Chapter 9: The Man Who Wanted My Mother Buried
The first officer reached the hallway just as a man in a dark jacket appeared near the reception desk.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carrying a black leather briefcase.
Dad recognized him from the photographs.
Robert Evans.
"Stop right there!"" the officer ordered.
Robert raised both hands.
"Relax. I'm here to see my sister.""
"You're not authorized to enter this facility.""
Robert smiled.
"I own the company that pays for this place.""
The officer stepped forward.
"That doesn't give you permission to enter a patient's room.""
Robert's eyes moved toward the hallway.
Then he saw Dad.
His smile disappeared.
"Marcus.""
Dad walked out of Sarah's room.
"Robert.""
"I see you've found your wife.""
"Thanks to the people you tried to silence.""
Robert laughed.
"That's a serious accusation.""
Daniel stepped beside Dad.
"We have financial records, forged documents, and evidence connecting you to the altered hospital authorization.""
Robert adjusted his cufflinks.
"Then I suggest you hand everything over to your lawyers.""
"We already have.""
Robert looked past them.
"Where's Vanessa?""
"Being questioned.""
His expression tightened.
"She told you everything?""
Dad stepped closer.
"Not yet. But she will.""
Robert lowered his voice.
"Marcus, you're making a mistake. You have a business worth millions, a daughter to raise, and a family that needs stability. Do you really want to destroy all of that because of an old misunderstanding?""
Dad stared at him.
"You stole from my daughter.""
"Business decisions.""
"You helped fake my wife's death.""
"Careful.""
"You threatened a seven-year-old child.""
Robert's smile vanished.
"I never threatened Lily.""
Daniel held up the printed message.
"Would you like to explain this?""
Robert glanced at it.
Then he laughed.
"Anyone can send a text.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Who sent it?""
Robert looked directly at him.
"Maybe you should ask your wife.""
Behind the glass, Sarah appeared in the doorway.
Robert saw her.
For a moment, his entire expression changed.
"Sarah.""
She gripped the doorframe.
"Stay away from me.""
Robert took one step forward.
"Look at you. Still hiding behind Marcus.""
An officer moved between them.
"Sir, step back.""
Robert raised his hands.
"Of course.""
Then he looked at Sarah.
"You should have stayed where we left you.""
Sarah began trembling.
Dad immediately moved beside her.
"Don't speak to her.""
Robert smiled again.
"You think you're protecting her? You don't even know what she did.""
Dad frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Robert opened his briefcase.
He removed a thick folder and placed it on a nearby table.
"Ask your wife why she transferred money out of the company before the hospital incident.""
Sarah shook her head.
"That's not true.""
Robert opened the folder.
"Two hundred thousand dollars. Transferred to an account in her name.""
Dad looked at the documents.
The account number was unfamiliar.
Daniel examined the papers.
"These could be fabricated.""
Robert shrugged.
"Then investigate them.""
Dad looked at Sarah.
"Did you transfer the money?""
Sarah's eyes filled.
"No. I never saw these documents before.""
Robert laughed.
"Of course you didn't.""
Then he leaned toward Dad.
"There's another thing you should know. Sarah wasn't the only person who had access to the company accounts.""
Dad's expression changed.
"Who else?""
Robert looked toward the hallway.
"Your wife.""
For a moment, Dad didn't understand.
Then Robert smiled.
"Vanessa.""
Sarah stepped forward.
"She's lying about everything, Marcus. Robert manipulated her, but she helped him.""
Robert's face hardened.
"Watch your mouth.""
Sarah continued.
"She knew about the trust. She knew about the hospital paperwork. She knew what happened after I refused to sign.""
Robert suddenly lunged toward her.
The officer grabbed his arm.
"That's enough!""
Robert struggled.
"She doesn't know what she's talking about!""
Daniel picked up the folder.
"Officer, I believe we have enough grounds to bring him in for questioning.""
Robert stopped struggling.
Then he looked at Dad.
"You think this ends with me?""
Dad didn't respond.
Robert leaned closer.
"Ask Vanessa who really owns the house you're living in.""
Dad frowned.
"What?""
Robert smiled.
"Ask her who paid for it.""
The officers escorted him out.
Sarah sank into a chair.
Dad knelt beside her.
"Don't listen to him.""
She held his face.
"Marcus, I need to tell you something.""
"What?""
"Before I lost my memory, I discovered that Robert had been moving money through Vanessa's accounts. But there was another account.""
"Whose?""
Sarah hesitated.
"Yours.""
Dad looked confused.
"My account?""
She nodded.
"He had access to your business signature. He used it to create a separate company.""
Daniel immediately began taking notes.
"Do you know the name?""
Sarah reached into her envelope and pulled out a small piece of paper.
She handed it to him.
Daniel read the name.
His face changed.
"Marcus, this company was incorporated six months before Sarah's death.""
Dad leaned closer.
"What is it?""
Daniel turned the paper around.
*LILY MARCUS HOLDINGS, LLC.*
Dad stared.
"Why would someone create a company using my daughter's name?""
Sarah began crying.
"Because everything Robert stole was being transferred there.""
Daniel examined the registration number.
Then he found the registered owner.
He looked at Dad.
"Marcus, this company doesn't belong to you.""
"Then who owns it?""
Daniel swallowed.
"The registered owner is listed as Lily Marcus.""
Dad shook his head.
"She's seven years old. She can't own a company.""
"That's not the strangest part.""
Daniel turned to the final page.
Beneath Lily's name was a legal guardian authorization.
And beside the guardian's signature was a name that made Dad's blood run cold.
*VANESSA EVANS.*
Sarah covered her mouth.
Dad stared at the document.
"She used my daughter?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"And according to these records, Lily's company owns several properties and bank accounts worth more than $3 million.""
Dad looked at Sarah.
"Why would Robert put everything under Lily's name?""
Sarah whispered:
"Because if the authorities discovered the money, they would need someone to blame.""
Dad's phone rang.
It was the police officer who had taken Vanessa for questioning.
"Mr. Marcus, we need you to come to the station immediately.""
"Why?""
The officer hesitated.
"Your wife has just confessed to signing the hospital authorization.""
Dad closed his eyes.
Then the officer added:
"But she claims she was following instructions from someone else.""
"Who?""
A pause.
Then came the answer.
"She says the person who ordered her to stop your wife's treatment was not Robert.""
Dad looked at Sarah.
"Who was it?""
The officer lowered his voice.
"She says it was someone from your own family.""
May you like
*And when Dad heard the name, he dropped his phone.*
The next chapters can continue directly with the family member's identity, Vanessa's confession, and the truth behind Lily's $3 million company.
