Chapter 9: The Name That Was Never His
Tiana sat at the dining table long after the call ended.
The name on the screen seemed to stare back at her.
Curtis Reed.
Her husband.
The man who had slept beside her for three years.
The man who had cut her son's hair.
The man who had hidden Marcus's belongings.
And apparently, the man whose identity didn't match the one in Marcus's financial records.
She called Elaine again.
“Please explain this slowly.””
“Of course,” Elaine replied.
“The individual Marcus dealt with used the name Curtis Reed. However, the birth date and identifying information in the original contracts belong to another person.””
“Are you saying my husband stole someone's identity?””
“I'm saying the records suggest that the person who entered into those agreements was not necessarily using his legal identity.””
Tiana rubbed her forehead.
“Can you tell me who he really is?””
“Not until we verify the documentation. But I have requested the original contract records.””
“Why would he use another name?””
“That is something investigators will need to establish.””
Tiana looked toward the living room.
Zion was sitting with Cora, watching cartoons.
She lowered her voice.
“Can you arrange the meeting today?””
“Yes. My office at eleven.””
After ending the call, Tiana went upstairs.
Curtis's side of the bedroom was empty.
His closet was still full of clothes, but several hangers were missing.
She opened the dresser.
His passport wasn't there.
Neither was his birth certificate.
Tiana checked the drawer where he kept old tax documents.
It was empty.
Her stomach tightened.
She called Darius.
“Curtis knows something is happening.””
“What makes you say that?””
“His documents are gone.””
“Don't confront him.””
“I'm not planning to.””
“Good. Preserve what you have. Marcus's attorney should be able to help.””
Tiana glanced toward the window.
“Darius, did Marcus ever tell you Curtis had another name?””
There was a long pause.
Then Darius said, “Yes.””
Tiana gripped the phone.
“What?””
“Marcus once told me the man he knew as Curtis Reed had previously introduced himself under another name.””
“Which name?””
“Calvin Reed.””
Tiana closed her eyes.
“Are you sure?””
“That's what Marcus wrote in his notes. He also mentioned that the man had a history of using different business identities.””
Tiana felt sick.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I didn't know Curtis was the same person until I saw the photograph you sent me.””
She looked at the photograph of her husband on her phone.
“Can you come to Elaine's office?””
“Yes. I'll meet you there.””
At ten-thirty, Tiana left Zion with Cora.
She told him she needed to handle something important and would return before school pickup.
Zion hugged her at the door.
“Are you going to find the rest of Daddy's recording?””
Tiana kissed his cheek.
“I'm going to try.””
“Promise?””
“I promise I'll do everything I can.””
He nodded.
Then he handed her a small folded drawing.
It showed him standing between two adults.
One was his mother.
The other was Marcus.
Above them, he had written:
*MY FAMILY.*
Tiana folded the paper carefully and placed it inside her purse.
At Elaine's office, Darius was already waiting.
Elaine Porter was a woman in her late fifties with silver-streaked hair and a calm voice.
She welcomed them into a conference room.
“I've reviewed the documents you sent,” she said.
Tiana sat down.
“What did you find?””
Elaine opened a folder.
“The original financial agreement was signed under the name Curtis Reed. However, the identification number attached to the agreement belongs to a man named Calvin Reed.””
She placed two photocopies on the table.
The first showed the signature from the original agreement.
The second showed Curtis's signature on a recent bank document.
Tiana stared.
The signatures were remarkably similar.
But the identifying information was different.
“Could they be the same person?””
“They could be. But we need official verification.””
Darius leaned forward.
“What about the money?””
Elaine turned another page.
“Marcus transferred $18,500 for a property renovation project. The money was supposed to be used for materials and labor. Instead, most of it was transferred to an account that wasn't listed in the agreement.””
Tiana swallowed.
“Did Marcus know?””
“He discovered the discrepancy and began documenting it.””
Elaine placed another document on the table.
“This is a handwritten note from Marcus.””
Tiana recognized the handwriting immediately.
I am no longer comfortable doing business with Calvin. He continues to insist that Curtis is his legal name. I have asked for identification, but he refuses to provide it.
Tiana stared at the note.
“Calvin.””
Darius nodded.
“That was the name Marcus mentioned.””
Elaine continued.
“Marcus also left instructions concerning Zion's trust. The account was established shortly before his death, and the beneficiary designation is clear.””
“Has anyone accessed it?””
“We're still checking. The attempted transfer was blocked, but we found several inquiries made using documents connected to your marriage.””
Tiana felt her stomach turn.
“He used our marriage to get access?””
“That's what the records suggest.””
Darius shook his head.
“Marcus knew something was wrong.””
Elaine looked at him.
“He did. But he never had the opportunity to finish the investigation.””
Tiana looked down at her hands.
For three years, she had believed Curtis was a man who wanted to love her family.
She had defended him.
She had explained away his jealousy.
She had told herself he was simply struggling to become a stepfather.
But he had been hiding a history connected to the man he resented most.
A knock sounded at the conference-room door.
An assistant entered.
“Ms. Porter, there's someone here asking for you.””
“Who?””
“He says his name is Calvin Reed.””
Tiana's blood ran cold.
Elaine stood.
“Please ask him to wait.””
The assistant left.
Darius looked at Tiana.
“Do you want to see him?””
She nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
A few minutes later, the door opened.
A man in a dark suit entered.
He was not Curtis.
He was slightly older, with gray hair and a neatly trimmed mustache.
He carried a brown leather briefcase.
“Ms. Brooks?””
Tiana stood.
“Yes.””
“My name is Calvin Reed.””
He looked at the documents on the table.
Then he turned toward Elaine.
“I believe you've been asking questions about my identity.””
Elaine gestured toward a chair.
“Please sit down.””
Calvin remained standing.
“I don't have much time.””
Tiana stared at him.
“Do you know my husband?””
Calvin looked directly at her.
Then he gave a small, humorless smile.
“I know the man using my name.””
Tiana felt her throat tighten.
“Who is he?””
Calvin placed his briefcase on the table.
“He's my younger brother.””
Silence filled the room.
Darius leaned forward.
“Your brother?””
Calvin nodded.
“His real name is Curtis Reed. My name is Calvin Reed. We used to work together.””
Tiana shook her head.
“But why would he use your identity?””
Calvin opened the briefcase.
Inside were old photographs, bank records, and copies of legal documents.
“Because he had damaged his own financial history. He couldn't secure contracts under his own name, so he began using mine.””
Tiana looked at the papers.
“And Marcus?””
Calvin's expression changed.
“Marcus discovered it.””
“Did he report him?””
“He threatened to.””
Calvin paused.
“My brother begged him not to. He promised to repay every dollar.””
Tiana looked at Darius.
“Then why did Marcus's money disappear?””
Calvin lowered his eyes.
“Because Curtis never intended to repay it.””
Tiana's hands trembled.
“Did you know he married me?””
Calvin nodded.
“I found out last year.””
“Why didn't you contact me?””
“I tried. He intercepted two letters I sent to your old address.””
Tiana stared at him.
Then Calvin reached into his briefcase and removed a photograph.
It showed Marcus standing beside a young man.
The young man looked almost exactly like Curtis.
But there was one detail Tiana noticed immediately.
The date.
It had been taken seven years before Marcus died.
On the back, Marcus had written:
Calvin and Curtis — two brothers, two very different men.
Tiana looked up.
“Why did you bring this?””
Calvin's face became serious.
“Because I need you to understand something. My brother isn't just trying to hide what he did to Marcus.””
He slid another document across the table.
“He has been using my identity to open accounts for years. And one of those accounts was opened using your son's information.””
Tiana stared at the document.
There was Zion's full name.
His date of birth.
And an account number.
“What is this?””
Calvin looked at her.
“An account your husband opened six months ago.””
Elaine examined the document.
Her expression hardened.
“This is not the trust account.””
“No,” Calvin replied.
Then he turned toward Tiana.
“It's an account connected to a loan.””
Tiana felt dizzy.
“Why would he use Zion's information?””
Calvin's voice dropped.
“Because he needed a dependent with no credit history to make the application look legitimate.””
Tiana covered her mouth.
The room fell silent.
Then her phone rang.
It was Cora.
Tiana answered immediately.
“Mom?””
Cora was crying.
“Tiana, you need to come home.””
“What happened?””
“Curtis is here.””
Tiana stood.
“Did he hurt you?””
“No, but…”
Cora's voice broke.
“He took Zion's passport and birth certificate from the drawer.””
Tiana felt her heart stop.
“Where is Zion?””
“He's with me. He's safe.””
“Where's Curtis?””
Cora whispered:
“He said he's taking his son.””
Tiana grabbed her purse.
“Don't let him near Zion. I'm coming.””
As she rushed toward the door, Calvin spoke behind her.
“Wait!””
Tiana turned.
Calvin held up one final document.
It was a copy of an application for a change of legal guardianship.
The applicant's name was Curtis Reed.
The child's name was Zion Brooks.
And beneath the signature was a date.
Tomorrow.
Tiana stared at the paper.
Curtis wasn't simply trying to erase Marcus from Zion's memories.
May you like
He was trying to change who had the legal right to raise him.
And tomorrow, he intended to make it official.
