Chapter 2: The Woman Behind the Money
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The photograph on my phone showed Vanessa standing beside a tall man wearing a navy suit.
He looked to be in his early forties.
His hand rested casually on her waist.
She was smiling.
Not the polite smile she used at charity dinners or family gatherings.
It was a different smile.
A comfortable one.
An intimate one.
The timestamp on the photograph was from three weeks earlier.
I enlarged the image.
Vanessa was wearing the same necklace I had bought her for our anniversary.
“Marcus?””
Her voice sounded strangely distant.
I looked up.
She was watching my phone.
“What is that?”” she asked.
I turned the screen toward her.
Her lips parted.
For the first time since I had married her, Vanessa looked genuinely speechless.
“Who is he?””
She swallowed.
“It's not what you think.””
I almost laughed.
That was the sentence people used when it was exactly what you thought.
“Then tell me what it is.””
“He's a business associate.””
“Business associates usually don't hold your waist like that.””
She glanced toward Malik.
“Can we discuss this privately?””
“No.””
“Marcus, please.””
“You had no problem humiliating my son in front of the entire house. Why should I protect your privacy now?””
Malik stood near the staircase.
He hadn't moved.
His hand was still pressed against his cheek.
I turned toward him.
“Son, go upstairs and get your backpack. We're going to have someone look at your face.””
He hesitated.
“Am I in trouble?””
The question broke something inside me.
“No, sweetheart.””
He looked down.
“Because she said she was going to tell you I was stealing.””
I crouched in front of him.
“Listen to me. You are not in trouble.””
His eyes filled.
“I didn't take anything.””
“I know.””
He stared at me.
“Do you really?””
I nodded.
“I believe you.””
Malik finally broke down.
He leaned forward, and I wrapped my arms around him.
His shoulders shook against mine.
For two years, I had convinced myself Vanessa was helping my son heal from losing his mother.
Now I wondered how much damage she had caused while I wasn't looking.
When Malik went upstairs, I stood and faced my wife.
“Who is the man?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“I already told you. He's someone I work with.””
“You don't work.””
Her expression changed.
“I help with several charitable organizations.””
“You attend meetings. You don't have a job.””
“Marcus, don't start insulting me.””
“What's his name?””
She looked away.
“Daniel.””
“Daniel what?””
She didn't answer.
I unlocked my phone and replied to the unknown number.
*Who are you?*
The response arrived almost immediately.
*My name is Evelyn Brooks. I used to manage Vanessa's personal accounts. We need to talk before she realizes I contacted you.*
I frowned.
I typed another message.
*What money are you talking about?*
A photograph arrived.
It showed a bank statement.
My name was printed across the top.
Marcus Reed.
I recognized the account number.
It was one of the accounts I had opened after marrying Vanessa.
I had originally intended it to cover household expenses and emergencies.
I scrolled down.
There were dozens of withdrawals.
Some were small.
Others were enormous.
$4,500.
$8,200.
$12,000.
Then one transfer caught my attention.
$47,500.
The recipient was listed as D. Collins Consulting.
I stared at the screen.
“Vanessa.””
She looked up.
“What?””
“Do you know someone named Daniel Collins?””
Her face went rigid.
I didn't miss it.
“Why are you asking me that?””
“Because nearly fifty thousand dollars from my account went to a company with his name.””
She shook her head.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
I showed her the statement.
“Then explain this.””
She barely glanced at it.
“Those were household expenses.””
“Forty-seven thousand dollars?””
“Investments.””
“What investments?””
She exhaled sharply.
“Marcus, I cannot believe you're interrogating me because some stranger sent you a photograph.””
“I'm asking about money that disappeared from my account.””
“Your account?”” She laughed.
“We're married.””
“That doesn't answer my question.””
Her expression hardened.
“You know what your problem is?””
I waited.
“You've always treated Malik like he's the only person who matters.””
I stared at her.
“What does that have to do with this?””
“Everything! You spend thousands on him. Basketball equipment, clothes, private tutoring. You bought him a car for his birthday!””
“He's my son.””
“And I'm your wife!””
Her voice echoed through the foyer.
I looked at her red dress, her expensive jewelry, and the cash still lying across the table.
“Then why are you stealing from me?””
She slapped her palm against the table.
“I'm not stealing!””
“Then show me where the money went.””
She looked toward the front door.
I noticed.
“Where are you going?””
“I'm leaving.””
“You're not going anywhere until we figure out what happened.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You cannot keep me here.””
“I'm not keeping you anywhere. But I'm not pretending this conversation never happened.””
She grabbed her handbag.
I stepped aside.
She marched toward the entrance, then stopped.
“Marcus, think carefully before you destroy this marriage.””
I looked at her.
“You destroyed something when you hit my son.””
She stared at me for several seconds.
Then she walked out.
The front door slammed.
I immediately called the security company and requested that all recordings be preserved.
Then I called our attorney, Richard Coleman.
He had handled my business acquisitions for almost fifteen years.
When I explained what had happened, his tone changed.
“Marcus, don't confront her again until we review the financial records.””
“Why?””
“Because if she's been moving money through accounts connected to your business, this could be bigger than a marital dispute.””
I looked at the stacks of cash.
“Richard, there's money sitting on my foyer table. She accused my son of stealing it.””
“Don't touch it.””
“Why?””
“Because we don't know where it came from.””
I looked toward the staircase.
Malik was standing on the landing.
He had heard enough to understand that something terrible was happening.
“Richard, I'll call you back.””
I ended the call.
Malik slowly came downstairs.
He had changed into a clean T-shirt.
His cheek was still red.
“Dad?””
“Hey, buddy.””
He looked at the money.
“Is she gone?””
“For now.””
He nodded.
Then he walked toward the table.
“Can I tell you something?””
“Of course.””
He hesitated.
“It's about Mom.””
My chest tightened.
“Your mother?””
He nodded.
He reached into the front pocket of his backpack and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
It was an old photograph.
Danielle was sitting on a park bench, holding a small Malik in her arms.
I recognized the picture immediately.
It had been taken during one of our family vacations.
“Where did you get that?””
“From the storage room.””
I frowned.
“What were you doing in there?””
“Looking for my old basketball shoes.””
He unfolded the paper.
There was writing on the back.
My wife's handwriting.
I recognized the elegant slant of her letters.
*The boy must never find out what his mother left behind.*
My mouth went dry.
“Malik, where did you find this?””
“Inside Mom's old jewelry box.””
I took the photograph carefully.
“Why didn't you show me earlier?””
He looked at the floor.
“Because Vanessa told me I wasn't allowed to touch anything that belonged to Mom.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“What else did she say?””
He swallowed.
“She said Mom left a lot of problems behind. She said you were already tired of dealing with me, and I shouldn't make things worse.””
The words struck harder than the slap.
I crouched in front of him.
“Son, look at me.””
He raised his eyes.
“Your mother never left you as a problem. You hear me?””
He nodded.
“Your mother loved you more than anything.””
A tear slipped down his cheek.
“I miss her.””
I pulled him into my arms.
“I know, buddy.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Malik whispered something that made me pull back.
“Dad, I think Vanessa was looking for something in Mom's room.””
“What?””
“Last night. I heard her moving things around.””
I stared at him.
“Did you see what she was looking for?””
He shook his head.
“No. But when I came out, she was holding Mom's old jewelry box.””
My phone vibrated again.
May you like
It was Evelyn.
*I know what Vanessa is looking for. Your late wife's estate documents. And if Vanessa finds the original will before you do, your son could lose everything his mother left him.*
