Chapter 8: The Man Who Thought He Could Buy a Family
At 7:30 the following morning, Marcus sat in David Reynolds's office, staring at a printed copy of the proposed property sale.
He hadn't slept.
Jordan was at Evelyn's house, where his grandmother had promised to make him pancakes and let him watch television for as long as he wanted.
For the first time in fourteen months, nobody was asking the boy to pay for breakfast.
Marcus looked at David.
“Can they actually sell my father's properties?””
“Not legally without proper authority,” David replied.
“But fraudulent documents can create complications if a buyer or title company relies on them before the fraud is discovered.””
“So we stop it.””
“That's what we're doing.””
David had already contacted the trust administrator, the relevant title company, and the attorney representing the proposed buyer.
He had also arranged for the questionable documents to be examined.
At 8:05, his phone rang.
He listened for nearly a minute.
Then he leaned back.
“That's interesting.””
Marcus looked up.
“What?””
“The buyer has agreed to delay closing, but Daniel is demanding that the transaction proceed.””
“Why?””
“Because the buyer has apparently already paid him a substantial deposit.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who is the buyer?””
David turned his computer screen.
“Northbridge Commercial Investments.””
Marcus recognized the name.
“That's one of the biggest property groups downtown.””
“Correct.””
“Why would they buy properties from someone who doesn't own them?””
David tapped a document.
“That's what we need to establish.””
Then another email arrived.
David opened it.
His expression changed.
“Marcus, there's a problem.””
“What now?””
“The company claims it received a legal opinion confirming Daniel's authority to negotiate the sale.””
“From whom?””
David turned the screen.
The name appeared at the bottom.
*Reynolds & Associates Legal Consulting.*
Marcus stared.
“That's your firm?””
David shook his head.
“No. It's a different company. But they're using a logo and letterhead designed to look remarkably similar to ours.””
Marcus stood.
“So Daniel forged your firm's approval too?””
“It appears that way.””
David immediately contacted the firm named in the letterhead.
They confirmed that they had never reviewed the transaction.
Then David opened a second file.
“There's something else. The legal opinion was sent to Northbridge from an email address connected to Daniel's company.””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“How much money is involved?””
“The buyer agreed to pay approximately $410,000 for the two properties.””
Marcus looked stunned.
“They're worth nearly twice that.””
“Which suggests Daniel may have intended to sell quickly and disappear before anyone could challenge the transaction.””
Marcus sat down.
His father had spent decades building those properties.
One was a small commercial building with several family-owned businesses inside. The other housed a medical office and a neighborhood pharmacy.
The rental income had helped support Jordan's future.
Daniel was trying to turn all of it into cash.
At 8:42, Marcus's phone rang.
It was Evelyn.
“Son, Jordan is asking for you.””
“Is everything okay?””
“He's fine. But he wants to ask you something.””
Marcus immediately left David's office and called his mother.
“Hey, buddy.””
Jordan's voice came through quietly.
“Dad?””
“What's wrong?””
“Can I ask you something?””
“Anything.””
“Are we poor now?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“No, son.””
“But Vanessa said the money was gone.””
“Vanessa doesn't get to decide your future.””
“Does that mean I'll still be able to go to college?””
Marcus looked through the office window.
David was making another phone call, working to protect the trust.
“Yes,” Marcus answered.
“You'll have every opportunity your grandfather wanted you to have.””
Jordan was quiet.
Then he asked:
“Can we keep the house?””
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
“We'll do everything legally necessary to protect it.””
“Okay.””
A pause followed.
Then Jordan said something that broke his heart.
“Dad, when we get home, can I eat chicken whenever I want?””
Marcus had to turn away from the window.
“Yes, buddy.””
“Even if I don't have money?””
“Especially then.””
Jordan laughed softly.
Marcus smiled through his tears.
“You don't have to earn your dinner in your own home. Ever.””
When he returned to David's office, the attorney had discovered something important.
“Marcus, I found Daniel's business registration.””
“And?””
“Carter Property Holdings was established eleven months ago.””
David turned his monitor.
The company had almost no legitimate business activity.
Its only significant transaction was a series of payments to several personal accounts.
One of those accounts belonged to Vanessa.
Marcus stared.
“How much?””
“Approximately $38,000 over eight months.””
Marcus slowly sat down.
“So she was being paid?””
“That's what the records suggest. We'll need proper verification.””
David opened another document.
“There's also a payment from Daniel to someone named Richard Cole.””
Marcus recognized the name.
“Who's that?””
“An employee at the company handling the proposed property sale.””
David clicked another file.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Richard leaving a restaurant with Daniel.
They were carrying an envelope.
Marcus shook his head.
“This is bigger than Vanessa.””
“I'm beginning to think so.””
At 9:16, David received another call.
This time, the caller was the trust administrator.
He listened carefully.
Then he smiled for the first time that morning.
“Thank you. Please send that confirmation immediately.””
He ended the call.
Marcus leaned forward.
“What happened?””
“The original trust administrator has confirmed that the properties cannot be transferred without the court-approved trustee authorization. The attempted change has been formally challenged.””
“So the sale is stopped?””
“The buyer has been instructed not to close pending verification. The title company has also been alerted to the disputed documents.””
Marcus exhaled.
“Thank God.””
But David wasn't smiling anymore.
“There's still a problem.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Of course there is.””
“The buyer wants to know who gave Daniel the original trust documents.””
Marcus looked toward him.
“Vanessa.””
“Perhaps. But we need to establish how Daniel obtained the originals and who helped him create the false authorization.””
David pulled up another message.
It had been sent from Vanessa's phone to Daniel the previous night.
*Vanessa:* I told you I had everything under control.
*Daniel:* You were supposed to get Marcus arrested before the trust administrator noticed.
*Vanessa:* I did what you asked.
*Daniel:* Then why is he still free?
Marcus stared at the screen.
David opened the next message.
*Vanessa:* I have another way to make him cooperate.
*Daniel:* What way?
*Vanessa:* Jordan.
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
The next message had been sent at 6:12 that morning.
*Vanessa:* I'll pick him up from Evelyn's house before anyone notices. Once I have him, Marcus will give us whatever we want.
David immediately stood.
“Marcus, call your mother. Right now.””
Marcus dialed Evelyn.
No answer.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Then he called the landline.
A woman's voice answered.
It wasn't Evelyn.
It was a neighbor.
“Marcus? Your mother asked me to watch the house for a minute. She went outside because someone was knocking.””
“Who?””
“I don't know. A man in a dark SUV.””
Marcus felt his blood turn cold.
“Where is Jordan?””
The neighbor hesitated.
“He was with her.””
Marcus grabbed his keys.
“David, call the police.””
He rushed toward the elevator.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
There was a photograph of Jordan sitting in the back seat of a car.
His face was frightened.
Beneath the picture were eight words.
*Bring the original trust papers. Come alone.*
Marcus stopped breathing.
May you like
A second message appeared.
*YOU HAVE ONE HOUR.*
