk about what happens when I'm not gone.""
I opened the kitchen recording.
Denise watched the screen.
Her expression changed.
I played the video of her taking Malik's plate.
Then the one where she handed food to Jordan and Brianna while Malik washed dishes.
Finally, I played the recording of her grabbing Malik's arm.
She looked away.
"You're taking everything out of context.""
"What context makes this acceptable?""
"He was being disrespectful.""
"Show me where.""
She folded her arms.
"You've been recording me?""
"The cameras were installed for security.""
She laughed bitterly.
"You're spying on your wife.""
I looked directly at her.
"You're using the court system to take my son.""
Her face changed.
"I am trying to protect him.""
"From what?""
"From you!""
I stared at her.
Then I asked the question I had been holding back.
"Did you know Angela?""
Denise went still.
"What?""
"Did you know my first wife before she died?""
She didn't answer.
I took out the photograph.
Angela and Denise stood together at the charity event.
Denise glanced at it.
Then she looked at me.
"That doesn't mean anything.""
"She wrote about you.""
Her face lost its color.
"Angela was confused.""
I stepped closer.
"She knew about the insurance policy. She knew you were asking questions about Malik's inheritance.""
Denise laughed nervously.
"You're letting a dead woman control your life.""
I felt anger rush through me.
"Don't you ever speak about her like that again.""
She stepped back.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Denise whispered, "You have no idea what Angela told people about you.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
She walked toward the stairs.
"Ask Patricia.""
I followed her with my eyes.
"Patricia already told me plenty.""
Denise stopped.
Then she turned around.
"Did she tell you about the hospital?""
My stomach tightened.
"What about the hospital?""
Denise smiled faintly.
"Ask her why Angela wanted to change her will at the last minute.""
I took out my phone.
I called Patricia.
She answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"Denise says Angela wanted to change her will before she died.""
Patricia went quiet.
Then she said, "She did.""
I sat down.
"Why?""
"Because she discovered something.""
"What?""
Patricia took a breath.
"Angela found out Denise had been asking questions about the insurance policy and the guardianship arrangements. She wanted to make sure Malik's money could never be accessed by anyone else.""
I looked toward the staircase.
"Did she change the will?""
"She signed a new document with her attorney.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't know. But she told me she had given a copy to someone she trusted.""
"Who?""
Patricia hesitated.
Then she answered.
"Her older brother, David.""
I remembered Angela's brother.
We hadn't spoken in years.
He lived several states away.
I searched for his number.
Before I could call, Patricia added something.
"Marcus, there's another thing you should know.""
"What?""
"Angela didn't simply worry about Denise. She believed Denise was trying to arrange something with a lawyer before she died.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"What kind of arrangement?""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"She told me Denise had asked about becoming Malik's legal guardian if something happened to either parent.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why would Denise be thinking about that?""
Patricia answered quietly.
"Because she wanted control of the trust.""
I ended the call.
My hands were shaking.
I looked at the court application on the table.
Denise wasn't trying to become Malik's guardian because she loved him.
She was trying to gain access to something Angela had deliberately protected.
And then Daniel called.
"Marcus, we found something.""
"What?""
"The court application includes an attachment from Angela's estate file.""
I froze.
"What attachment?""
"A document claiming Angela appointed Denise as Malik's alternate guardian.""
I couldn't breathe.
"That's impossible.""
Daniel paused.
"That's what we need to verify.""
I stared at the papers.
May you like
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"Marcus, the document carries Angela's signature.""
