Chapter 6: The Truth About Marcus
The woman pulled Aaliyah toward the back door.
“Move!””
Aaliyah stumbled after her.
“Wait—who are you?””
“Not here.””
“Tell me!””
The woman stopped so suddenly that Aaliyah nearly collided with her.
She turned.
“My name is Nadia.””
Aaliyah stared.
“Nadia?””
“I knew your father.””
“My father knew you?””
Nadia shook her head.
“He knew of me.””
Outside, a car door slammed.
Nadia grabbed Aaliyah’s hand.
“They're here.””
They slipped through the back door and ran into the overgrown yard.
Aaliyah looked over her shoulder.
Two men entered the house through the front.
Nadia pulled her behind a wooden shed.
“Stay quiet.””
Aaliyah covered her mouth.
The men searched the house.
One shouted, “She's not here!””
The other answered, “Check upstairs!””
Aaliyah’s heart hammered.
Nadia leaned close.
“You have the drive?””
Aaliyah nodded.
Nadia's face tightened.
“Then Marcus trusted you.””
“You know Marcus?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“I was the one who gave him the first file.””
Aaliyah stared at her.
“You started all of this?””
“No.””
Nadia shook her head.
“Your father did.””
Aaliyah felt dizzy.
“My father died three years ago.””
“I know.””
“Then how?””
Nadia reached into her coat and pulled out a folded document.
“This is why.””
Aaliyah opened it.
It was a bank statement.
Her father’s name was at the top.
But the account had been active years after his supposed death.
Aaliyah stared at the dates.
Her father's account had received deposits for months after his funeral.
Then large transfers had been made into the same account ending in *4721*.
The account Marcus had been investigating.
“That's impossible.””
“No,” Nadia said.
“It's evidence.””
“Of what?””
“Your father wasn't dead.””
Aaliyah looked up sharply.
Nadia continued.
“He disappeared.””
“But we had a funeral.””
“A body was identified.””
Aaliyah’s blood ran cold.
“Then who was buried?””
Nadia didn't answer.
Aaliyah stepped back.
“No.””
Nadia caught her arm.
“Your father had powerful enemies.””
“Who?””
“People he worked with.””
“What did he do?””
“He discovered they were stealing money from a company he helped build.””
Aaliyah frowned.
“That doesn't explain my mother.””
“It explains everything.””
Nadia pulled another document from her coat.
Aaliyah looked down.
It was a copy of an insurance policy.
The beneficiary was her mother.
But the policy had been changed after her mother's supposed death.
The new beneficiary was—
*Marcus Reed.*
Aaliyah stared.
“Why would Marcus be the beneficiary?””
“Because your mother changed it.””
“But she was dead.””
Nadia looked at her.
“She wasn't.””
Aaliyah felt the world shift beneath her.
“Where is she?””
Nadia looked toward the house.
“Closer than you think.””
Aaliyah's phone suddenly rang.
Marcus.
She answered.
“Marcus!””
His voice was urgent.
“Are you with Nadia?””
“Yes.””
“Good. Don't let her out of your sight.””
Aaliyah frowned.
“Why?””
“Because she knows where your mother is.””
Aaliyah looked at Nadia.
Nadia's expression had gone pale.
“Marcus,” Aaliyah said slowly, “you knew my mother was alive?””
“Yes.””
“For how long?””
“Almost a year.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You lied to me.””
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
“You let me believe she was dead.””
“I didn't have a choice.””
“You always say that!””
Silence.
Then Marcus said quietly, “Aaliyah, I need you to hear me.””
She said nothing.
“The reason I left last night wasn't because I was angry.””
Her breathing stopped.
“I left because someone offered me a choice.””
“What choice?””
“If I stayed with you, they would hurt you.””
Aaliyah closed her eyes.
“Who?””
“I don't know all of them.””
“You're lying.””
“I wish I were.””
Nadia suddenly whispered, “Ask him about the night your mother died.””
Aaliyah opened her eyes.
“What happened that night?””
Marcus went silent.
“Marcus?””
Nothing.
“Tell me.””
His breathing became uneven.
Finally, he said—
“I wasn't supposed to survive that night.””
Aaliyah froze.
“What does that mean?””
“I was there.””
“Where?””
“With your mother.””
Aaliyah looked at Nadia.
Marcus continued.
“And your father was there too.””
Aaliyah's heart pounded.
“My father was dead.””
“No.””
“Then where is he?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Aaliyah…”
“Where is my father?””
The call went silent.
Then came a sound.
A door opening.
Marcus whispered one sentence before the line disconnected.
“Your father is the man who's been following you.””
Aaliyah stared at her phone.
Nadia's face drained of color.
Then, from behind them, a man's voice spoke calmly.
“You shouldn't have come here, Aaliyah.””
She turned.
A tall man stood at the edge of the yard.
He slowly removed his cap.
Aaliyah stared at his face.
She knew those eyes.
She had seen them in photographs all her life.
The man looked at her.
May you like
And said—
“It's been a long time, sweetheart.””
