Chapter 4: What Was Behind the Locked Door
The crash from Marcus's den was followed by the unmistakable sound of a drawer being dragged across the floor.
My mother grabbed my wrist.
"Jessica, what's he doing?""
I put one finger to my lips.
"Stay here, Mom.""
Richard moved toward the hallway.
"Should I call the police?""
"Not yet," I replied.
"I need to know what he's destroying.""
Marcus shouted from behind the locked door.
"Everyone needs to leave me alone!""
I walked toward the den.
"Marcus, open the door.""
"Get away from here!""
"I need you to step away from anything that belongs to me.""
There was a pause.
Then he laughed.
"You're making accusations you can't prove.""
I glanced at Richard.
He was already reaching for his phone.
"Jessica, this isn't right.""
"No," I said.
"It isn't.""
I called Colonel Hayes back.
He answered immediately.
"Jessica?""
"Marcus is inside a locked room. We believe he may be destroying documents connected to an identity fraud investigation.""
"Do not enter if you believe there could be weapons involved.""
"I understand.""
"Local authorities are being notified. I'll have our security office preserve the relevant records.""
I lowered my voice.
"Colonel, he has access to my personal information.""
"How much?""
"I don't know yet.""
"Then assume the exposure is broader than what we've identified.""
The call ended.
Behind the door, another object hit the floor.
My mother began crying.
"Please don't let this destroy our family.""
I turned toward her.
"Mom, he did this. Not me.""
She nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the door.
I knocked once more.
"Marcus. You have one opportunity to walk out and explain what's happening.""
His response came immediately.
"You're not in charge of me, little girl.""
I heard a metallic click.
Richard stepped in front of my mother.
"Jessica.""
"I heard it.""
The lock turned.
The door opened several inches.
Marcus stood behind it, breathing heavily.
His sleeveless shirt was damp with sweat. One hand was tucked behind his back.
"Happy now?"" he demanded.
I looked past him.
A filing cabinet stood open.
Papers covered the carpet.
A laptop was open on the desk.
And beside it sat a small portable shredder.
I didn't move closer.
"What's in your hand?""
"Nothing.""
"Show me.""
His expression hardened.
"You don't give me orders.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Marcus, just put whatever it is down.""
Marcus pulled his hand forward.
He was holding a thick envelope.
My name was written across the front.
JESSICA REED.
My mother's face went pale.
"Marcus, what's that?""
He immediately shoved it behind his back again.
"Private business.""
I held out my hand.
"Put it on the desk.""
He laughed.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?""
"No. I'm trying to understand why my identity is inside your office.""
For a moment, he looked as though he might refuse.
Then he tossed the envelope onto the desk.
I didn't touch it.
Instead, I read the label.
Inside the room, a photograph was pinned above his computer.
It showed a group of military personnel standing in front of an aircraft.
I recognized the photograph.
Not because Marcus was in it.
Because I was.
The image had been taken during a training exercise several years earlier.
My face was partially visible near the rear of the group.
Marcus had circled me in red ink.
Beneath the photograph, someone had written:
*PERSONAL CONNECTION — GOVERNMENT ACCESS.*
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why did you mark my photograph?""
Marcus shrugged.
"Research.""
"What kind of research?""
He looked at my mother.
"Linda, tell your daughter to stop acting like she's investigating a criminal.""
My mother stared at the photograph.
"Marcus, why is Jessica's picture on your wall?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he pointed toward the laptop.
"Everything in there is legitimate. I have contacts. I have qualifications. I have years of experience.""
I looked at the medals on his desk.
"Then why did you need my credentials?""
His jaw tightened.
"I didn't.""
"Your name is on a forged authorization.""
"Someone must have used my information.""
"Someone used mine.""
He stepped closer.
"You don't know what you're talking about.""
I held his gaze.
"Then explain the photograph.""
For the first time, Marcus looked genuinely uncomfortable.
He reached toward the laptop.
Richard immediately blocked his path.
"Don't touch it.""
Marcus shoved his shoulder.
"Get out of my way!""
Richard stumbled against the desk.
My mother screamed.
I moved between them.
"Enough!""
Marcus backed away, breathing hard.
Then he pointed at me.
"You think because you work for the government, you can walk into my house and destroy my life?""
I looked around the room.
His trophies.
His fake certificates.
The medals.
The photograph.
The shredded documents.
"No, Marcus. You managed that yourself.""
Sirens sounded in the distance.
His expression changed.
"What did you do?""
"I called for help.""
He looked toward the back window.
Then toward the hallway.
His eyes settled on the envelope.
Without warning, he grabbed it and rushed toward the desk.
Richard caught his arm.
Marcus swung his elbow backward.
Richard fell against the filing cabinet.
The envelope dropped.
Several sheets scattered across the carpet.
One landed near my shoe.
I looked down.
It was a contract.
The heading read:
*REED TACTICAL CONSULTING — GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS DIVISION.*
Below it was a list of prospective clients.
And next to one company name was a payment amount.
$185,000.
My eyes moved to the signature line.
The authorization had supposedly been approved by a senior government official.
A name I knew.
A name that had never authorized anything involving Marcus.
I picked up the page.
Marcus stopped struggling.
"Put that down.""
I looked at him.
"One hundred eighty-five thousand dollars?""
He swallowed.
"You don't understand.""
"Then explain it.""
He looked at my mother.
"Linda, please.""
She stood motionless.
"Marcus, what did you do?""
He opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, two uniformed officers appeared at the end of the hallway.
And behind them stood a woman in a dark government security jacket.
She looked directly at me.
"Jessica Reed?""
"Yes.""
She displayed her credentials.
"My name is Agent Collins. We need to secure this room immediately.""
Then she looked at Marcus.
"Mr. Reed, step away from the desk.""
Marcus's face went white.
Because he finally understood something.
This wasn't a family argument anymore.
May you like
And the people walking into his den weren't impressed by his trophies.
They knew exactly what they were looking for.
