Chapter 4: The Second Account
The next morning, Marcus was gone.
His car wasn't in the driveway.
His phone went straight to voicemail.
And for the first time since I had married him, I didn't know where he was.
Denise told me not to report him missing unless there was a genuine reason to believe he was in danger.
“His disappearance could be strategic,” she said.
“Or someone could have hurt him.””
“Both are possible.””
Naomi sat at the kitchen table, pushing cereal around a bowl.
She hadn't slept.
Neither had I.
My phone buzzed.
An email from Denise.
*We identified the second account.*
I opened the attachment.
The account belonged to Briar North Advisory LLC.
And the authorized signatory wasn't Marcus.
It was Brielle Carter.
I stared at the screen.
“Brielle?””
Denise called immediately.
“You saw it.””
“Yes.””
“She was listed as a managing member.””
I stood.
“So Marcus's mistress owned the company receiving the foundation money?””
“We don't know the entire structure yet.””
“But that's what it looks like.””
“Yes.””
Naomi looked up.
“Mom?””
I walked into the hallway.
“I'm here.””
“Is Dad okay?””
“I don't know.””
“Did he hurt Brielle?””
“I don't know.””
Naomi stared at her phone.
“Maybe she left because she was scared.””
I looked at her.
“Maybe.””
Her phone buzzed.
She opened the message.
The anonymous sender had written:
*Brielle didn't take the money. She was trying to stop him.*
I sat down.
“What does that mean?””
Naomi shrugged.
“Ask.””
The sender replied almost immediately.
*She found out where it came from.*
I typed with shaking fingers.
*Who are you?*
The typing indicator appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally:
*Someone who has been trying to protect your family.*
I typed:
*Why contact my daughter?*
The answer came seconds later.
*Because Marcus watched your phone. He never watched hers.*
My blood went cold.
I looked at Naomi.
“Give me your phone.””
She handed it over.
I checked the messages.
Nothing else.
Denise arrived twenty minutes later.
She took one look at my face.
“What happened?””
I showed her.
She read the messages.
“This person may have access to internal information.””
“Can we trace them?””
“Possibly, but don't engage further.””
I nodded.
Then Denise placed a document on the table.
“This came from the foundation's outside accountant.””
I opened it.
There were handwritten notes in the margin.
One sentence was underlined.
*Funds were not diverted for personal use.*
I frowned.
“What?””
Denise pointed to the next line.
*They were being moved to protect a beneficiary.*
“A beneficiary?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“We don't know.””
I read the document again.
Something didn't make sense.
“If Marcus was stealing from the foundation, why would he move the money into a company owned by Brielle?””
“That is the question.””
“And if Brielle was helping him, why would she disappear?””
“Another question.””
Naomi looked up.
“What if they're both lying?””
Denise smiled faintly.
“That's possible too.””
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a woman's voice.
“Claire?””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
“Don't say my name.””
I recognized the voice.
Brielle.
“Where are you?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Are you safe?””
“For now.””
“Did Marcus hurt you?””
“No.””
Her breathing was uneven.
“Then why did you disappear?””
“Because he found out I knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That the money wasn't for him.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where did it go?””
“I don't know.””
“Brielle.””
“I only know where it was supposed to go.””
“Where?””
She hesitated.
“To someone Marcus was trying to protect.””
“Who?””
“I can't say over the phone.””
“Then meet me.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because if Marcus is watching you, he'll know.””
I looked at Denise.
She was silently shaking her head.
Brielle whispered, “You need to stop looking at me.””
“What?””
“You think I'm the other woman.””
“You are.””
“I know.””
Her voice broke.
“But I wasn't the reason he was lying.””
“Then what was?””
Silence.
“Brielle?””
“He told you about the accident?””
My chest tightened.
“What accident?””
“The one involving Naomi.””
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.
“What are you talking about?””
Brielle gasped.
“Oh God.””
“What accident?””
“I shouldn't have said that.””
“Brielle!””
She hung up.
I stared at the phone.
Denise was already standing.
“What accident?””
“I don't know.””
“Claire, think.””
I shook my head.
“Naomi hasn't been in an accident.””
Denise looked at me carefully.
“Not recently?””
“No.””
Naomi was watching us.
Her face had gone pale.
“Mom?””
I walked toward her.
“What?””
She whispered, “I know what she means.””
I stopped.
“What do you know?””
Naomi's eyes filled with tears.
“Three years ago.””
My heart stopped.
“Three years ago, when?””
“I don't remember everything.””
“Naomi.””
She covered her mouth.
Then she spoke.
“There was a car.””
“What car?””
“Dad's car.””
I knelt.
“What happened?””
She shook her head.
“I thought it was a dream.””
“What dream?””
She looked toward the window.
“I woke up in the back seat.””
The room went silent.
“I couldn't see outside. It was dark.””
I felt dizzy.
“Where was Dad?””
“He was talking to someone.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“What did he say?””
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“I remember one thing.””
“What?””
“He said, ‘Nobody can know she was there.’”
My blood turned to ice.
“Who was there?””
Naomi looked at me.
“I thought he meant me.””
She started crying.
“But I think he meant someone else.””
Before I could ask another question, the front door opened.
We all turned.
Marcus stood in the doorway.
His face was bruised.
His shirt was torn at the collar.
And in his hand was a small brown envelope.
He looked directly at Naomi.
Then at me.
“Claire,” he said.
His voice was barely audible.
“We have to leave.””
Denise stepped between us.
“No.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You don't understand.””
“I understand enough.””
He placed the envelope on the table.
“You need to see what's inside.””
I didn't move.
“What is it?””
Marcus swallowed.
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
He looked at Naomi.
May you like
Then he said the words that changed everything.
“Proof that three years ago, your daughter wasn't supposed to survive.””
