Chapter 8: The Man Who Knew Too Much
Detective Miller returned to Rebecca's office the following afternoon.
He carried a folder and wore the same serious expression I'd seen the night before.
"Mr. Reed, we've made some progress.""
David was sitting beside me.
Rebecca opened her notebook.
"What have you found?""
Miller placed several photographs on the table.
"The insurance application was submitted through an intermediary. That intermediary has been identified.""
I examined the first photograph.
A man in his late forties stood outside a modern office building.
I recognized him immediately.
"That's Peter Lawson.""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Do you know him?""
I nodded.
"He's the finance director at my company.""
Detective Miller tapped the photograph.
"Mr. Lawson personally contacted the insurance agent and recommended that the application receive expedited review.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why would he do that?""
"That's what we're investigating.""
David leaned forward.
"Does he know Jordan?""
Miller opened another page.
"We found several communications between Mr. Lawson and Jordan's business email address.""
Rebecca examined the documents.
"Are these related to the payments?""
"Partly. There were also discussions about a potential partnership.""
I stared at the detective.
"Peter helped Jordan get contracts at my company?""
"That's what the preliminary evidence suggests.""
My head began spinning.
Peter had been my supervisor for three years.
He'd attended my promotion dinner.
He'd shaken my hand after I'd completed one of the biggest projects in the department.
He'd once told me I was the most dependable employee he'd ever managed.
And now his name was appearing in a fraud investigation involving my wife.
"Why would he risk his career for Jordan?""
Miller looked at me.
"Money.""
He opened the folder and showed us a bank transfer.
$15,000.
The payment had been made from Reed Property Solutions to an account belonging to someone named Peter Lawson.
Another transfer showed $8,500.
Then another for $12,000.
I stared at the numbers.
"How much did he receive?""
"At least $35,500. We're still tracing the transactions.""
Rebecca frowned.
"Do we know whether the money came from the business loan?""
"Some of it appears to have come from the payments made by Mr. Reed's employer.""
I rubbed my face.
It was becoming harder to process.
Jordan had used my identity.
Nia had helped him.
And someone inside my company had helped them both.
Detective Miller continued.
"We also found evidence that Mr. Lawson accessed internal financial records associated with your employee account.""
I looked up.
"What records?""
"Your salary information, employment history, and a copy of your identification documents.""
I felt a chill.
"Why?""
"Those documents were used to support the loan application.""
Rebecca closed the folder.
"Was Marcus's signature forged by Jordan?""
"We're waiting for the forensic examination, but the preliminary comparison indicates the signature is not authentic.""
I leaned back.
At least one thing was becoming clear.
I hadn't imagined any of this.
I wasn't losing my mind.
People I trusted had systematically used my identity.
But the detective wasn't finished.
"There's another issue.""
I looked at him.
"What now?""
He removed a printed message.
It was from Jordan's phone.
The message had been sent to Peter.
Once the policy is active, the financial problem disappears. We just need Marcus to stay out of the way until everything is finalized.
Peter had replied:
Make sure there are no loose ends. I don't want my name appearing anywhere.
I read it twice.
"That's not proof of a plan to hurt me," Rebecca said carefully.
Miller nodded.
"Correct. We aren't drawing that conclusion. But it is concerning, especially alongside the insurance application and the forged financial documents.""
David looked furious.
"Why hasn't Peter been questioned?""
"He has been contacted. He claims the payments were legitimate consulting fees.""
"Does he know about this investigation?""
Miller paused.
"Yes.""
My phone buzzed.
An incoming call.
Peter Lawson.
I stared at the screen.
David shook his head.
"Don't answer.""
But Detective Miller raised his hand.
"Put it on speaker. Don't make any promises or accusations. Let him speak.""
I answered.
"Hello, Peter.""
"Marcus! Thank God.""
His voice sounded unusually cheerful.
"I've been trying to reach you.""
"What do you need?""
"I heard there's some confusion about the vendor payments.""
I looked at Detective Miller.
"Confusion?""
"Yes. Finance is asking questions, and I don't want this getting out of hand.""
I said nothing.
Peter continued.
"Look, I know Jordan's company had some delays. These things happen.""
"How do you know Jordan?""
There was a brief silence.
"He's a business contact.""
"How long have you known him?""
"Marcus, that's not relevant.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She wrote something in her notebook.
"Did you help him obtain a contract with our company?""
"I helped introduce him to the procurement team.""
"Did you receive money from his company?""
Peter exhaled.
"That's a separate matter.""
"How much?""
"Marcus, listen to me. We can discuss this privately.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Why privately?""
"Because people are starting to ask questions. I can make this disappear before it becomes a problem for you.""
Detective Miller leaned closer.
"What exactly can you make disappear?"" I asked.
"The vendor issue. The paperwork. All of it.""
I stared at the phone.
"Are you asking me to lie?""
"I'm trying to protect you.""
"From what?""
Peter's voice dropped.
"From the fact that your wife was the one who brought Jordan into this. If you cooperate, nobody needs to know how deeply involved you are.""
I looked at David.
Then at the detective.
Peter continued.
"You're a good employee, Marcus. You've got a future here. Don't ruin it because of a domestic dispute.""
I felt something snap inside me.
"This isn't a domestic dispute, Peter.""
He sighed.
"You're making a mistake.""
"No. I think I made one seven years ago when I trusted you.""
I ended the call.
Detective Miller immediately asked for the recording and took notes.
"That's useful," he said.
"We'll arrange a formal interview with him.""
I nodded.
But the conversation had left me with another question.
If Peter was trying to protect himself, why had he suddenly called me?
And how had he known I'd been speaking to the police?
Rebecca seemed to read my mind.
"Someone may have told him.""
Miller nodded.
"We're checking the communication records.""
That evening, I returned to my house with David.
I hadn't slept properly in days.
The silence felt unnatural.
Nia's shoes were still beside the front door.
Her favorite coffee mug was on the kitchen counter.
A cardigan hung over the back of the dining chair.
Every ordinary object reminded me that the person I'd married had been living a completely different life behind my back.
David ordered food.
I barely touched mine.
Around 8:30 p.m., someone knocked.
David stood immediately.
"Who is it?""
A woman's voice answered.
"Marcus? It's me.""
Nia.
I approached the door but didn't open it.
"What do you want?""
"I need to talk to you.""
"Talk.""
She hesitated.
"Jordan has disappeared.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"He's not answering his phone. His apartment is empty.""
I glanced at David.
"Why are you telling me?""
"Because he took the company records.""
"Call the police.""
"I already did.""
Her voice cracked.
"Marcus, I think he's running.""
I leaned against the door.
"Then let him run. He'll have to answer for what he did eventually.""
She began crying.
"There's something else.""
I closed my eyes.
"What now?""
"I found a second phone in the apartment.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"Whose phone?""
"Jordan's.""
"What's on it?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Messages between him and Peter. And there's a recording.""
"What recording?""
She was silent for several seconds.
Then she whispered:
"Marcus, it's a recording of them discussing what would happen if you discovered everything.""
David stepped closer.
I opened the door slightly.
Nia stood outside, holding a small black phone.
Her eyes were swollen.
Her hands were shaking.
"Give it to the police," I said.
"I will.""
"Then why are you here?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because you need to hear it first.""
I stared at the phone.
"Why?""
Her voice dropped.
"Because Jordan says something in that recording that changes everything.""
I didn't take the phone.
Instead, I called Detective Miller.
He instructed us not to play the recording and arranged for an officer to collect the device.
Before leaving, Nia handed it over.
Then she turned toward me.
"Marcus.""
I looked at her.
"There's one more name in those messages.""
"Whose?""
She swallowed.
"Someone from your family.""
I froze.
"What?""
She looked past me toward David.
May you like
And for the first time, my brother's expression changed.
He looked terrified.
