Chapter 4: The Secret Sarah Buried
The police arrived eleven minutes after I made the call.
By then, Vanessa had stopped pretending to be frightened.
She was angry.
Two officers entered through the front door while a third remained outside speaking to the guests who had witnessed Noah's punishment.
"Mr. Reed?"" the taller officer asked.
"Yes.""
"I'm Officer Collins. We received a report of a domestic disturbance and possible financial fraud. Can you tell me what's happening?""
Before I could answer, Vanessa stepped forward.
"My husband is having a breakdown. His first wife died two years ago, and today is their son's birthday. He's been under enormous emotional stress.""
Officer Collins looked at me.
"Sir, is that accurate?""
I handed him my phone.
"Please read the messages I just received. Then I want you to watch a video on my laptop.""
Vanessa's face tightened.
"Those recordings are private.""
Officer Collins raised an eyebrow.
"Private recordings of what?""
She said nothing.
I played the video again.
This time, I didn't pause when Daniel entered the bedroom.
I let the recording continue.
Daniel appeared beside Vanessa, carrying a leather folder.
He placed it on the bedside table.
Sarah's frightened voice came through the speakers.
"Why are you doing this to me? I know you changed my prescription.""
Vanessa leaned toward the bed.
"Sarah, you need to calm down.""
"Get away from me!""
Dr. Harrison opened the folder.
"Mrs. Reed, your husband has signed the authorization. We don't need to make this difficult.""
Sarah began crying.
Then Daniel spoke.
"Vanessa, did you bring the insurance paperwork?""
"Yes," she answered.
"Good. We need her signature before Monday.""
The video ended.
Officer Collins looked at Daniel.
"Sir, are you the man in this recording?""
Daniel rubbed his face.
"I was there, but the footage doesn't show the entire situation.""
"Then perhaps you can explain it.""
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
"I want a lawyer," he said.
Officer Collins nodded.
"That's your right.""
Vanessa immediately turned toward me.
"Marcus, think about what you're doing. You're destroying our family over something you don't understand.""
I looked at the woman who had stood over my son while he scrubbed the kitchen floor on his birthday.
"You destroyed this family long before today.""
She approached Noah.
"Sweetheart, tell your father you're confused. You know I love you.""
Noah moved behind me.
"I don't want you near me.""
Her expression hardened.
"After everything I've done for you?""
I stepped between them.
"Don't speak to him.""
Officer Collins asked Vanessa to accompany his colleague into the dining room for questioning.
Daniel remained in the hallway.
As the officers separated them, he suddenly spoke.
"Marcus, you need to find Sarah's red box.""
I turned.
"What did you say?""
"She left something in that box. Something that explains why Vanessa was so desperate to get the house.""
"Where is it?""
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
"Her old sewing room.""
Vanessa shouted from the dining room.
"Daniel! Shut your mouth!""
He flinched.
I had never seen my brother look so afraid.
I took Noah upstairs.
Sarah's sewing room hadn't been touched since she died.
Her unfinished curtains still lay across the table. A small jar of buttons sat beside her sewing machine.
The red document box was inside the bottom drawer of an old wooden cabinet.
I pulled it out.
The lock was already broken.
Inside were property papers, old photographs, medical receipts, and a thick envelope bearing Sarah's handwriting.
*FOR MARCUS. OPEN ONLY WHEN YOU KNOW WHO TO TRUST.*
I opened it.
The first document was a copy of our house deed.
The second was a trust agreement.
My name appeared nowhere on the ownership line.
Noah's did.
Sarah had transferred the property into an irrevocable trust for our son before her death.
Vanessa had never owned a single percentage of the house.
But the final document was something else entirely.
It was a printed email exchange between Sarah and a private investigator.
The investigator had written:
I've confirmed that Vanessa and Dr. Harrison have known each other for eleven years. Their relationship predates your husband's first meeting with her.
I read the sentence again.
Eleven years.
Sarah had included a handwritten note beneath it.
*Marcus, Vanessa didn't enter our lives by accident. She was looking for something long before you met her.*
Noah tugged my sleeve.
"Daddy?""
I looked at him.
"Yes?""
He pointed toward the bottom of the box.
"There is another envelope.""
It was smaller.
And on its front, Sarah had written three words.
May you like
*THE REAL FATHER.*
My heart stopped.
