Chapter 7: The Second Insurance Policy
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at Vanessa's message until the words blurred.
Please don't go anywhere alone.
Then I read the second sentence again.
I just found out Marcus has been asking someone how long it takes for a suspicious death investigation to begin.
My husband stood less than six feet away.
The same man who had kissed my forehead every morning.
The same man who had promised to protect me.
Now I was wondering whether I needed protection from him.
"Daniel," I whispered, "call the police.""
Marcus immediately raised his head.
"Don't you dare.""
Daniel didn't hesitate.
He reached for his phone.
Marcus lunged toward him, knocking the coffee table sideways. The medical reports scattered across the floor.
"Nobody is calling anyone!"" Marcus shouted.
I backed away.
"Stay away from me.""
He stopped.
For a moment, his expression changed.
The anger disappeared, replaced by something almost pleading.
"Nia, sweetheart, listen to me. You're misunderstanding everything.""
I stared at him.
"Sweetheart?""
He stepped closer.
"These documents aren't what they look like. The insurance policy was part of a financial arrangement.""
"Five million dollars?""
"It was a business decision.""
"With my life?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"You're making this sound criminal.""
Daniel finally spoke.
"Because it is.""
Marcus turned toward him.
"You've destroyed everything I've worked for!""
Daniel shook his head.
"No, Marcus. You did that yourself.""
I moved toward the front door.
Marcus noticed.
"Where are you going?""
"Somewhere you can't reach me.""
He followed.
I immediately pulled out my phone and called Vanessa.
"Where are you?""
"At my sister's apartment.""
"Stay there. Don't open the door for anyone.""
She began crying.
"Nia, I'm sorry.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why?""
"Because I knew he was lying. I just didn't know how far he would go.""
Before I could respond, Marcus grabbed my handbag.
"Give me your phone.""
I pulled away.
"Don't touch me!""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Marcus, back off.""
Marcus stared at him.
Then he did something unexpected.
He laughed.
A cold, humorless laugh.
"You think you're the hero here, Daniel? You think she's going to forgive you when she finds out what you did?""
Daniel's expression tightened.
I looked at him.
"What is he talking about?""
Marcus pointed toward the documents.
"Tell her about the second insurance application. Tell her who recommended the doctor who approved it.""
Daniel said nothing.
I turned toward him.
"Daniel?""
He lowered his eyes.
"I didn't know about the insurance policy.""
"But you knew about the medical records?""
"Yes.""
"Did you help Marcus access them?""
He hesitated.
"At the beginning, I introduced him to the research facility. I thought he was trying to understand the family history.""
"Why?""
"Because he told me you were entitled to know about your biological father.""
I shook my head.
"That's not an answer.""
Daniel finally looked at me.
"Marcus told me he wanted to help you establish your inheritance rights. I believed him.""
I looked at my husband.
He smiled faintly.
"See? Nobody understands the full story.""
I reached for the door.
Then Daniel spoke again.
"There's one thing Marcus hasn't mentioned.""
Marcus's smile disappeared.
Daniel opened the black folder and removed a printed email.
It was dated six weeks earlier.
The recipient was an insurance broker.
The subject line read:
*RE: ADDITIONAL COVERAGE — NIA BENNETT*
I read the first paragraph.
Marcus had requested information about increasing the policy amount.
Then I reached the final sentence.
The existing coverage should remain active. If the second application is approved, the combined benefit will be sufficient to resolve all outstanding obligations.
I looked up.
"What outstanding obligations?""
Daniel took a breath.
"The business is in serious trouble.""
Marcus shouted.
"Shut up!""
Daniel continued.
"The company owes more than three million dollars. Several investors are threatening legal action. Marcus has been moving money between accounts to cover the losses.""
I felt dizzy.
"So he needed the insurance money to pay his debts?""
"That's what the correspondence suggests.""
Marcus stepped toward Daniel.
"You have no idea what you're talking about!""
Daniel didn't move.
"Then show us the accounts.""
Marcus said nothing.
I looked at the documents scattered across the floor.
The forged signatures.
The missing medical records.
The insurance applications.
The eighteen-million-dollar inheritance.
Every lie had been connected to another lie.
I suddenly understood why Marcus had brought Vanessa into our living room.
He wanted me to accept the pregnancy.
He wanted me distracted by the humiliation.
He wanted me to believe I had lost my husband and my chance at motherhood.
While he quietly arranged his financial escape.
My phone vibrated.
A new message from Vanessa.
It contained a photograph of a document.
I opened it.
It was a printed appointment confirmation from a private clinic.
The appointment was scheduled for the following morning.
Under the patient's name was:
*NIA BENNETT.*
I frowned.
I had never booked that appointment.
Then I noticed the reason for the visit.
*CARDIAC EVALUATION — FOLLOW-UP TO ABNORMAL SCREENING.*
I showed Daniel.
He read it.
Then his expression became serious.
"Nia, we need to get you to an independent doctor immediately.""
Marcus shook his head.
"She's fine.""
I turned toward him.
"How would you know?""
He didn't answer.
Daniel reached for his phone.
"I'll arrange for a police officer to meet us.""
Marcus suddenly ran toward the front door.
Daniel followed, but my husband was already outside.
His SUV engine started.
Within seconds, he was gone.
I stood in the doorway, watching the vehicle disappear down the street.
Then my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke.
"Mrs. Bennett? My name is Rachel Morgan. I'm an investigator with the insurance company's special investigations unit.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why are you calling me?""
"Because we received an alert regarding two life insurance applications submitted in your name.""
I swallowed.
"What alert?""
"The second application contains medical information that conflicts with your verified medical history.""
"Can you tell me who submitted it?""
There was a pause.
Then Rachel said:
"Your husband submitted both applications. But there's something more concerning.""
"What?""
"Someone used a medical authorization to access your records and alter the original beneficiary information.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who?""
Rachel lowered her voice.
"The authorization bears the signature of a physician who died eleven months ago.""
My blood ran cold.
"That's impossible.""
"That's why we've contacted you.""
Then she asked a question that changed everything.
"Mrs. Bennett, have you ever heard the name Dr. Samuel Whitmore?""
I stared at Daniel.
He had gone completely still.
Because he knew that name.
May you like
And when he finally spoke, his voice was barely audible.
"Samuel Whitmore was the doctor who handled Robert Cross's original fertility records.""
