Chapter 5: What Naomi Remembered
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The kitchen clock ticked above us.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Naomi stared at her father.
“Dad?””
Marcus looked like a man who had finally run out of places to hide.
“I'm sorry.””
Naomi backed away.
“For what?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
I stepped in front of her.
“Don't.””
Marcus looked at me.
“Claire, please.””
“You don't get to walk into this house after disappearing for a day and tell my daughter she wasn't supposed to survive.””
“I know.””
“You know?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
Denise picked up the brown envelope.
“What's inside?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Read it.””
She opened it carefully.
Inside was a photocopy of a police report.
Then another document.
Then a photograph.
Denise's expression changed as she read.
I reached for the photograph.
It showed a damaged sedan.
The driver's side was crushed.
A street sign was visible in the background.
*Lake Shore Drive.*
The date was three years earlier.
I remembered that night.
Marcus had told me he had been delayed at a business dinner.
Naomi had been asleep at home with a babysitter.
At least, that was what I thought.
I looked at Marcus.
“You lied.””
“Yes.””
“About that night?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
He sat down.
“I wasn't at dinner.””
“Where were you?””
“Driving.””
“With who?””
He looked at Naomi.
“Brielle.””
I felt something inside me snap.
“So this goes back three years.””
“Yes.””
“And you had an affair with her then?””
“Yes.””
Naomi whispered, “Mom.””
I took her hand.
Marcus looked at the floor.
“We were fighting that night.””
“You and Brielle?””
“Yes.””
“About what?””
“The foundation.””
Denise looked up.
“What did Brielle know?””
“She had discovered the transfers.””
“To her company?””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“So she was involved.””
“She was involved because I forced her into it.””
“What does that mean?””
Marcus rubbed his face.
“Her company was legitimate at first. Consulting. Small contracts.””
“Then?””
“I used it to move money.””
“Why?””
He looked at me.
“Because someone was threatening us.””
“Who?””
Marcus said nothing.
Denise leaned forward.
“Marcus, if you want legal protection, you need to start being precise.””
He nodded.
“There was a man named Evan Rusk.””
I didn't recognize the name.
“Who is he?””
“A former executive.””
“From your company?””
“Yes.””
“What did he want?””
“Money.””
“How much?””
“Millions.””
“Why?””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“Because he had evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
He looked at me.
“An old acquisition.””
I waited.
“Three years ago, my company acquired a medical technology firm. During the acquisition, we discovered accounting irregularities.””
“And?””
“I covered them up.””
Denise's face hardened.
“How?””
“I redirected foundation money temporarily.””
“Temporarily?””
“I intended to replace it.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Marcus looked at his hands.
“Because Rusk discovered what I had done.””
“And he blackmailed you.””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“And Brielle?””
“She found out.””
“So she tried to stop you.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you keep seeing her?””
He closed his eyes.
“Because she knew where the records were.””
I laughed bitterly.
“So the affair was convenient.””
“At first.””
“And later?””
He looked at me.
“I loved her.””
Naomi's fingers tightened around mine.
I didn't react.
Not because it didn't hurt.
Because there was something more important now.
“You said someone tried to kill Naomi.””
Marcus's face changed.
“Yes.””
“Tell me.””
He took a breath.
“Rusk knew I had a daughter.””
My stomach twisted.
“He wanted leverage.””
“Leverage?””
“He arranged the accident.””
Denise stood.
“Are you saying the crash was intentional?””
“Yes.””
“Do you have proof?””
Marcus pointed to the envelope.
“The police report was altered.””
I looked at Denise.
She read the report again.
“There are inconsistencies.””
Marcus nodded.
“The original report disappeared.””
“Then where did this copy come from?””
“Brielle.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Why did she keep it?””
“Because she knew one day you'd need it.””
I couldn't breathe.
“Then why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of you?””
“Of everyone.””
My phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
*He finally told you.*
I stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
*Now ask him who was driving the second car.*
I looked at Marcus.
“Who was driving the second car?””
His face went completely still.
Denise noticed.
“Marcus?””
He didn't answer.
“Who was driving it?””
He looked at Naomi.
Then at me.
“I don't know.””
“That's a lie.””
“I swear.””
Another message appeared.
*He knows.*
Then:
*He just doesn't know that I know.*
I stood.
“Who is this person?””
Marcus looked at the phone.
His face drained of color.
“You've been talking to them?””
I didn't answer.
“Claire.””
“Who?””
He shook his head.
“You need to stop.””
“Who?””
His voice cracked.
“Because if it's who I think it is, you're already in danger.””
I stepped closer.
“Tell me.””
He looked at Denise.
Then at Naomi.
Finally, he whispered a name.
“Evan Rusk.””
The room went silent.
I looked at the phone.
Another message appeared.
*That's not true.*
I stared at it.
Then another:
*Evan Rusk has been dead for two years.*
Marcus saw the message.
He stopped breathing.
Denise reached for my phone.
“Don't respond.””
But another message appeared before she could take it.
*Ask Marcus who paid for his funeral.*
Marcus stumbled backward.
“That's impossible.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He shook his head.
“I watched him die.””
“Then how is he messaging my daughter?””
“I don't know.””
The phone buzzed again.
This time it wasn't a text.
It was an incoming call.
The screen showed:
*Unknown Number.*
Naomi whispered, “Mom.””
I looked at her.
She was crying.
“Don't answer.””
I reached for the phone.
Then Marcus said something that made my hand stop.
“Claire…”
“What?””
His eyes were fixed on the screen.
“That number…”
May you like
He swallowed.
“…belongs to Brielle.””
