Chapter 4: My Brother Knew More Than He Admitted
Nathan hadn't visited in four months.
He was thirty-six, two years younger than me, and had spent most of his adult life believing that my success came from luck.
When I built my construction company, he called it a temporary business.
When I bought my first commercial property, he called me arrogant.
When I married Vanessa, he told me I was making a mistake.
We hadn't spoken much after my accident.
Now he stood in my living room holding an envelope.
"Marcus.""
His voice sounded different.
Tense.
Vanessa immediately approached him.
"Nathan, what are you doing here?""
He looked at her.
"I came to see my brother.""
"You should have called.""
"I did. Three times.""
She glanced at me.
"Marcus has been resting.""
Nathan walked past her.
"Apparently.""
He placed the envelope on the coffee table.
"What's this?"" I asked.
"Something you should have received months ago.""
Vanessa reached for it.
Nathan pulled it away.
"Not for you.""
Her jaw tightened.
"Excuse me?""
"I said it's not for you.""
I watched them carefully.
There was something between them.
Something old.
Something neither wanted me to see.
"What's inside?"" I asked.
Nathan sat across from me.
"Bank statements. Copies of emails. And some photographs.""
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"This is ridiculous. Marcus doesn't need more stress.""
Nathan ignored her.
"Do you remember the insurance policy you took out before the accident?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know the beneficiary designation was changed two weeks before you crashed?""
I stared at him.
"What?""
Nathan opened the envelope.
He removed a document.
The policy number was familiar.
So was the signature.
Mine.
But I had never signed it.
"According to this," Nathan continued, "your wife became the sole beneficiary.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Where did you get that?""
"From the insurance company.""
"You had no right to access his private information.""
Nathan looked at her.
"I didn't access anything. Someone sent it to me.""
"Who?""
He hesitated.
Then he looked at me.
"An employee from Marcus's company.""
I reached for the document.
The signature looked convincing.
Too convincing.
"Who changed it?""
Nathan tapped the bottom of the page.
"An authorized representative named Claire Bennett.""
My former executive assistant.
Claire had worked for me for seven years. She handled confidential correspondence, arranged meetings, and maintained copies of my contracts.
I had trusted her.
"Where is Claire now?""
Nathan looked uncomfortable.
"She resigned three weeks after your accident.""
"Why?""
"She said she couldn't continue working under Vanessa's instructions.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"That's a lie.""
Nathan pulled another document from the envelope.
"Then explain this.""
It was an email.
The sender was Vanessa.
The recipient was Claire.
The date was twelve days before my accident.
*Make sure the beneficiary change is processed before the end of the month. Marcus doesn't need to know.*
My mouth went dry.
Vanessa shook her head.
"That's fabricated.""
Nathan pulled out his phone.
"I thought you'd say that.""
He showed me a screenshot of the original email, including the company server verification.
Then he placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Vanessa standing beside my car.
A man was crouched near the rear tire.
I leaned forward.
"Who's that?""
Nathan swallowed.
"Adrian.""
I stared at the picture.
The date printed beneath it was the night before my accident.
Vanessa snatched the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
"Security footage from the parking garage.""
"That footage is private!""
"Not when it's part of an investigation.""
She froze.
I looked at Nathan.
"What investigation?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Marcus, I didn't come here just to deliver papers.""
"Then why did you come?""
"Because I think your accident wasn't an accident.""
The room seemed to shrink around me.
I remembered the rain.
The headlights.
The sharp vibration of the steering wheel.
Then the violent impact.
For months, I had believed a mechanical failure caused my car to veer off the road.
The police report had mentioned possible brake malfunction.
But the investigation had been closed after the insurance company accepted the mechanical failure explanation.
I looked at the photograph again.
"Did they find anything?""
Nathan nodded.
"Someone tampered with your brake line.""
Vanessa's handbag slipped from her shoulder.
She caught it quickly.
"That's enough.""
Nathan stood.
"No. It isn't.""
"You have no idea what you're talking about.""
"Then why are you shaking?""
She moved toward the door.
I stopped her.
"Vanessa.""
She turned.
"Where are you going?""
"I need some air.""
"Stay.""
Her eyes flashed.
"You can't order me around.""
I studied her face.
For the first time, I saw something beneath her anger.
Fear.
Real fear.
Nathan stepped closer to me.
"Marcus, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
He looked at Vanessa.
Then he said quietly, "I didn't come alone.""
A car door slammed outside.
Someone walked up the front steps.
The doorbell rang.
Vanessa stared toward the hallway.
Nathan smiled without humor.
"That's Claire.""
My heart began pounding.
Claire Bennett had disappeared from my life three weeks after the accident.
May you like
And now she was standing outside my house.
With the truth.
