Chapter 7: The Man at the Door
Nobody moved.
The man outside knocked again.
“Daniel?””
Dad looked through the peephole, then at Melissa.
“Carter?””
She nodded.
“Don't open it.””
Blue-and-red lights suddenly washed across the living room wall. The police had arrived.
Dad opened the door only after an officer called his name. Carter stood on the sidewalk with his hands visible. He was around forty-five, neatly dressed, almost ordinary.
One officer examined the threatening messages.
Carter said calmly, “I haven't threatened anybody.””
“You photographed my house,” Dad said.
“From a public street.””
“You mentioned my daughter.””
“I mentioned property Melissa promised as repayment.””
Melissa snapped, “Stop talking.””
Carter reached into his jacket.
The officer tensed.
“Hands where I can see them.””
“Paperwork.””
After checking the envelope, the officer handed it to Dad.
Dad flipped through contracts and bank statements.
Then stopped.
At the top of one page was a name.
*TYLER BENNETT CUSTODIAL SETTLEMENT ACCOUNT*
Tyler stepped closer.
“My name?””
Melissa looked sick.
Dad read quickly.
“What settlement account?””
Carter nodded toward Melissa.
“Ask her.””
“Shut up!”” she screamed.
Dad turned another page.
“How much was in it?””
“Just over eighty-two thousand dollars originally,” Carter said.
Tyler laughed once in disbelief.
“What?””
Dad looked at him.
“Did you know?””
“No!””
Melissa reached for Tyler.
He backed away.
Dad found withdrawal records.
“Thirty thousand. Another twenty-five. Fifteen thousand.””
Tyler stared at his mother.
“You took my money?””
“I was going to replace it before you turned eighteen.””
Dad finally understood.
“You didn't borrow from Carter because you were struggling. You borrowed because you'd already emptied Tyler's settlement.””
Melissa said nothing.
Carter folded his arms.
Dad turned on him.
“And you kept lending her money?””
“I'm not pretending I'm a saint.””
Melissa suddenly pointed at him.
“You knew Daniel hadn't signed the house agreement.””
Carter's expression shifted.
“You told me his signature didn't matter as long as I kept paying!””
Carter looked at the officers.
“I'm done speaking without counsel.””
The officers collected statements and told Carter to leave.
Before he walked away, he glanced at Dad.
“You should check the beneficiary page.””
Dad froze.
“What?””
“The insurance policy.””
Melissa whispered, “Don't.””
Dad searched the documents.
A photocopy of his life insurance policy appeared, attached to a beneficiary-change form.
His signature had been forged.
The new beneficiary wasn't me.
It wasn't Melissa.
It wasn't Tyler.
Dad read the name.
“Marcus Carter.””
He slowly looked up.
“You made him beneficiary of my life insurance?””
Melissa trembled.
“It wasn't supposed to be permanent.””
“How much is the policy worth?””
She didn't answer.
I saw the number first.
“Dad.””
*Death Benefit: $750,000.*
Even Carter looked uncomfortable.
“That wasn't my idea.””
May you like
Dad stared at Melissa.
For once, she had nothing to say.
