Chapter 7: She Was Coming for My Son
“Dad, she said I had to go with her.””
Curtis was already walking toward the warehouse exit.
“Isaiah, listen to me. Where are you right now?””
“At home.””
“Is Aunt Elaine there?””
“Yes.””
“Good. Stay beside her. Don't open the door for anyone. I'm coming.””
“But Dad—”
“Isaiah, look at me. Even if you think I'm not there, remember what I told you. You don't have to go anywhere you don't feel safe.””
The boy went quiet.
Then he whispered, “Okay.””
Curtis ended the call.
Margaret was gathering the evidence folders.
“What happened?””
“Renée called my sister. She wants Isaiah taken to the airport tomorrow.””
Margaret stopped.
“Does Elaine know why?””
“She knows Renée said it was a family arrangement.””
“And does she know about the investigation?””
“She knows enough.””
Margaret picked up her phone.
“I'm contacting the attorney handling the family matter. We need to make sure nobody uses the situation to pressure Isaiah or remove him without proper authorization.””
Curtis nodded.
He had spent the morning investigating financial fraud.
Now his attention was entirely on his son.
Peter copied the remaining recordings to two encrypted drives. Margaret took one, and Curtis kept the other.
Before leaving, Curtis turned to Robert.
“Keep the warehouse closed. Nobody gets access to the office until Margaret clears it.””
Robert nodded.
“Understood.””
Curtis drove home faster than usual.
When he arrived, Elaine was standing near the front window.
She opened the door before he reached the steps.
“Curtis.””
“Where's Isaiah?””
“Upstairs.””
“Is he okay?””
“He's scared.””
Curtis walked inside.
Elaine followed him.
“Renée called me about twenty minutes ago. She said Isaiah was being disrespectful and that she wanted him to spend a few days with her mother.””
Curtis stopped.
“Her mother?””
“That's what she told me. Then she said I should bring him to the airport because she was arranging a flight.””
“Did she say where?””
“Florida.””
Curtis looked toward the stairs.
“Did you agree?””
“No.””
Elaine crossed her arms.
“I told her I wasn't taking a child anywhere without speaking to his father. She became very angry.””
“What did she say?””
Elaine hesitated.
“She said you were making a terrible mistake by encouraging Isaiah to lie.””
Curtis closed his eyes.
There it was again.
The same manipulation.
The same attempt to make his son feel responsible.
He climbed the stairs.
Isaiah was sitting on his bed, holding his phone.
When he saw his father, he stood immediately.
“Dad.””
Curtis opened his arms.
His son stepped into them.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Isaiah whispered, “I don't want to go with her.””
“You're not going anywhere tonight.””
“Will she come here?””
Curtis looked at him.
“I don't know what she'll do. But we are going to handle it properly.””
Isaiah pulled away.
“Can I show you something?””
He handed Curtis the phone.
A new message was open.
It was from Renée.
You have embarrassed me enough. When I return, you will come with me. Your father is not thinking clearly.
Another message followed.
If you tell him anything else, I will show him what you did to the warehouse inventory.
Curtis read it.
Then he scrolled down.
There was a photograph of several damaged boxes.
The images were taken from the warehouse floor.
A few boxes were crushed. One had a torn corner. Another had a shipping label partially removed.
Isaiah pointed to the screen.
“Those were already damaged when I got there.””
Curtis nodded.
“I believe you.””
“She said she had pictures of me standing near them.””
“Standing near them doesn't mean you damaged them.””
Isaiah looked down.
“She said Dad would have to pay for everything.””
Curtis sat beside him.
“Isaiah, you know what I see when I look at these pictures?””
The boy shook his head.
“I see boxes. Cardboard boxes. Things that can be replaced.””
Curtis took his son's hands gently.
“I don't see a bad kid. I don't see someone who deserves to be punished. I see my son, who should have been spending his summer with friends instead of working in a warehouse.””
Isaiah's eyes filled.
“I thought you would be disappointed.””
Curtis shook his head.
“I'm disappointed that I didn't notice sooner.””
The boy wiped his cheek.
“It's not your fault.””
Curtis looked at him.
“It's not yours either.””
A knock came from downstairs.
Elaine appeared at the bedroom door.
“Curtis? Someone's outside.””
Curtis stood.
“Who?””
She looked uneasy.
“Daniel.””
Curtis's expression hardened.
“Did you let him in?””
“No. He's standing on the porch.””
Curtis walked downstairs.
Through the glass panel beside the front door, he could see Daniel holding a leather folder.
Daniel smiled when Curtis approached.
“Curtis. Finally.””
Curtis opened the door but remained in the doorway.
“What are you doing here?””
Daniel glanced past him.
“I wanted to check on the boy.””
“You can speak to me.””
Daniel lifted the folder.
“I also brought something we need to sign.””
Curtis didn't move.
“What?””
“Some company documents. Nothing complicated.””
“Leave them with Margaret.””
Daniel's smile faded slightly.
“Why involve lawyers?””
“Because you brought legal documents to my house without an appointment.””
Daniel gave a small laugh.
“You've become very defensive.””
Curtis stared at him.
“Have I?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Listen, I understand Renée has been difficult. But she's your wife. Don't let a misunderstanding destroy your family.””
Curtis leaned against the doorframe.
“What misunderstanding?””
“The boy working at the warehouse. The labor payments. All of it.””
Curtis watched Daniel carefully.
Daniel continued.
“Isaiah volunteered to help. Renée was trying to teach him responsibility. The money was simply reimbursement for expenses.””
“Then why was it deposited into her account?””
Daniel's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But Curtis saw it.
“What account?””
“The one attached to Isaiah's employment record.””
Daniel cleared his throat.
“I don't know anything about that.””
“Interesting.””
Curtis looked at the folder.
“What's inside?””
“An updated company agreement.””
“Does it contain a personal guarantee?””
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Then he smiled again.
“You've been talking to someone.””
Curtis said nothing.
Daniel shifted his weight.
“Curtis, I think you should understand something. The company has obligations. If this transfer isn't completed, there could be serious financial consequences.””
“What transfer?””
Daniel looked directly at him.
“The ownership restructuring.””
Curtis stepped closer.
“You mean the one I never approved?””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“You did approve it.””
“Prove it.””
Daniel tapped the folder.
“That's what this is for.””
Curtis stared at him.
Then he said quietly, “You're going to have to leave.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Don't make this personal.””
“You involved my fifteen-year-old son. It became personal a long time ago.””
Daniel looked past Curtis toward the stairs.
“Isaiah needs discipline.””
Curtis's voice dropped.
“Don't say my son's name again.””
Daniel stepped backward.
For the first time, the confident expression disappeared from his face.
He looked toward the street.
Then he said, “Renée will be home tomorrow. You should talk to her before you make another mistake.””
Curtis closed the door.
He locked it.
Elaine came into the hallway.
“What did he want?””
Curtis looked at the folder Daniel had left on the porch.
“I think he wanted my signature.””
Elaine frowned.
Curtis picked up the folder without opening it.
He called Margaret.
“Daniel was just here.””
“What happened?””
“He brought the personal guarantee.””
“Did you sign anything?””
“No.””
“Good. Don't touch the documents any further than necessary. I'll arrange to collect them.””
Curtis looked upstairs.
“There's another problem. Renée is trying to take Isaiah to Florida.””
“We're addressing that. Has she booked anything?””
“I don't know.””
Margaret paused.
“Curtis, I just received a notification from the attorney reviewing the transfer.””
“What?””
“The ownership filing was submitted this morning.””
Curtis felt his stomach tighten.
“By whom?””
“Daniel Reeves.””
“Can he do that?””
“Not without the required authorization. But there's something worse.””
“What?””
Margaret's voice became very serious.
“The filing includes a statement that you have voluntarily resigned from your position as managing director.””
Curtis stared at the wall.
Then Margaret added:
“According to the document, your resignation was witnessed by Renée.””
Curtis looked at the folder in his hand.
The two people who had been using his son to build a false paper trail were now claiming that he had surrendered his company.
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And tomorrow, Renée was coming home.
But she wasn't coming home alone.
