Chapter 6: What His Father Left Behind
Nobody breathed.
Marcus stared at the front door.
Richard's voice came again.
“Marcus, open the door.””
Darius stepped in front of him.
“Don't.””
Marcus whispered, “You know he's telling the truth.””
“I know he's dangerous.””
Another knock.
“Marcus,” Richard called.
“If you want answers, you need to let me in.””
Marcus looked at Darius.
“Move.””
“No.””
“Move.””
“You don't understand what you're dealing with.””
Marcus grabbed Darius by the collar.
“I've spent the last hour finding out that my fiancée stole money from me, my future mother-in-law lied about my father, and the man I've never heard of was apparently protecting my fiancée for six years.””
Darius didn't fight back.
Marcus continued.
“So forgive me if I don't take instructions from you anymore.””
Aaliyah stepped forward.
“Marcus, please listen to him.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why should I?””
“Because Darius saved my life.””
The words stopped him.
“When?””
Aaliyah's voice shook.
“Three years ago.””
Darius looked away.
“I was attacked outside my apartment.””
Marcus stared at him.
“By who?””
“We never found out,” Darius said.
“You never found out?””
“No.””
Aaliyah wrapped her arms around herself.
“But whoever did it knew where I lived.””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“And my father knew this?””
“Yes.””
“That's why he hired Darius?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Your father believed someone was following Aaliyah because of something connected to him.””
Marcus's mind raced.
“What?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“We never found out.””
Richard knocked again.
“Marcus, you are running out of time.””
Marcus shouted toward the door.
“Why should I believe you?””
Silence.
Then Richard answered.
“Because I have something that belonged to your father.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“What?””
“A recording.””
Darius immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You know about it?””
Darius said nothing.
Richard spoke through the door.
“Your father recorded our final conversation.””
Marcus walked toward the entrance.
Darius grabbed his arm.
“Don't open that door.””
Marcus pulled free.
“Then tell me what the recording says.””
Darius hesitated.
“Your father knew he was going to die.””
Marcus froze.
Evelyn covered her face.
Aaliyah whispered, “Mom…”
Marcus looked at Darius.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“You suspected?””
“I was hired to protect Aaliyah. Not your father.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Then why didn't you protect him?””
Darius's eyes hardened.
“Because he ordered me not to.””
The room fell silent.
Marcus opened the door.
Richard Vale stood on the porch.
He was older now, his silver hair neatly combed, his black coat buttoned to the throat.
Two men stood behind him.
Richard looked at Marcus.
“You have your father's eyes.””
Marcus didn't move.
“You said he was alive.””
Richard's expression became grim.
“I said he didn't die eight years ago.””
“What does that mean?””
Richard stepped inside.
“Your father disappeared.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You told everyone he died.””
“I told everyone what your father instructed me to tell them.””
Marcus felt his fists clench.
“Why?””
Richard reached into his coat.
Darius immediately moved between them.
Richard slowly raised one hand.
“Relax.””
He pulled out a small silver recorder.
He placed it on the table.
“This is the last message your father ever left.””
Marcus stared at the device.
“Play it.””
Richard pressed the button.
Static filled the room.
Then a man's voice came through.
Marcus hadn't heard that voice since he was twenty-four.
His father's voice.
“If you're hearing this, Marcus, something has gone wrong.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
The recording continued.
“I need you to understand one thing. The wedding must never happen.””
Marcus looked at Aaliyah.
She began crying.
His father's voice continued.
“Not because Aaliyah is responsible.””
Marcus's eyes widened.
“Because the wedding will transfer ownership of Willow Creek.””
Marcus looked at the contract.
Richard watched him carefully.
The recording continued.
“The person arranging the transfer believes Marcus knows nothing about the trust.””
A pause.
Then his father's voice became quieter.
“But there is one person I never trusted.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
Richard's face went pale.
The recording said the name.
“Richard Vale.””
Richard immediately reached for the recorder.
Marcus snatched it away.
“Don't touch it.””
Richard stepped back.
The recording continued.
“If Richard is standing beside you when you hear this, leave immediately.””
Marcus stared at him.
His father's voice became urgent.
“Because the person who betrayed me isn't the person you think.””
The recording crackled.
Then one final sentence came through.
“Marcus, if Aaliyah is still with you, ask her what she found in my office.””
The recording stopped.
Silence.
Marcus slowly turned toward Aaliyah.
She was trembling.
He spoke softly.
“What did you find?””
Aaliyah couldn't answer.
Marcus took one step toward her.
“Aaliyah.””
She closed her eyes.
Then she reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small brass key.
May you like
And Marcus recognized it immediately.
It was the key to his father's office.
