Chapter 7: The Envelope Was Gone
“Your son-in-law is inside the bedroom.””
Detective Miller's words made my father reach for his car keys.
“Is he alone?””
“Negative. There's another individual with him.””
“Can you identify the second person?””
“Not yet. The camera captured someone entering through the back door.””
I grabbed my handbag.
“Dad, the envelope is in that safe.””
He looked at me.
“Sarah, stay behind me. We don't know what they're looking for or whether they're armed.””
We drove toward the house with Detective Miller following behind us.
My phone kept vibrating.
Daniel.
I ignored the first call.
Then the second.
On the third, I answered.
“Daniel, what are you doing in my bedroom?””
Silence.
Then his voice.
“Sarah, listen to me. I can explain.””
“Get away from my safe.””
“You don't understand what's happening.””
“I understand that you're breaking into my personal belongings.””
“It's my house too!””
I gripped the phone.
“You told me the house belonged to you. Apparently, you forgot to mention that you used my identity to secure an $800,000 loan.””
He exhaled sharply.
“Please. Just come home.””
“Who is with you?””
Another silence.
Then the call ended.
My father accelerated.
When we reached the house, the front door was slightly open.
Miller signaled for us to wait.
He entered first.
We followed several steps behind.
“Daniel!”” I called.
No answer.
The living room looked untouched.
But upstairs, I heard a drawer slam.
Then a man's voice.
“Forget the other papers. Take the original!””
My father immediately moved toward the staircase.
“Federal authorities will need to examine whatever is taken,” Miller said.
“Nobody touch anything.””
We reached the bedroom.
Daniel stood beside my open safe.
Marcus Reed was holding a brown envelope.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Marcus smiled.
“Colonel Williams. It's been a long time.””
My father stared at him.
“Put the envelope down.””
Marcus tilted his head.
“Still giving orders, Robert?””
“Put it down.””
Daniel stepped between them.
“Dad, please. This isn't what you think.””
I stared at my husband.
“Move away from the safe.””
“Sarah, listen—”
“Move!””
Marcus laughed.
“Your wife has quite a temper.””
My father didn't blink.
“She's allowed to be angry. You have no right to be in this house.””
Marcus examined the envelope.
“Interesting collection of documents. Your daughter has been keeping some very valuable information.””
I looked at his hands.
“Give it back.””
He smiled.
“Why? It's not yours to understand.””
Detective Miller stepped forward.
“Mr. Reed, place the envelope on the dresser and keep your hands visible.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Are you still playing policeman, James?””
“I'm asking you to put down property you have no permission to remove.””
Marcus slowly placed the envelope on the dresser.
But Daniel suddenly reached for it.
“Mom said we needed this!””
I stepped forward.
“Your mother sent you?””
Daniel's expression collapsed.
Marcus grabbed his arm.
“Shut up.””
That was when I realized Daniel wasn't controlling this situation.
He was terrified of the man standing beside him.
Miller moved between them.
“Everybody step away from the dresser.””
My father looked at Daniel.
“Why are you doing this?””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I owe them money.””
“How much?””
Daniel swallowed.
“More than I can repay.””
Marcus interrupted.
“Let's not discuss financial matters in front of everyone.””
My father stepped closer.
“Then explain why you planted a necklace in my daughter's handbag.””
Marcus smiled.
“That was Patricia's idea.””
I felt my stomach twist.
“And the forged signature?””
“Ask your wife.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
Marcus leaned slightly toward Daniel.
“Tell her.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Don't.””
Marcus laughed.
“Your husband signed the authorization.””
The room went silent.
I turned toward Daniel.
“You told me you didn't sign anything.””
He looked at me.
“I didn't know what it was.””
“You signed my name?””
“No. I signed as a witness.””
Marcus pulled a folded document from his jacket.
“Not quite.””
He opened it.
The document contained a declaration stating that I had voluntarily authorized Daniel to represent my interests in the trust.
At the bottom was Daniel's signature.
And beneath it was mine.
A forgery.
I felt tears burning behind my eyes.
My father took one look at the page.
“James, preserve that document.””
Miller nodded.
Marcus suddenly reached for the envelope again.
“I'm leaving.””
“No,” Miller said.
Marcus turned toward him.
“You can't detain me without cause.””
“Then stay where you are while the circumstances are clarified.””
Daniel sank onto the edge of the bed.
I looked at him.
“Was any part of our marriage real?””
He raised his head.
“Sarah, I loved you.””
“Then why did you help them steal from me?””
He opened his mouth.
But Marcus answered first.
“Because he was promised something.””
My father looked at him.
“What?””
Marcus smiled.
“His mother's debt would disappear. His company would be saved. And he would receive a share of the money once the trust documents were processed.””
Daniel covered his face.
I felt something inside me break.
My husband hadn't simply failed to protect me.
He'd helped build the trap.
Then Miller's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His expression changed.
“Colonel, we've received confirmation from the lender.””
Dad turned.
“What confirmation?””
“The $800,000 loan application contains a second authorization.””
He paused.
“And it wasn't signed by Sarah or Daniel.””
He looked at Marcus.
“Someone used the Colonel's name.””
My father went completely still.
Marcus stopped smiling.
May you like
Because whoever had signed that authorization had committed a mistake even he hadn't anticipated.
And Detective Miller knew exactly where to look next.
