Chapter 14: The Safe House
Dad called Aunt Carla immediately.
She didn't answer.
He called again.
Voicemail.
The third time, her phone went straight to voicemail.
Dad lowered his phone.
"She knows.""
Detective Bennett shook her head.
"We don't know that.""
"She offered us her house.""
"Which could mean exactly what it appeared to mean.""
Richard turned the tablet toward her.
"Carla's name appears on six corporate registrations connected to Marcus.""
Bennett studied the records.
"How old was she?""
Dad answered.
"Twenty-one.""
Thomas rubbed his forehead.
"Carla was always good with paperwork.""
Dad stared at him.
"You knew?""
"No.""
"But you're not surprised.""
"I'm surprised by everything tonight.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Thomas looked at his brother.
"Carla hated Mom.""
Grandma Evelyn.
"Why?""
"Because she thought Mom controlled everyone.""
Dad shook his head.
"Carla was Dad's daughter.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Another family secret.
Of course.
Dad looked at me.
"Our father was married before he met Evelyn.""
"So Carla was your half sister?""
"Yes.""
Thomas nodded.
"Mom raised her from the time she was six.""
"But Carla never considered her a mother.""
"No.""
Richard kept reading.
"According to the investigator, Carla registered three companies at Marcus's request.""
"Did she know what they were for?"" Bennett asked.
"Unknown.""
"Any payments?""
Richard searched.
Then found them.
"Yes.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"How much?""
"Approximately ninety thousand dollars over five years.""
Thomas swore.
Brianna came back into the room.
"What does Aunt Carla have to do with this?""
Dad explained.
She stared at him.
"We almost went to her house.""
"Yes.""
"With the ledger.""
Nobody answered.
That was the point.
If we'd followed our original plan, we would have carried Grandma Evelyn's ledger directly to a woman who might have been working with Marcus.
I suddenly felt cold.
"Did she know we were coming?""
Dad nodded.
"I called her.""
"What did you tell her?""
"That something was happening with the family trust.""
Richard looked up sharply.
"Did you mention the ledger?""
Dad thought.
"I don't think so.""
"Think.""
"I said we'd found Monica's old documents.""
Thomas stood.
"We need to move.""
Detective Bennett agreed.
This time, nobody argued.
Police arranged for us to stay somewhere undisclosed.
Not Aunt Carla's.
Not a hotel.
A secured residence used temporarily for witnesses.
Denise wasn't coming.
Brianna realized it before her mother did.
"What's happening to Mom?""
Detective Bennett looked at Denise.
"She needs to come with us.""
"Am I under arrest?"" Denise asked.
"Not at this moment.""
"But?""
"We need a formal interview.""
Denise looked at Brianna.
"I'll call you.""
Brianna didn't answer.
"Sweetheart.""
"Don't ask me to make you feel better.""
Denise flinched.
"I love you.""
Brianna's face crumpled.
"I know.""
That was somehow sadder than if she'd said she hated her.
Police escorted Denise outside.
Brianna watched through the window.
I stood beside her.
"Are you okay?""
"No.""
"Me neither.""
She almost smiled.
"That's becoming our family motto.""
Two hours later, we were in a small furnished house on the other side of Richmond.
Dad.
Me.
Brianna.
Thomas.
Richard stayed at his office coordinating with police and the banks.
I couldn't sleep.
At 3:17 a.m., I found Dad sitting alone in the kitchen.
"Hey.""
He looked up.
"Hey, baby.""
I sat across from him.
"Are you okay?""
He smiled sadly.
"You're sixteen. You're not supposed to be asking me that.""
"Today hasn't exactly followed the parenting handbook.""
That actually made him laugh.
Then he became serious.
"I'm sorry.""
"For what?""
"For not seeing it.""
"Denise?""
"Everything.""
He looked at the table.
"I thought I was giving you a family.""
"You did.""
His eyes lifted.
"What?""
"You gave me you.""
He swallowed.
"And Mom gave me enough paranoia from beyond the grave to save us both.""
Dad laughed again.
This time I did too.
It felt good.
Wrong.
But good.
Then Thomas entered.
Dad's smile disappeared.
Thomas stopped.
"I can leave.""
"No.""
Dad pointed toward a chair.
"Sit.""
Thomas did.
For a moment, the brothers looked at each other.
Seventeen years between them.
Finally Dad asked:
"Did you ever see Monica after the crash?""
Thomas nodded.
"Once.""
"When?""
"Two weeks before she died.""
The motel photograph.
"What did she say?""
"She was furious.""
Dad almost smiled.
"Sounds like her.""
"She told me hiding forever wasn't a solution.""
"She was right.""
"I know.""
"Then why did you?""
Thomas looked toward the hallway where Brianna was sleeping.
"Because I had something worth hiding for.""
Dad followed his gaze.
"You should've trusted me.""
"I wanted to.""
"You didn't.""
"No.""
That hurt Dad.
I could see it.
Thomas continued.
"Monica made me promise something.""
"What?""
"That if Marcus ever came after Maya or Brianna, I'd come back.""
My stomach tightened.
"And now?""
"He came after both.""
Dad stared at him.
"So you came home.""
"Yes.""
My phone buzzed.
Dad immediately reached for it.
I checked.
Not unknown.
Richard.
I answered.
"Hello?""
"Maya, put your father on.""
Something in his voice made me obey.
Dad took the phone.
"Richard?""
I could hear Richard speaking rapidly.
Dad's expression changed.
"When?""
Pause.
"Are you sure?""
Another pause.
"Send it.""
He hung up.
"What?""
Dad didn't answer.
His phone buzzed.
Email.
He opened it.
Security footage from Richard's law office.
Timestamp: 2:41 a.m.
A woman entered using an employee access code.
Aunt Carla.
She walked directly toward the archive room.
Thomas leaned closer.
"How did she get in?""
Richard called again.
Dad answered on speaker.
"Her access code was deactivated fifteen years ago," Richard said.
"Then how?""
"Someone reactivated it yesterday.""
"Who?""
"An administrator account.""
"Whose?""
Richard paused.
"Mine.""
Dad stared at the phone.
"You didn't do it.""
"No.""
Thomas swore.
Richard continued.
"Carla removed one file.""
"The investigation?""
"No.""
"What?""
"The original Carter-Holloway trust.""
My stomach dropped.
Dad asked, "Why would she want that?""
"Because the original contains something the amendment doesn't.""
"What?""
Richard took a breath.
"A termination clause.""
Thomas stood.
"What termination clause?""
"If all direct beneficiaries sign a dissolution agreement, Carter-Holloway Holdings can be liquidated.""
I frowned.
"Direct beneficiaries.""
Richard answered.
"You. Brianna, if her status is confirmed. And one other person.""
"Who?""
"Thomas.""
We all looked at him.
Thomas shook his head.
"I never knew I had an interest.""
"Your mother left you a dormant share.""
"Why?""
"Because she believed you were dead but refused to extinguish your rights without proof.""
Dad leaned forward.
"So Marcus needs Thomas's signature.""
"And Maya's.""
"And Brianna's.""
"Yes.""
I felt sick.
"He can't get ours.""
Thomas looked toward the window.
"Not willingly.""
Dad's phone rang.
Aunt Carla.
Nobody moved.
Detective Bennett had given Dad instructions for this.
Keep callers talking.
Don't reveal location.
He answered on speaker.
"Carla.""
She was crying.
"James, I'm sorry.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Where are you?""
"I didn't know what Marcus was going to do.""
Thomas leaned toward the phone.
"Carla.""
Silence.
Then:
"Tommy?""
Her sob became louder.
"Oh my God.""
"Where are you?""
"I can't tell you.""
"Are you with Marcus?""
"No.""
"Did you steal the trust?""
"I had to.""
"No, you didn't.""
"He has my son.""
Dad froze.
I didn't know Aunt Carla had a son.
Apparently Dad did.
"Evan?""
"Yes.""
Thomas's expression hardened.
"When did Marcus take him?""
"Yesterday.""
"Have you spoken to Evan?""
"No.""
"Then how do you know Marcus has him?""
"He sent me a picture.""
"Send it.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because he'll know.""
Thomas looked at Bennett, who had entered the kitchen during the call.
She nodded.
"Carla," Thomas said, "listen to me. Marcus lies. That's what he does.""
"I know.""
"Send the picture.""
A pause.
Then Dad's phone buzzed.
Image.
A young man tied to a chair.
Behind him was a concrete wall.
Bennett took the phone.
"Can you identify the location?""
Carla heard her.
"You called police?""
"They're already involved.""
"Oh God.""
"Carla, where are you?""
"I can't—"
A man's voice spoke in the background.
"That's enough.""
Marcus.
The call ended.
Bennett immediately sent the image for analysis.
Thomas stared at it.
Then zoomed in.
"Wait.""
"What?""
He pointed at a faded red marking on the concrete wall.
Dad frowned.
"You recognize that?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
Thomas looked at him.
"The old Holloway warehouse.""
Richard was still on the line.
"That's impossible. Evelyn sold it twenty years ago.""
Thomas shook his head.
"No.""
"What?""
"She sold the company that operated there.""
Richard went silent.
Thomas continued.
"She kept the land.""
I remembered Mom's video.
Three buildings downtown.
"Does Carter-Holloway own it?""
Richard checked.
Then swore softly.
"Yes.""
Dad stood.
"So Marcus is holding Carla's son on property Maya owns.""
Detective Bennett was already calling tactical officers.
But Thomas kept staring at the photograph.
"Something's wrong.""
"What?""
He pointed at Evan.
"The restraints.""
Dad frowned.
"What about them?""
"They're loose.""
Bennett looked closer.
Thomas continued.
"And he's looking at the camera.""
"So?""
"He isn't scared.""
A second photograph arrived.
Not from Carla.
From Evan.
A selfie.
He was standing free inside the warehouse.
Smiling.
The message beneath it contained six words.
SORRY, UNCLE JAMES. NOTHING PERSONAL. BUSINESS.
Dad stared at the screen.
Thomas whispered:
"Marcus never kidnapped him.""
Bennett's face hardened.
"No.""
May you like
She looked at the photograph.
"Evan is working with him.""
