Chapter 4: The Witness Who Lived Under His Roof
“Your father knows nothing about it.””
Vanessa's words hung in the bedroom like a threat.
Marcus stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa immediately looked toward Evelyn, but his mother had already turned away.
“Nothing,” Evelyn muttered.
“She's upset. She's not thinking clearly.””
Marcus held up his phone.
“Daniel says someone inside this house witnessed the property transfer. Who was it?””
Neither woman answered.
He called Daniel again.
“Tell me the name.””
There was a brief silence.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Marcus, the witness signature belongs to a woman named Patricia Cole.””
Marcus frowned.
“Patricia? Who is that?””
“She was listed as a witness on the authorization form. I checked the details. Her address is the same as your parents' property.””
Marcus looked toward the bedroom door.
“Patricia Cole?””
His mother suddenly closed her eyes.
He recognized that reaction.
“Mom, do you know her?””
Evelyn sighed.
“She used to help me with household matters.””
“What household matters?””
“She cleaned the house twice a week. Sometimes she helped me organize paperwork.””
Marcus felt a chill.
“Where is she now?””
“She stopped working here.””
“When?””
“Last week.””
“Why?””
Evelyn looked irritated.
“Because I no longer needed her.””
Marcus returned his attention to Daniel.
“Can you contact her?””
“I've already tried. Her number is disconnected. But I found something else. She was also listed as a witness on another document.””
“What document?””
“A medical assessment requesting a capacity evaluation for your father.””
Marcus's grip tightened around the phone.
“Who requested it?””
“Your mother.””
He looked at Evelyn.
She was standing beside the dresser, gripping its edge.
“Mom, you tried to have Dad declared mentally incompetent?””
Evelyn's expression hardened.
“Your father has been difficult lately.””
“That doesn't answer my question.””
“I was protecting him!””
“From what?””
“From himself!””
Marcus shook his head.
“Dad is perfectly capable of managing his own life.””
Evelyn suddenly raised her voice.
“You weren't here every day! You don't know what happened in this house!””
“Then tell me.””
She pointed toward the staircase.
“Your father has been forgetting appointments. He repeats stories. He sometimes leaves the stove on. I was worried!””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why didn't you take him to his doctor?””
“Because he refuses to admit there's a problem!””
“Then why did you need a fake signature?””
Evelyn went silent.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Marcus, you're making this worse. Your mother has done everything for this family.””
He turned toward her.
“And what have you done?””
Vanessa's lips parted.
“Excuse me?””
“You've spent months getting close to my father's finances. You knew about the property transfer. You knew about the power of attorney. And you staged an accusation against him.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to protect our future.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“By destroying my family?””
Vanessa looked at Evelyn.
“Tell him!””
Evelyn didn't respond.
“Tell him what Robert did!”” Vanessa insisted.
Marcus frowned.
“What did Dad do?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“He threatened to expose everything.””
“Expose what?””
She looked toward the window.
“Your father found something in the study. Something that wasn't supposed to be there.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Ask him.””
“I'm asking you.””
“I don't know!””
Marcus stared at her.
She was lying.
He could see it in the way her fingers twisted the tissue into a tight ball.
Before he could press further, his phone rang.
Daniel.
“Marcus, I need you to come to my office. Bring your father if possible.””
“Why?””
“I've received an email from an anonymous sender. It contains a scanned document that could change everything.””
“What document?””
Daniel hesitated.
“A bank withdrawal authorization. Your father's retirement account was almost emptied last week.””
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
“How much?””
“Four hundred and eighty thousand dollars.””
He stared at the floor.
“Was the money transferred?””
“Not all of it. The bank froze the transaction after the account holder's identity verification failed.””
Marcus looked toward Evelyn.
She had gone completely still.
“Daniel, send me the document.””
“I will. But Marcus, there's something you need to understand. The withdrawal was requested using your father's personal information and a power-of-attorney authorization.””
“Who submitted it?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“The application lists two authorized contacts.””
“Who?””
“Vanessa Williams and Evelyn Williams.””
Marcus ended the call.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
His mother finally moved toward him.
“Marcus, listen to me.””
He raised one hand.
“Don't.””
“You don't understand the circumstances.””
“Then explain why you tried to take Dad's retirement savings.””
“I wasn't stealing anything!””
“Four hundred and eighty thousand dollars?””
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“That money was supposed to help the family.””
“Which family?””
She looked at Vanessa.
Marcus followed her gaze.
And suddenly, he understood something.
The two women weren't merely cooperating.
They were afraid of each other.
“Vanessa,” he said quietly, “did Mom promise you a share?””
Vanessa's face went blank.
Evelyn snapped.
“Don't you dare involve her in this!””
Marcus turned toward his mother.
“Why? Because she's going to tell me the truth?””
Evelyn grabbed his arm.
“Your father has money he doesn't need. You have a business that is struggling. I was trying to make sure you had something when we were gone!””
Marcus pulled away.
“My business is not your excuse to steal from Dad.””
Evelyn's expression changed.
Then she said something unexpected.
“Ask your wife where the money went.””
Vanessa immediately stepped backward.
“Evelyn!””
Marcus turned toward her.
“What money?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“She's lying.””
“Where did it go?””
“I don't know what she's talking about!””
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“You think I don't know about the apartment?””
Vanessa's face lost all color.
Marcus stared at his wife.
“What apartment?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Evelyn reached into the dresser and pulled out a small photograph.
She handed it to Marcus.
It showed Vanessa standing outside a luxury apartment building, holding hands with a man Marcus had never seen.
On the back was a handwritten date.
October 12.
And beneath it were five words.
*The money is already there.*
Marcus looked up.
“Who is that man?””
Vanessa began to cry.
May you like
But Evelyn's next sentence was even more devastating.
“That's the man she planned to leave you for.””
