Chapter 3: The Name on the Military Records
I moved away from the family gathering before answering.
The music was still playing.
The grill was still smoking.
But the atmosphere had completely changed.
"Colonel Hayes," I said, keeping my voice low, "explain exactly what you mean.""
"I received a preliminary report this afternoon," he replied.
"An individual has been presenting himself as a former military tactical instructor. He's also been using credentials that appear to be connected to a government employee.""
"Whose credentials?""
"Yours.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"That's impossible.""
"Apparently, someone has been circulating a document with your personnel information.""
I looked through the sliding glass door.
Marcus stood inside the kitchen, talking animatedly to someone on his phone.
He was gesturing with his free hand.
Even from outside, I could recognize the familiar performance.
"What kind of document?"" I asked.
"A training authorization. It contains a name, a photograph, and several references to your professional background.""
I closed my eyes briefly.
"Has anyone verified it?""
"Not yet. That's why I'm calling.""
I lowered my voice further.
"Colonel, I'm on leave. I'm at my mother's house.""
"I understand. I wouldn't interrupt your leave unless this required attention.""
I glanced toward my mother.
She was sitting alone at the patio table.
"Send me what you can.""
"I will. And Jessica?""
"Yes?""
"Don't confront anyone until you've seen the document.""
The call ended.
For several seconds, I stood beneath the patio umbrella, listening to the distant conversations.
Then Richard approached.
"Everything okay?""
I put my phone away.
"Something came up at work.""
"Something involving Marcus?""
I looked at him.
He nodded toward the house.
"I've been around military people long enough to recognize a real reaction when I see one. You looked different when you answered that call.""
I exhaled.
"Richard, I need you to do me a favor.""
"Anything.""
"Don't repeat what you saw today. Not yet.""
He studied my face.
"Are you in trouble?""
"No.""
"Is Linda?""
I looked toward my mother.
"Possibly.""
That was enough to make his expression harden.
Inside the house, Marcus suddenly laughed.
It was a loud, exaggerated laugh.
The kind he used when he wanted everyone to believe he was winning an argument.
Richard followed my gaze.
"That man has been lying about his military service for years," he said.
"I suspected it.""
"Why didn't you say anything?""
Richard shrugged.
"Because Linda was happy. And because I didn't have proof.""
I looked at him.
"Do you know where he keeps his paperwork?""
Richard nodded toward the den.
"Locked cabinet. He shows it off whenever somebody visits.""
I remembered the shadow box.
The badges.
The certificates.
The medals arranged in a way that suggested someone had researched what military decorations looked like without understanding what they represented.
"Has he ever shown you his discharge papers?""
Richard shook his head.
"No. He says they're classified.""
I almost smiled.
Military discharge paperwork wasn't classified.
Not in the way Marcus claimed.
"Interesting.""
Richard looked at me.
"What's going on, Jessica?""
Before I could answer, my mother approached.
"Sweetheart?""
I turned.
"Yes, Mom?""
She looked worried.
"Marcus wants everyone to come inside.""
"Why?""
"He says he wants to apologize.""
Richard gave a short, humorless laugh.
"That's convenient.""
My mother frowned.
"Richard, please.""
I touched her shoulder.
"Let's hear what he has to say.""
We entered the house.
Marcus stood in the living room with his arms crossed.
The oversized trophies reflected the afternoon sunlight.
His military shadow box hung prominently above the fireplace.
He looked at me.
"Jessica. Sit down.""
I remained standing.
"I'm fine.""
He sighed dramatically.
"Look, I admit things got heated.""
My mother folded her arms.
"You punched at her.""
"I didn't actually hit her.""
"That doesn't make it better.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I was demonstrating a technique. She misunderstood.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Then why did you grab her afterward?""
Marcus glared.
"Nobody asked you.""
My mother raised her voice.
"Marcus!""
He turned toward her.
"Linda, please. I am trying to fix this.""
Then he faced me.
"Jessica, I think we should put this behind us.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
His eyebrows rose.
"Why?""
"Yes. Why should I?""
He gave an irritated laugh.
"Because we're family.""
I glanced at the military decorations above the fireplace.
"Family doesn't throw punches at family.""
His expression darkened.
"You need to learn when to stop talking.""
Richard moved slightly closer.
"Marcus, that's enough.""
Marcus ignored him.
"Jessica, you have no idea what you're dealing with. I've worked with people who would make you disappear before breakfast.""
I stared at him.
There it was again.
The imaginary military world he used to frighten people.
I spoke quietly.
"Who exactly did you work with?""
He hesitated.
"That's classified.""
"Which unit?""
"Special operations.""
"Which one?""
His eyes narrowed.
"I don't have to answer your questions.""
"Of course not.""
He pointed toward the fireplace.
"Those credentials represent years of service. Years of sacrifice. Something you wouldn't understand.""
I looked directly at the medals.
"Then you shouldn't mind someone verifying them.""
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
"What's that supposed to mean?""
"Nothing.""
He stepped closer.
"Say what you mean.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, the message came from Colonel Hayes.
I opened the attachment.
A scanned document appeared.
It contained my name.
My photograph.
My government identification number.
And a training authorization supposedly signed by a senior military officer.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Marcus.
The signature was forged.
The photograph had been taken from an official image that wasn't publicly available.
Someone had accessed information they had no legitimate reason to possess.
I raised my eyes.
"Marcus.""
He folded his arms.
"What?""
"Where did you get this document?""
His expression went blank.
For one second, the entire room seemed to stop.
Then he laughed.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
I turned my phone toward him.
His eyes dropped to the screen.
And his face lost its color.
My mother stepped closer.
"What's that?""
I didn't answer immediately.
Marcus reached for the phone.
I pulled it away.
"Don't.""
He froze.
Then he forced a smile.
"That's some kind of joke.""
"Is it?""
"Anybody can make a fake document.""
"Apparently.""
His eyes darted toward the den.
Richard noticed.
So did I.
"What are you hiding in there?"" I asked.
"Nothing.""
"Then you won't mind if we look.""
Marcus suddenly raised his voice.
"This is my house!""
My mother flinched.
"Marcus, please calm down.""
He pointed at me.
"She comes here, attacks me, humiliates me, and now she wants to search my private belongings?""
I stared at him.
"You threw the first punch.""
"Because you provoked me!""
Richard shook his head.
"Unbelievable.""
Marcus turned toward the hallway.
"I'm done with this conversation.""
He walked into the den and shut the door.
A moment later, we heard a lock click.
My mother looked at me.
"Jessica, what is happening?""
I took her hand.
"Mom, I need you to answer something honestly.""
"Anything.""
"Have you ever seen Marcus use my name on any official paperwork?""
She hesitated.
Then she looked toward the locked den.
"I... I think so.""
My stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?""
She swallowed.
"About six months ago, he asked me to print some documents. He said he was preparing a presentation for a private security company.""
"Did you see what they were?""
"Not really. He told me they were confidential.""
"Did they have my name?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I remember seeing your photograph.""
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he said you had authorized it.""
I stared at her.
"I never authorized anything.""
"I know that now.""
Richard stepped closer.
"Linda, what else did he tell you?""
She wiped her eyes.
"He said he had connections with people in Washington. He said he was helping Jessica's career.""
I looked at the den door.
Three years of lies.
Three years of fake medals and invented stories.
Three years of a man desperately trying to appear powerful.
And now, apparently, he had taken my identity and used it to support his own fraudulent claims.
My phone rang.
Colonel Hayes again.
I answered immediately.
"Jessica.""
His voice was more serious this time.
"We've identified the source of the forged authorization.""
I looked toward the locked door.
"Who?""
There was a pause.
Then Colonel Hayes delivered the words that made my blood run cold.
"The document was submitted by a private security contractor. Their records identify your stepfather, Marcus Reed, as a former government-approved tactical instructor.""
I closed my eyes.
"That's impossible.""
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"The contractor has requested an urgent meeting with your command because Marcus claims he possesses classified information about your current assignment.""
I looked at my mother.
Then at the locked den.
Marcus wasn't simply pretending to be a dangerous man anymore.
He was pretending to have access to my world.
And somewhere inside that house, he had evidence he wasn't supposed to possess.
Colonel Hayes lowered his voice.
"Jessica, I need you to tell me something. Has Marcus ever had access to your personal belongings, your identification, or your military documents?""
I looked at the den door again.
Before I could answer, something inside the room crashed against the floor.
Then Marcus shouted:
May you like
"Nobody comes in here!""
And I realized he was already trying to destroy something.
