Chapter 9: The Man Who Used My Name
I barely slept.
Lily and I stayed at my mother’s house.
She fell asleep beside me on the couch with her head against my arm, wearing a pair of slippers Grandma had found in a closet.
I watched her breathe.
Every few minutes, my mind returned to the same question.
Who had walked into a bank pretending to be me?
At 7:12 the next morning, my phone rang.
The bank.
I stepped into the kitchen.
“Hello?””
“Mr. Carter, this is Elena from the fraud investigation team.””
“Yes.””
“We reviewed the branch records.””
My stomach tightened.
“And?””
“The transaction involving Marcus Reed was initiated using documents containing your signature.””
“I know.””
“But we also located internal notes from the employee who processed the request.””
“What do they say?””
“She documented concerns about the identification presented.””
I gripped the counter.
“What concerns?””
“The photograph appeared inconsistent with the customer.””
“So she knew it wasn’t me?””
“She wasn’t certain.””
“Did you check cameras?””
“We’re preserving the footage.””
“Can I see it?””
“Not directly without the appropriate process.””
I closed my eyes.
“But you saw it?””
Another pause.
“Yes.””
“Was it Vanessa?””
“No.””
That surprised me.
“Then who?””
“I’m not authorized to identify individuals from surveillance footage.””
My frustration rose.
“Someone impersonated me and stole from my daughter.””
“I understand.””
“No, you don’t.””
I lowered my voice so Lily wouldn’t hear.
“Can you tell me anything?””
Elena hesitated.
“The individual appears male.””
Marcus.
It had to be.
“Was Vanessa there?””
“I can’t answer that conclusively.””
I heard movement behind me.
My mother entered.
She saw my expression and immediately knew something was wrong.
I thanked Elena and ended the call.
Mom poured coffee.
“What happened?””
I told her.
Not everything.
Just enough.
When I finished, she looked toward the living room.
Lily was still asleep.
Then Mom looked back at me.
“How long has this been happening?””
“I don’t know.””
“You need to find out.””
“I will.””
She placed the coffee down.
“Daniel.””
“What?””
“Don’t only look at the money.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“Money leaves records.””
She glanced toward Lily.
“Fear doesn’t.””
Those words stayed with me.
An hour later, Lily woke up.
Grandma made pancakes.
For the first time in days, Lily smiled.
Then she did something strange.
She took half a pancake and wrapped it in a napkin.
I watched her slide it into her pocket.
“Lily.””
She froze.
“What are you doing?””
Her face went red.
“Nothing.””
I sat beside her.
“Are you saving that?””
She nodded.
“Why?””
“In case.””
“In case of what?””
She stared at her plate.
“In case dinner gets canceled.””
My mother turned away.
I could see tears in her eyes.
“Who cancels dinner?””
Lily whispered, “Vanessa.””
“When?””
“When I’m bad.””
“What does bad mean?””
She thought carefully.
“If I ask for stuff.””
My hands went cold.
“What else happens when you’re bad?””
Her eyes moved toward Grandma.
Then back to me.
“Sometimes I have to stay upstairs.””
“For how long?””
“Until Vanessa says.””
“Does she lock your door?””
Lily didn’t answer.
I felt sick.
“Sweetheart.””
“Sometimes.””
My mother put her hand over her mouth.
I stayed calm because Lily needed me calm.
“Has she ever hurt you?””
Lily shook her head.
Then stopped.
That hesitation frightened me more than a yes.
“What happened?””
“She grabbed my arm once.””
“Hard?””
Lily nodded.
“Why?””
“I wanted to call you.””
I closed my eyes.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Vanessa.
WE NEED TO TALK BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING STUPID.
Another message appeared.
MARCUS ISN’T WHO YOU THINK.
Then another.
IF YOU INVOLVE THE POLICE, YOU’RE GOING TO REGRET IT.
I stared at the screen.
My mother read my face.
“What did she say?””
I showed her.
She became very still.
“Save those.””
“I already am.””
I took screenshots and backed them up.
Then Vanessa called.
I answered.
“What?””
Her breathing sounded uneven.
“Daniel, listen carefully.””
“Where are you?””
“That doesn’t matter.””
“Who is Marcus?””
Silence.
“Tell me.””
“You’re misunderstanding everything.””
“He impersonated me.””
“You don’t know that.””
“The bank has video.””
Silence.
That changed everything.
I heard her inhale sharply.
“Daniel…”
“Why did Marcus have documents with my signature?””
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
“Not on the phone.””
“Why?””
Another pause.
Then she said:
“Because Marcus isn’t just someone from the dealership.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who is he?””
Vanessa whispered something.
I couldn’t hear.
“What?””
She repeated it.
This time I heard every word.
“He’s Madison’s father.””
I stopped moving.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
I looked toward the dining room.
Madison’s father.
Vanessa had always told me Madison’s biological father disappeared before she was born.
“He’s alive?””
“Yes.””
“And you’ve been seeing him?””
“It’s complicated.””
My pulse hammered.
“You transferred my daughter’s money to him.””
“I was trying to fix something.””
“What?””
She started crying.
For the first time, I couldn’t tell whether it was real.
“He threatened me.””
“With what?””
“He had proof.””
“Proof of what?””
She didn’t answer.
“Vanessa.””
Then someone spoke in the background.
A man.
“Hang up.””
I froze.
“Is that Marcus?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
The man spoke again, louder.
“Vanessa. Hang up the phone.””
“Put him on.””
“Daniel—”
“PUT HIM ON.””
There was movement.
Then a man’s voice came directly through the phone.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“You really should have stayed at work yesterday.””
My blood ran cold.
“Marcus?””
He laughed quietly.
“You have bigger problems than twenty-three thousand dollars.””
“What did you do?””
Another pause.
Then he said:
May you like
“Ask Vanessa what happened to the rest of Lily’s money.””
The call disconnected.
