Chapter 10: The Money That Was Still Missing
I stared at the phone screen long after the call ended.
The room was silent.
My mother was watching me.
Lily was watching me.
And somehow, the worst part wasn’t what Marcus said.
It was the way Vanessa had reacted.
She wasn’t surprised that he threatened me.
She wasn’t surprised that he knew about the money.
She was scared.
“Dad?””
I looked down.
Lily’s voice brought me back.
“What happened?””
I forced myself to kneel beside her.
“Nothing you need to worry about.””
She studied my face.
She was only seven.
But she had learned how to read adults.
“Is it about me?””
My heart broke.
“No.””
I touched her shoulder.
“It’s about adults making bad choices.””
She nodded slowly.
Then she asked the question I didn’t want to hear.
“Did I do something wrong?””
I closed my eyes for a second.
“No.””
I made sure my voice was clear.
“You did nothing wrong.””
After Lily went with Grandma to make breakfast, I stepped outside and called Vanessa.
She answered after one ring.
“Daniel.””
“Where is Marcus?””
“I don’t know.””
“Don’t lie to me.””
“I’m not.””
“You’ve been talking to him.””
Silence.
“That’s not what you think.””
“Then what is it?””
She didn’t answer.
I leaned against the porch railing.
“Vanessa, I need the truth.””
A long pause followed.
Then she whispered:
“He found me.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“Marcus contacted me six months ago.””
Six months.
The same time the transfers started.
“Why?””
“He said he wanted to see Madison.””
I looked back through the window.
Madison.
The girl who had been living with a secret her whole life.
“Did you know where he was?””
“Yes.””
My jaw tightened.
“And you never told me?””
“I was scared.””
“Of him?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you give him access to Lily’s account?””
“I didn’t mean for that to happen.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Money doesn’t accidentally transfer twenty-three thousand dollars.””
“I was trying to protect my girls.””
I froze.
“Your girls?””
She started crying.
“Daniel, you don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
“He told me if I didn’t help him, he would take Madison away.””
I looked at the floor.
“Through custody?””
“Yes.””
“Is he dangerous?””
Silence.
That silence was enough.
“What did he threaten you with?””
Vanessa’s voice became smaller.
“He said he knew things about me.””
“What things?””
“I can’t tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because if Marcus knows I told you, he’ll destroy us.””
I looked around.
Destroy us.
The word bothered me.
Not because I didn’t believe her.
Because she still sounded like she was protecting him.
“Where is the rest of the money?””
She stopped crying.
“What?””
“You heard him.””
“Daniel…”
“Where is the rest of Lily’s money?””
Another silence.
Then:
“I don’t know.””
I closed my eyes.
“Try again.””
“I swear.””
“How much is missing?””
She didn’t answer.
That was my answer.
“How much?””
“Forty-seven thousand.””
I felt numb.
The account.
Lily’s future.
Nearly everything I had saved.
“Forty-seven thousand dollars?””
“He took it.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You let him.””
Her voice broke.
“I was trying to get it back.””
“How?””
“I was going to sell things.””
“What things?””
No answer.
“Vanessa.””
“My jewelry.””
I stared ahead.
“Your jewelry?””
“Yes.””
“You bought jewelry with Lily’s money too?””
“No.””
Her answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
I noticed.
“Then why sell it?””
“Because I needed money to replace it.””
I felt a chill.
“Replace what?””
Nothing.
“Vanessa.””
She whispered:
“The original jewelry.””
“What original jewelry?””
Her voice trembled.
“The jewelry that was missing from Marcus.””
I went silent.
None of this made sense.
“Start from the beginning.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because if you know everything, you’ll hate me.””
I looked through the window.
At Lily laughing with my mother.
At my daughter.
The child who had been afraid to ask for shoes.
“I already know enough.””
Vanessa started crying.
Then she said something that changed the entire conversation.
“Daniel…”
“What?””
“Marcus didn’t just take money.””
My grip tightened.
“What else?””
“He has something from Rachel.””
My blood froze.
My first wife.
Lily’s mother.
“What are you talking about?””
“I found it in the house.””
“What?””
“A box.””
“What box?””
Vanessa’s voice dropped.
“The one Rachel left behind.””
I stood up.
“What box?””
She didn’t answer.
“Vanessa.””
“Marcus has it.””
I felt anger rising.
“What was inside?””
A long pause.
Then:
“Documents.””
“What documents?””
Her voice shook.
“Documents that could prove Rachel never wanted you to raise Lily alone.””
I stopped.
“What?””
The call went silent.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Daniel, you need to understand something.””
“What?””
“Marcus isn’t trying to steal money.””
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A pause.
“He’s trying to take Lily.””
