Chapter 14: The Brother Who Was Stolen
Nobody moved.
Marcus stared at the man standing across the bakery.
He had imagined what it might feel like to discover a long-lost relative.
He had imagined surprise, confusion, perhaps even happiness.
He had never imagined standing in a dusty room while a detective watched them like two pieces on a chessboard.
Michael Carter looked at his brother.
"You're younger than I expected.""
Marcus let out a breath.
"You're older than I expected.""
For a moment, neither knew what else to say.
Then Marcus stepped forward.
"Did you know about me?""
Michael nodded.
"Not at first.""
"When did you find out?""
"About five years ago.""
"Five years?""
Michael looked down.
"Vaughn showed me your photograph.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"What did he tell you?""
"That my family had abandoned me.""
Angela stepped closer.
"That's a lie.""
Michael looked at her.
"Is it?""
"Yes.""
"He told me our mother had signed papers giving me away.""
"She never did.""
Michael laughed bitterly.
"That's what everyone says now.""
Angela took a step toward him.
"Michael, I was there when Mom searched for you. I helped her contact hospitals. I saw her crying over photographs of a baby she believed was dead.""
His expression changed.
"She looked for me?""
"Every birthday.""
Michael lowered his eyes.
For the first time, his confidence seemed to disappear.
Marcus looked at Brooks.
"How did Vaughn find him?""
Brooks placed his glass on the table.
"Through an old medical records network. Michael's identity had been altered, but the original birth certificate still existed.""
"Then why create a fake informant identity?""
Brooks shrugged.
"Because Michael was useful.""
Michael turned toward him.
"Don't.""
Brooks ignored him.
"Your brother had the same face, the same fingerprints pattern in several biometric databases, and a family connection to the commissioner. He was the perfect person to impersonate.""
Marcus felt sick.
"You used him to make me look like a criminal.""
"We used the circumstances.""
"That's your explanation?""
Brooks smiled.
"Your family had something we needed.""
Angela stepped forward.
"What?""
Brooks looked at her.
"Your mother's original complaint.""
Angela's expression hardened.
"You knew she had filed one?""
"Of course.""
"Then you knew she was being followed.""
Brooks shrugged.
"Vaughn handled that.""
Marcus turned toward Michael.
"Did you know about Mom's death?""
Michael's face tightened.
"I was there.""
The room went silent.
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
"What?""
Michael looked toward the floor.
"That night, I was following her car.""
Angela closed her eyes.
"Why?""
"Vaughn told me she was carrying documents that could destroy his career. He said I only needed to retrieve them.""
"Did you hit her car?"" Marcus asked.
Michael shook his head quickly.
"No. I was in another vehicle. I never touched her.""
"Then what happened?""
Michael's voice broke.
"A second car came from behind. It struck her driver's side. Her car spun across the road.""
Angela's hands began to tremble.
"Who was driving?""
Michael looked at Brooks.
"Richard Vaughn.""
Brooks immediately laughed.
"That's an interesting story.""
Michael ignored him.
"I saw Vaughn get out. He walked toward Mom's car. She was still alive.""
Marcus felt his stomach turn.
"What did he do?""
Michael swallowed.
"He asked her where the documents were.""
Angela whispered:
"Oh, God.""
"She refused. She told him he was going to prison.""
Michael's eyes filled.
"Then he looked at me and said I had one chance to prove whose side I was on.""
Marcus couldn't breathe.
"What did you do?""
Michael looked directly at him.
"I ran.""
Angela covered her mouth.
"I left her there," Michael whispered.
"I was afraid. I knew what he'd done. I knew he could come after me next.""
Marcus looked at him for several seconds.
Then he asked:
"Did you try to help her?""
Michael nodded.
"I called emergency services from a pay phone. I didn't give my name.""
"Why?""
"Because Vaughn had already threatened me. He told me if I went to the police, he'd make sure I disappeared.""
Angela looked at Brooks.
"And you knew?""
Brooks shrugged.
"I wasn't involved in the original incident.""
"Yet you created an informant file using Michael's identity.""
"That came later.""
Marcus stepped toward him.
"Why?""
Brooks's smile disappeared.
"Because Vaughn needed someone who could move between departments without attracting attention. Michael could enter buildings under your identity. He could sign for equipment. He could attend meetings.""
"And you used my face to steal millions.""
Brooks shrugged again.
"Your face was convenient.""
Michael suddenly moved.
He grabbed Brooks by the front of his jacket.
"Don't talk about him like that.""
Brooks shoved him backward.
"Get your hands off me!""
The federal agents immediately stepped forward.
"Hands where we can see them!""
Brooks raised both hands.
Angela looked at Michael.
"Why did you agree to help Vaughn?""
Michael stared at her.
"Because he told me he could find the people who took me from Mom.""
Angela's expression softened.
"He lied.""
"I know that now.""
"Why didn't you contact us?""
Michael laughed.
"Would you have believed me?""
Marcus looked at him.
"You're my brother.""
Michael's eyes filled.
"That didn't mean anything to the people who raised me.""
Marcus took a slow breath.
"Maybe it should have meant something to us.""
Michael looked away.
Before anyone could say more, Brooks suddenly lunged toward the table.
His hand reached for the wooden box.
A federal agent grabbed him around the waist.
They crashed into a chair.
The glass shattered.
Brooks struggled violently.
"Get off me!""
The second agent forced his arms behind his back.
Metal handcuffs clicked.
Angela approached the table.
The wooden box remained closed.
But something had fallen from beneath it.
A small brass key.
Marcus picked it up.
"What's this?""
Michael stared.
"Mom's old safe-deposit key.""
Angela took the key.
"Which bank?""
Michael shook his head.
"She never told me.""
Then he looked at the letter.
"There's something else.""
He reached into his jacket and produced a folded piece of paper.
"I found this inside the bakery wall.""
Marcus opened it.
It was a bank receipt.
A safe-deposit box had been registered in their mother's name.
But the account had been accessed six months after her death.
The signature authorizing access belonged to someone else.
Angela examined it.
Her face went pale.
The name was clear.
*ANGELA DAVIS.*
Marcus looked at his sister.
She stared at the paper.
"I never opened this box.""
Michael stepped backward.
"Then someone used your identity.""
Marcus looked at him.
"Who?""
Michael hesitated.
Then he pointed toward the doorway.
"Ask the man who was waiting outside when I arrived.""
Everyone turned.
A figure stood in the entrance.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Holding a black umbrella despite the clear sky.
Deputy Commissioner Richard Vaughn.
He smiled at Angela.
"Hello, Commissioner.""
May you like
Then he looked at Marcus.
"Family reunion's over.""
