Chapter 5: The Man Who Wanted My Company
"How did you know what happened in court?"" I asked.
Thomas laughed.
"Marcus, it's Atlanta. People talk.""
"Who told you?""
"Does it matter?""
"Yes.""
There was a pause.
Then his voice became colder.
"Listen, I know you're upset. But you need to stop making this more complicated than it has to be.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was silently shaking his head.
"Did you sign a document authorizing Vanessa to receive forty thousand dollars?""
Thomas sighed.
"Where did you get that information?""
"Answer the question.""
"You're making a mistake.""
"Did you?""
He lowered his voice.
"Your marriage was falling apart. Vanessa was desperate. I tried to help her.""
"By helping her take my daughter?""
"By making sure Ava had a stable home!""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"You're my brother.""
"And you're a terrible businessman when it comes to family.""
I almost laughed.
"What does that even mean?""
"It means you built a company and forgot who helped you get started. Dad left us both the same inheritance. You took the equipment, the contracts, and the customers. I got nothing.""
I remembered our father's will.
We had inherited equal amounts of money.
But Thomas had spent his share within two years.
I had used mine to purchase a small construction office and a used work truck.
"Thomas, you spent your inheritance.""
"You could have helped me.""
"I offered to help you.""
"You offered me a job!""
"Because you were drowning in debt!""
His voice sharpened.
"Maybe you should have drowned alone.""
The call ended.
Daniel stared at me.
"He's going to deny everything.""
"Not if we have the records.""
"Marcus, records disappear.""
I gathered the envelope.
"Then we'll make copies.""
An hour later, we met an independent forensic accountant named Patricia Reed.
She worked from a small office near downtown Atlanta and had no connection to my company.
I gave her the bank statements and payment authorizations.
She studied them without speaking.
After twenty minutes, she looked up.
"Who had administrative access to these accounts?""
"Me, Daniel, and Vanessa.""
"And Thomas?""
"Not officially.""
Patricia turned her laptop toward us.
"Then somebody used an authorized account to create additional payment credentials.""
She pointed to a series of transactions.
"These payments were routed through a consulting company that was registered only four months before the first transfer.""
"Who owns it?"" I asked.
"An individual named Evelyn Price.""
Daniel stiffened.
"That's the supplier director.""
Patricia nodded.
"There's another interesting detail. The company received $40,000, but only $28,000 was withdrawn immediately. The remaining amount was transferred to a separate account.""
"Whose?""
She enlarged the account information.
"Thomas Williams.""
I closed my eyes.
My brother had been paid directly.
Patricia continued.
"There's also a payment of $7,500 made to an account associated with a legal services provider.""
"Which provider?""
She checked.
"Northbridge Legal Consulting.""
I looked at Daniel.
He slowly nodded.
"That's the company I mentioned.""
Patricia printed the transaction history.
"Before anyone makes accusations, these transactions need formal verification. But the records suggest a coordinated movement of funds.""
I stared at the pages.
Forty thousand dollars.
Twelve thousand five hundred dollars.
Seven thousand five hundred dollars.
My marriage had apparently been turned into a business transaction.
Then Patricia opened another file.
"There's one more thing.""
She rotated her screen.
A transfer of $85,000.
The same amount listed in the forged complaint.
But unlike the complaint, this transaction was real.
The money had been transferred from my business account to a company called TW Holdings.
Thomas Williams Holdings.
My brother's business.
I felt the room tilt.
"That money was never stolen by me.""
Patricia shook her head.
"No. According to this record, it was transferred out of your company's account.""
"Was it authorized?""
She enlarged the approval field.
A digital authorization appeared.
Vanessa Williams.
Daniel looked away.
I turned toward him.
"You knew?""
"I knew about the forty thousand. I didn't know about this transfer until today.""
Patricia pointed to another detail.
"The transaction was approved using a device registered to someone in your office.""
I leaned forward.
"Whose device?""
She read the identifier.
Then she opened the access log.
"Vanessa's laptop.""
I felt a wave of anger so strong I had to stand.
"She stole eighty-five thousand dollars from my company, then accused me of stealing it.""
Patricia nodded cautiously.
"That's what the preliminary records appear to show.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Now you understand why she wanted you to lose custody.""
I didn't.
Not completely.
Because there was something else in the transaction history.
A payment of $2,000 made the day before the forged complaint was submitted.
The recipient was listed as a personal account.
I read the name.
Then I read it again.
Richard Coleman.
My attorney.
Patricia looked at me.
"Is this the lawyer representing you in the custody matter?""
I couldn't answer.
My phone rang.
It was Richard.
I let it ring.
Then a text appeared.
Marcus, we need to meet immediately. I have information about your brother.
A second message followed.
Come alone. This concerns Ava.
Daniel looked at the screen.
"Don't go.""
But I was already thinking about my daughter.
What if Thomas had information about her?
What if Vanessa had planned something else?
I called Richard.
"Where?""
"Your office," he replied.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes.""
He paused.
"Good. And Marcus?""
"What?""
"Bring the original documents.""
I ended the call.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
"That's exactly what they want.""
I looked at him.
"Then why is he asking me to bring the evidence?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Because the person who paid him may want to know how much you have.""
I stared at the envelope.
Then I made a decision.
I would go to Richard's office.
But I wouldn't go alone.
And I wouldn't bring the originals.
May you like
Because for the first time, I was beginning to understand that the custody battle wasn't simply about winning Ava.
It was about silencing everyone who knew the truth.
