Chapter 9: The Name Behind the Secret Account
Marcus lowered his phone.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Ethan.
His younger brother.
The same man who had spent Sunday dinner at the house two nights earlier.
The same man who had joked about Marcus becoming too trusting with people.
The same man who had hugged his son before leaving.
Marcus looked toward Vanessa.
"Why is Ethan connected to your private archive?""
She closed her eyes.
"I knew you'd find out eventually.""
"That's not an answer.""
"Marcus, please.""
"Why?""
Daniel quietly stood.
"Sir, would you like me to give you some privacy?""
"No. Stay.""
Marcus turned his attention back to the phone.
"Can you confirm whether Ethan actually received anything?""
The investigator answered carefully.
"The system shows that a recipient invitation was created. However, the transfer status is incomplete. We cannot confirm that he viewed or downloaded the recording.""
"Can you preserve the invitation details?""
"Yes. We'll send you the full audit report.""
"Do that.""
Marcus ended the call.
Vanessa remained beside the table.
She looked exhausted now.
"How long have you and Ethan been communicating about this?"" Marcus asked.
She shook her head.
"It's not what you think.""
"Then tell me what it is.""
"He asked me to help him.""
"With what?""
She hesitated.
"Money.""
Marcus stared at her.
"What money?""
"Ethan was having problems.""
"Financial problems?""
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"I don't know exactly.""
Marcus looked toward the bundles still lying on the table.
"Is that his money?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I didn't say that.""
"Then whose is it?""
She rubbed her forehead.
"Marcus, this is complicated.""
"Make it simple.""
Vanessa looked toward the staircase.
Then back at him.
"Ethan came here yesterday.""
Marcus frowned.
"Yesterday?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he didn't want you to know.""
Marcus let out a short, humorless laugh.
"My brother visited my house, and you both decided I didn't need to know?""
"He was embarrassed.""
"About what?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"He owed someone money.""
Marcus pulled out a chair and sat down.
"How much?""
"Several thousand.""
"And you decided to help him?""
"I was trying to prevent a bigger problem.""
"Using money from where?""
She looked at the bundles.
Marcus followed her eyes.
"Is that the money?""
Vanessa nodded reluctantly.
Marcus stared at her.
"Why was it on the table?""
"I was preparing to give it to him.""
"When?""
"Today.""
"Why?""
"Because he was supposed to come back.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"Then why did you accuse my son of stealing it?""
Vanessa looked down.
"I panicked.""
The words hung in the air.
Marcus didn't move.
"Explain.""
She took a shaky breath.
"I heard someone coming downstairs. I thought it was Ethan.""
Marcus frowned.
"But it was your son.""
"Yes.""
"And you decided to accuse him?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"It happened too quickly.""
"Did you put the money there before he arrived?""
She didn't answer.
Marcus waited.
Daniel quietly looked at the laptop.
Vanessa finally whispered:
"I brought the money downstairs.""
Marcus's face tightened.
"Why?""
"I was supposed to hand it over.""
"To Ethan?""
"Yes.""
"Then what happened?""
Vanessa looked toward the hallway.
"Your son came in. He asked what I was doing. I told him to leave.""
Marcus's voice dropped.
"Did he touch the money?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you see him touch it?""
She shook her head.
Marcus stood.
"Then you had no reason to call him a thief.""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Of you finding out about Ethan.""
Marcus stared at her.
"So you blamed a child to protect my brother?""
She began crying.
"I didn't plan for it to happen like that.""
Marcus looked at the boy's empty seat on the sofa.
The red mark on his cheek came back into his mind.
"You hit him.""
"I know.""
"You called him a thief.""
"I know.""
"You told him I wouldn't believe him.""
Vanessa covered her face.
"I was trying to stop everything from falling apart.""
Marcus stepped away from her.
"You're not the only person whose life can fall apart.""
He walked toward the staircase.
His son was sitting on the top step.
He had heard enough to understand that something important had changed.
"Dad?""
Marcus stopped.
"Come here, buddy.""
The boy walked down slowly.
Marcus crouched.
"Are you okay?""
The boy nodded.
"Is she still saying I stole the money?""
Marcus shook his head.
"No.""
The boy looked at Vanessa.
"Then why did she hit me?""
Marcus struggled to find an answer that wouldn't make things worse.
"I don't have a good excuse for what she did.""
The boy looked down.
"Did Uncle Ethan do something?""
Marcus glanced at Vanessa.
"That's what I'm trying to understand.""
The boy hesitated.
Then he said something that made Marcus turn sharply.
"Uncle Ethan was here before she called me downstairs.""
Vanessa stopped crying.
Marcus looked directly at his son.
"What?""
"I saw him.""
"Today?""
The boy nodded.
"Yes. He came through the side door.""
Marcus stood slowly.
"What time?""
"Before four.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"That's not true.""
The boy looked at her.
"I saw his car.""
"That doesn't mean he came inside.""
"He talked to you.""
Vanessa's face changed.
Marcus turned toward her.
"Did Ethan come here today?""
She said nothing.
The boy continued.
"He gave you a small black bag. Then you told him to wait.""
Marcus looked toward the table.
The bundles of money were still arranged in neat stacks.
He glanced at the side hallway.
"Did Ethan leave before I arrived?""
The boy nodded.
"Yes. But he told her he'd come back.""
Vanessa lowered herself into the nearest chair.
Marcus picked up his phone and called his brother.
The call rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then Ethan answered.
"Hey, Marcus. Everything okay?""
Marcus kept his eyes on Vanessa.
"Where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"Did you come to my house today?""
Silence.
Only for a moment.
But Marcus heard it.
"What are you talking about?"" Ethan finally asked.
"I asked you a question.""
"Why are you suddenly interrogating me?""
"Because someone has been using your name to access my security recordings.""
Ethan laughed nervously.
"That sounds like a technical problem.""
"Did you come here today?""
Another pause.
Then Ethan said:
"Yes. I stopped by. What's the big deal?""
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
"Why did you leave a black bag with her?""
The silence on the other end lasted longer this time.
Finally, Ethan spoke.
"She wasn't supposed to tell you about that.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"What was in the bag?""
Ethan lowered his voice.
"Listen, brother. Don't do anything stupid.""
"What was in it?""
"Just something that belongs to me.""
Marcus looked toward the bundles of cash.
Then at the laptop.
"Why did you need access to the camera footage?""
Ethan exhaled.
"Because I needed to make sure nobody saw what happened before I arrived.""
Marcus froze.
"Before you arrived?""
Ethan quickly corrected himself.
"I mean, after I arrived. You know what I mean.""
Marcus's grip tightened around the phone.
"No. I don't.""
Then Ethan said something that made the entire room go silent.
"Marcus, you need to ask Vanessa what she did with the envelope your father left behind.""
Marcus stopped breathing for a moment.
His father had been dead for six years.
And nobody had mentioned that envelope since the day of the funeral.
He slowly turned toward Vanessa.
She was staring at him.
Not crying anymore.
Just staring.
"Vanessa," Marcus whispered, "what envelope is he talking about?""
She looked down at the table.
Then she finally answered.
"The one your father told me never to show you.""
Marcus felt the room tilt.
His phone was still connected.
May you like
Ethan was still on the line.
And suddenly, the money on the table seemed like the smallest part of the secret.
