Chapter 8: What Ryan Had Stolen
The bank was already surrounded by police when we arrived.
I stayed beside Detective Harris as officers moved in and out of the building.
“Why would someone have my birth certificate?”” I asked.
“We'll know more after we process the folder.””
“Could Ryan have taken it?””
“Possibly.””
“From where?””
Harris looked at me.
“Where do you keep your important documents?””
“At home.””
“Could someone have accessed them?””
I thought about it.
Then remembered.
“Ryan helped me move last year.””
Harris stopped walking.
“He was inside your house?””
“Yes.””
“Alone?””
“Sometimes.””
He wrote something down.
I felt a chill.
“I never thought…”
“I know.””
Inside the bank, a manager met us.
He looked nervous.
“Ms. Bennett?””
“Yes.””
“I apologize for the confusion.””
“What happened?””
“A man presented identification and attempted to withdraw funds from your business account.””
“My account requires two-factor authorization.””
“He had documents.””
“Forged documents?””
The manager nodded.
“He had a corporate resolution naming him as your financial representative.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who was the representative?””
He looked at his notes.
“Ryan Bennett.””
Of course.
“Did he get anything?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Your account has a security restriction.””
I frowned.
“I never placed one.””
The manager looked at Harris.
“It was added yesterday.””
I turned toward the detective.
“I didn't do that.””
“I know.””
“Then who did?””
Harris didn't answer.
The manager handed him a folder.
“This was left behind.””
Harris opened it.
Inside were copies of my business license, bank statements, passport application records, and the original birth certificate.
I stared at the papers.
“This is my entire identity.””
Harris nodded.
“That may be exactly what someone was trying to obtain.””
I pointed to the bottom of one document.
“What's that?””
A company registration form.
My name was listed as owner.
Underneath it was a second company.
*Bennett Capital Holdings LLC.*
My blood ran cold.
“What is that?””
The bank manager shook his head.
“It's not registered with us.””
Harris looked at me.
“Have you ever heard of it?””
“No.””
He photographed the document.
Then my phone rang.
Ryan.
I answered on speaker.
“Where are you?””
His voice sounded breathless.
“Claire, listen to me.””
“No. You listen.””
“I didn't steal your identity.””
I froze.
“How did you know that's what we're investigating?””
Silence.
“Ryan?””
“I know what's happening.””
“Then explain it.””
“I can't do that over the phone.””
“Try.””
“There's a man named Daniel Mercer.””
Harris immediately motioned for me to keep him talking.
“Who is he?””
“Someone I met through an investor.””
“What investor?””
“I don't know his real name.””
“Ryan, stop lying.””
“I'm not!””
His voice cracked.
“He said he could fix my debts.””
“And in exchange?””
“He wanted control of the company.””
“My company?””
“I didn't know how far he would go.””
I looked at Harris.
“Why did you take out the insurance policy?””
Ryan went silent.
“Answer me.””
“It wasn't supposed to be like that.””
“Like what?””
“I wasn't planning to die.””
My stomach turned.
Harris mouthed, Keep going.
“Then why insure yourself for half a million dollars?””
“Because Daniel said it would make the investors comfortable.””
“That makes no sense.””
“I know!””
“Why was I the beneficiary?””
Ryan's breathing became uneven.
“Because Daniel said you had to be.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“Ryan.””
“I swear.””
He sounded terrified now.
“Daniel told me if I didn't get your signature, he'd come after you.””
I felt my skin go cold.
“Come after me how?””
“He said he knew about Emma.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where is Daniel now?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“I'M NOT!””
His voice echoed through the speaker.
Then he whispered.
“Claire, you need to listen to me.””
“What?””
“Do not trust Mom.””
I looked at my mother through the bank window.
“What?””
“She knew about the money.””
I stared.
“What money?””
“The money that started all of this.””
“Ryan—”
The call ended.
I immediately called back.
Straight to voicemail.
Harris looked at me.
“Did he say anything else?””
I repeated everything.
Then I remembered something.
“Wait.””
I opened my messages.
The anonymous sender had warned me to ask Mom who paid the first deposit.
Maybe that wasn't about Aunt Margaret.
Maybe it was about something else.
I turned to my mother.
“Mom, what money did Ryan mean?””
She was pale.
“I don't know.””
“You do.””
“No.””
“Who gave Ryan money before the wedding?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Mom.””
Dad suddenly spoke.
“Diane.””
She looked at him.
“Tell her.””
Mom started crying.
“Your father doesn't understand.””
“Then explain it to me.””
She whispered:
“The first money wasn't from Margaret.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“Margaret only paid part of it.””
“Who paid the rest?””
Mom wiped her eyes.
“A man named Daniel.””
Harris immediately stiffened.
“How much?””
“Fifty thousand.””
I felt the room tilt.
“Daniel gave Ryan fifty thousand dollars?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Six months ago.””
“And what did Ryan give him?””
Mom looked at me.
“Your company.””
I couldn't speak.
Harris stepped forward.
“What exactly did Ryan promise?””
Mom's voice became barely audible.
“He promised Daniel that once the wedding was over, Claire would sign over ownership.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“I never agreed to that.””
“I know.””
“Then why did he think he could?””
Mom looked at me with tears streaming down her face.
“Because Ryan told him you would never refuse family.””
I felt something inside me break.
For years, that had been Ryan's greatest weapon.
Family.
He had used it to get my signature.
My money.
My time.
My trust.
And now, apparently, my entire business.
Harris's phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
He showed me.
A surveillance photo had just arrived.
It showed Daniel Mercer leaving the bank.
But he wasn't alone.
Ryan was walking beside him.
I stared at the photograph.
“That's impossible.””
Harris zoomed in.
Ryan wasn't being forced.
He was carrying a briefcase.
And in his other hand was a small white envelope.
Harris looked at me.
“Your brother just met the man he claimed he couldn't find.””
My phone buzzed.
A message from Ryan appeared.
*I found the original file.*
May you like
Then another.
*If you want Emma safe, come to the warehouse alone.*
