Chapter 8: Two Birth Certificates
Marcus didn't speak for nearly a minute.
He stood in my living room, staring at the photograph of Rebecca entering the bank, while Isaiah sat beside Mrs. Carter with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
Finally, Marcus lowered the phone.
"I opened that account for Isaiah when he was born.""
I frowned.
"What account?""
"A savings account. Renee and I deposited money into it every month. It wasn't the trust. It was a separate account for emergencies.""
"How much was in it?""
"About twelve thousand dollars when Renee died. I continued making deposits for a while, but after I married Tasha, she offered to manage the household finances.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Did you give her access to the account?""
"Yes. I thought she was helping.""
"Have you checked it recently?""
"No.""
I looked at the threatening message again.
Two birth certificates for the same child.
"Marcus, we need to find out whether Tasha used your personal information to open another account.""
He nodded.
"I'm going to the bank.""
"Not alone," I said.
"And you're not going to confront her until we have records.""
He looked as if he wanted to argue, but then he glanced at Isaiah.
"All right.""
We called the bank's fraud department and arranged an appointment to review the account records. Marcus brought his identification, the documents Renee had left with Eleanor, and copies of the suspicious trust request.
The bank representative, a man named Daniel Foster, met us in a small office.
After verifying Marcus's identity, he pulled up the account information.
"The original savings account remains open," he said.
"However, there have been several changes to the contact information.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"What changes?""
"The mailing address was updated eighteen months ago. A second authorized user was also added.""
"Tasha?""
"Yes.""
I exchanged a glance with my son.
Daniel continued.
"There is also a separate account application associated with your Social Security number. It was submitted approximately ten months ago.""
Marcus went pale.
"Another account?""
"Yes. The application was not approved initially because additional identity verification was required. We subsequently received supporting documents.""
He turned his monitor slightly.
The screen displayed a scanned birth certificate.
The name was Isaiah Johnson.
The date of birth matched my grandson's.
The mother's name was Renee Johnson.
But the certificate listed a different hospital and a different county from the one where Isaiah had actually been born.
Marcus stared at it.
"That's not my son's birth certificate.""
Daniel nodded.
"Our records indicate that the document was submitted as part of an application to establish a custodial savings account.""
"Who submitted it?""
"The application lists Tasha Reed as the person acting on behalf of the minor.""
I pressed my hands together.
"Can you tell us whether the account was opened?""
Daniel examined the record.
"The application was eventually approved, but the account was closed four months later.""
Marcus's voice dropped.
"Where did the money go?""
Daniel studied the screen.
"Because this involves a suspected fraudulent application and potentially unauthorized transactions, we'll need to refer the matter to our investigations team. I can provide the information available to you as the account holder, subject to verification.""
Marcus leaned back, looking sick.
"She used my son's identity to open an account with a fake birth certificate.""
"We can't yet establish who created the document," Daniel replied.
"But we can preserve the application records and transaction history for investigation.""
I asked for copies of the available records.
Daniel arranged for the bank to provide what it could release and explained that the remaining materials would be handled through the appropriate process.
As we left, Marcus looked as though he had aged ten years.
Outside, he stopped beside my car.
"I let this happen.""
I took his arm.
"You trusted your wife. That doesn't make you responsible for her choices.""
"I gave her access to everything.""
"You gave her access because you believed you were building a family.""
He looked away.
"What if Isaiah loses everything?""
"He won't lose his grandmother.""
His eyes filled with tears.
I squeezed his arm.
"We're going to protect him. One step at a time.""
Back at my house, I called Eleanor and told her about the second account.
She listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she said, "This strengthens the need to investigate the attempted trust withdrawal. It also means we should examine whether the disputed documents were used elsewhere.""
"Can you help us find the original birth records?""
"I can help you identify the proper agencies and request certified copies. We should also speak with the attorney who handled Isaiah's original estate documents.""
I agreed.
Before ending the call, Eleanor added, "Marcus should avoid confronting Tasha alone. If she suspects that evidence is being collected, she may try to destroy records.""
Marcus heard her.
He looked toward the kitchen, where Isaiah was drawing quietly.
"Then I need to get my son out of that house.""
I nodded.
"We'll talk to a family attorney about the safest legal steps.""
He sat down and buried his face in his hands.
"I can't believe I didn't see it.""
I sat beside him.
"Your father used to tell me that the hardest lies to recognize are the ones told by people we love.""
Marcus looked up.
"Did Dad ever lie to you?""
I smiled sadly.
"Of course. He once told me he'd sold his fishing boat because he wanted to save money. I found out years later that he'd traded it for a motorcycle.""
Despite everything, Marcus laughed.
Then his expression crumbled again.
"I wish Renee were here.""
"So do I.""
We sat together in silence.
A little later, Isaiah came into the living room holding a folded piece of paper.
"Grandma, I found something in my school folder.""
I took it from him.
It was a photocopy of a school enrollment form.
His name appeared at the top, followed by his birth date and address. The emergency contact section listed Marcus and Tasha.
But beneath Tasha's name was another entry.
*Alternate guardian: Daniel Reed.*
I looked at Isaiah.
"Where did you find this?""
"It was in the folder Tasha gave me when school started. She said I needed to keep it in case the office asked questions.""
Marcus took the paper.
"Daniel Reed?""
Isaiah nodded.
"Is that Daniel's full name?""
"I think so. Tasha called him Daniel Reed when he stayed with us.""
Marcus stared at the form.
"Why would she list him as your alternate guardian?""
I shook my head.
"Perhaps she used his name because she was preparing to make him appear connected to Isaiah.""
"Or because she wanted him to replace Isaiah," Marcus whispered.
I couldn't dismiss the possibility.
The boy who had visited our home months earlier had now appeared in a bank photograph under my grandson's identity.
Someone had used a false birth certificate to open an account.
Someone had tried to withdraw eighty-five thousand dollars.
And now we had a school document linking Daniel to Isaiah's records.
I turned the paper over.
On the back was a handwritten note.
If anything happens, contact Rebecca Lane.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Marcus read it over my shoulder.
"Rebecca.""
He reached for his phone.
"I need to find her.""
Before he could dial, another call came through.
It was from an unfamiliar number.
Marcus answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
A young male voice spoke.
"Is this Marcus Johnson?""
"Yes. Who is this?""
"My name is Daniel Reed.""
Marcus stopped breathing.
The voice continued, trembling.
"I think Tasha is going to hurt Isaiah. And I think you need to know who my father is.""
Marcus gripped the phone.
"Who is your father?""
There was a long pause.
May you like
Then Daniel answered.
"You're my father.""
