Chapter 4: The Name They Should Never Have Mentioned
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Adrian held the photograph between two fingers, watching my face.
Vanessa still had the medication bottle in her hand.
Daniel stood beside the bed, his shoulders squared.
I looked down at the photograph again.
It showed my parents' old house in Atlanta. The white porch. The oak tree beside the driveway. The faded blue shutters my father had refused to replace because he said they gave the place character.
But something else caught my attention.
A woman stood near the side entrance.
Her dark hair fell over one shoulder. She wore a gray coat and carried a brown leather bag.
I recognized her immediately.
Sarah.
My younger sister.
I hadn't spoken to her in almost three years.
"What does Sarah have to do with this?"" I demanded.
Adrian smiled.
"That's an interesting question. Maybe you should ask yourself why your little sister has suddenly started visiting your property.""
Vanessa moved closer.
"Marcus, just sign the document. Nobody needs to get hurt.""
I looked at her.
"You've already hurt me.""
Her expression hardened.
"Don't make this more difficult than it has to be.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Put the medication down, Vanessa.""
She laughed nervously.
"You're not in charge here, Daniel.""
"Actually, I am Marcus's attorney. And I strongly suggest you leave this room before you create another problem for yourself.""
Adrian stepped between them.
"Watch how you speak to her.""
I noticed the bulge beneath his jacket.
He wasn't carrying a wallet.
"Adrian," I said quietly, "what exactly do you want from me?""
"The same thing we've wanted for months. Your signature.""
"On a document I haven't read?""
"On a document that gives your wife the authority to protect your interests.""
"By selling my parents' home?""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"That house is an unnecessary burden.""
"My mother left it to me.""
"And you've done nothing with it.""
"I promised her I'd keep it.""
Vanessa suddenly slapped the document against the bed.
"Your mother has been dead for years, Marcus! Stop pretending that house is some sacred monument.""
The room went silent.
I could feel Daniel watching me, probably worried I would lose control.
I didn't.
I had spent eight months unable to see the world. I wasn't going to waste my first clear days by letting this woman provoke me into making a mistake.
I picked up the document.
"There's something I don't understand.""
Adrian folded his arms.
"What?""
"If this is only about protecting my assets, why does the agreement say you can make decisions even if I'm mentally capable of making them myself?""
Vanessa froze.
Daniel immediately leaned forward.
"That's a very important question.""
Adrian snatched the document from my hand.
"Legal language. You wouldn't understand.""
"I built a four-million-dollar company. I understand contracts.""
He looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head slightly.
Then she turned toward me.
"Marcus, you're making a terrible mistake.""
"No. I made one eight months ago.""
Her eyes flickered.
"What's that supposed to mean?""
"I trusted you.""
For a brief moment, I saw something behind her expression.
Not regret.
Hatred.
Adrian grabbed the edge of the bed.
"Tomorrow morning. Nine o'clock. You'll sign everything.""
"And if I don't?""
He placed the photograph of Sarah on my bedside table.
"Then maybe your sister will have an accident of her own.""
I felt something inside me go completely still.
"Leave her out of this.""
"Then cooperate.""
Daniel raised his voice.
"That's a threat. I hope you understand that.""
Adrian shrugged.
"Call it a friendly warning.""
Vanessa took his arm.
"Let's go. We shouldn't be here.""
Before leaving, she turned back toward me.
"I loved you once, Marcus.""
I looked directly at her.
"Did you?""
She didn't answer.
The door closed.
A moment later, I heard the front door slam downstairs.
Daniel waited until their car pulled away.
Then he locked my bedroom door and immediately reached for his phone.
"Marcus, we have a serious problem.""
"Sarah.""
He nodded.
"She's the reason I came to you in person. She's been trying to contact me for weeks.""
I turned sharply.
"You knew my sister was involved?""
"I knew she had information. I didn't know she was back at your parents' house.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wasn't certain who was watching your communications. I didn't want to expose her before we understood what was happening.""
I sat on the edge of the bed.
"Sarah and I haven't spoken in years.""
"I know.""
"She accused Vanessa of stealing from the company. I believed Vanessa. I signed the papers that removed Sarah from her position.""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"She never stole anything.""
The words landed like another blow.
Daniel explained that Sarah had discovered unusual payments to Adrian's consulting company. When she reported them, Vanessa produced financial records supposedly proving Sarah had been diverting company funds.
I had believed the documents.
I'd fired my own sister.
"I need to find her," I said.
Daniel shook his head.
"Not yet. First, we need to make sure she isn't being followed.""
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
After a brief conversation, he hung up.
"I have a secure location. We'll go there tonight.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Why was she at my parents' house?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he enlarged the image on his phone.
A small detail appeared near Sarah's hand.
She was holding a brass key.
I recognized it.
It belonged to the old cellar beneath my parents' house.
My father had kept his personal business records there. After he died, I'd assumed everything had been transferred to the company archives.
Apparently, I was wrong.
Daniel's phone vibrated.
A new message appeared from an unknown number.
He read it once.
Then his face changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He turned the screen toward me.
*Tell Marcus that Sarah has the original documents. And tell him Vanessa knows where she's hiding.*
Before I could respond, another message arrived.
May you like
This one was from Sarah herself.
*Marcus, don't trust anyone who comes looking for me. I know who ordered your accident.*
