Chapter 7: The Man Angela Tried to Keep Away
I read Robert Hayes's message so many times that the words began to blur.
Marcus, if you want to know why Angela really died, meet me tomorrow—and don't bring Denise.
For two years, I had believed my wife died because cancer had taken everything from her.
I had watched her lose weight. I'd held her hand through chemotherapy. I'd sat beside her when she couldn't keep food down.
I had memorized the sounds of her pain.
And now a stranger was telling me there was another story.
A story involving her brother.
I showed Daniel the message.
He rubbed his forehead.
"Don't go alone.""
"I won't.""
"Marcus, I'm serious. You don't know what this man wants.""
"I need answers.""
Daniel studied my face.
"Then let your lawyer know where you're going. And don't let him take you somewhere private.""
I agreed.
The following morning, Robert suggested a coffee shop near the courthouse.
I arrived fifteen minutes early.
I recognized him immediately.
He was in his late fifties, with gray hair, a narrow face, and the same dark eyes Angela had possessed.
He wore a navy jacket.
And on his wrist was the silver watch from the hospital photograph.
When he saw me, he stood.
"Marcus Reed?""
"Robert Hayes?""
He nodded.
We shook hands.
His grip was surprisingly weak.
"Thank you for coming.""
I sat opposite him.
"Start talking.""
Robert looked toward the window.
"I know what Denise has been telling you.""
"Then you know she's accusing my son of hurting her daughter.""
His jaw tightened.
"She did the same thing to Angela.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"She made Angela believe everyone was against her. She used money, guilt, and fear. By the time Angela understood what was happening, she was already too sick to fight.""
I leaned forward.
"How did you know Denise?""
Robert took a breath.
"She worked for a financial services company that handled some of Angela's investments. They met years before you did.""
I felt a chill.
"Denise told me she met Angela through a charity event.""
"That's what she wanted people to believe.""
He removed a folded document from his jacket.
It was a photograph of two women standing outside a restaurant.
One was Angela.
The other was Denise.
The photograph was dated seven years earlier.
"They were close?"" I asked.
"At first. Denise helped Angela organize her finances. She knew about the insurance policies, the savings accounts, and the inheritance arrangements.""
"Why did they fall out?""
Robert looked down.
"Because Angela discovered money had disappeared.""
I stared at him.
"How much?""
"Initially, around twenty thousand dollars. Then there were other transactions.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Did she report it?""
"She tried. Denise convinced her the records were incomplete and promised to return the money.""
"Did she?""
Robert shook his head.
"Not all of it.""
I leaned back.
"And what does that have to do with me?""
Robert looked directly at me.
"Denise didn't meet you by accident.""
The coffee shop suddenly seemed very quiet.
"What are you saying?""
"She knew Angela was sick. She knew you would inherit certain assets. She knew Malik would become the beneficiary of a substantial trust.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible. I met her at a friend's birthday party.""
Robert gave a humorless laugh.
"Do you know who introduced you?""
I opened my mouth.
Then stopped.
It had been a man named Peter Collins.
A colleague from my old construction company.
I hadn't spoken to him in almost three years.
Robert slid another photograph across the table.
It showed Denise sitting in a restaurant with Peter.
There was a date on the back.
Two weeks before my first meeting with Denise.
I stared at it.
"How did you get this?""
"Angela gave it to me.""
My hands tightened around the table.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"Because she was afraid you'd confront Denise before we understood what she was planning.""
I looked up.
"Did Angela know she was dying?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't she tell me everything?""
Robert's eyes filled.
"Because she thought she could fix it herself.""
He reached into his jacket again and produced a small audio recorder.
"Angela made this three weeks before she died. She asked me to keep it safe.""
He pressed play.
At first, there was static.
Then Angela's voice.
Weak.
But unmistakable.
"Robert, I need you to listen carefully. Denise has been asking about Malik's trust again. She says she's only worried about his future, but I don't believe her.""
A pause.
Then another voice.
Denise.
"Angela, you're exhausted. You're imagining things.""
Angela continued.
"I saw the documents. I know what you changed.""
Denise sighed.
"You don't understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
"Your husband is already overwhelmed. You should be grateful someone is willing to help.""
Angela's voice became sharper.
"Don't use Marcus against me.""
There was a rustling sound.
Then Denise spoke again.
"If you tell him, he'll lose everything. Your money, your family, your reputation. Think about what that will do to Malik.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the device.
"Why didn't you give this to the police?""
Robert looked uncomfortable.
"Because Angela asked me to wait.""
"Wait for what?""
"For you to discover the truth yourself.""
I stood.
"That's not an answer.""
Robert remained seated.
"Marcus, there's something else.""
I turned.
"Of course there is.""
He swallowed.
"Denise wasn't the only person involved in the financial transactions.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Who else?""
Robert looked toward the door.
"Peter Collins.""
The same man who had introduced Denise to me.
I sat back down.
"Why?""
"Because he helped her access information about Angela's accounts. He also knew when you were away from home.""
I thought about all the nights I'd worked late.
All the times Denise had encouraged me to take extra projects.
All the times she'd insisted I should leave household paperwork to her.
I felt physically sick.
Robert slid another document across the table.
It was a copy of an email.
The subject line read:
*REED HOUSEHOLD — NEXT STEPS.*
The sender was Peter.
The recipient was an email address I didn't recognize.
The message was short.
Marcus is fully committed. Once the guardianship paperwork is finalized, everything will be easier. Denise says the boy is becoming a problem.
I stared at the screen.
"The boy?""
Robert nodded.
"Malik.""
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
"What's wrong?""
His voice was urgent.
"Marcus, you need to get back here.""
"What happened?""
"Denise is outside my house.""
My blood ran cold.
"Is Malik inside?""
"Yes.""
"Keep the doors locked.""
"There's more. She's not alone.""
I stood.
"Who is she with?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Peter Collins.""
I looked at Robert.
He was already watching me.
Then Daniel said something that made my legs feel weak.
"Marcus, Peter is telling the police that Malik threatened Kayla and that you helped him hide evidence.""
I gripped the phone.
"What?""
"He's claiming you destroyed the photographs Denise found.""
I looked at Robert.
He closed his eyes.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"They're trying to make sure nobody believes your son.""
