Chapter 8: The Man I Trusted Most
I looked at the photograph again.
James Carter.
My business partner in everything but ownership.
The man who had helped me build Reed Development Group from a small office into one of the largest independent development companies in Georgia.
The man who had sat beside me while we reviewed the forged guarantee.
The man who had promised to protect the company.
And now he was entering the university archives with Daniel Foster.
I turned slowly.
"Where is James?""
The security officer checked his phone.
"He left the building approximately five minutes ago.""
"Which direction?""
"East entrance.""
I immediately called him.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then went to voicemail.
I tried again.
No answer.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Marcus...""
I held up my hand.
"Not now.""
Dr. Harrison looked deeply troubled.
"James Carter has been a supporter of this university for several years.""
"He's also been in my company for eight years.""
The security officer showed me another photograph.
This one was clearer.
James was holding a brown envelope.
Daniel was carrying a small black case.
They were standing directly outside the archives.
I enlarged the image.
There was something strange about James's expression.
He wasn't smiling.
He looked angry.
Almost as though he were arguing with Daniel.
"Do you have audio?"" I asked.
The officer shook his head.
"Only video.""
"Preserve everything.""
I turned to Olivia.
She had arrived moments earlier.
"Call the police. Tell them we have a potential evidence theft involving two individuals.""
Olivia nodded.
Then she asked, "Do you want to report James?""
I looked at the photograph.
"Not yet. I want to know what he was doing there.""
At 9:15 p.m., I returned to my office.
James still hadn't called.
His office door was locked.
His computer was switched off.
His assistant told me he had left earlier without explaining where he was going.
I stood behind his desk.
On the wall was a framed photograph from our company's tenth-anniversary celebration.
James was standing beside me.
We were both holding champagne glasses.
The caption read:
Built on trust. Sustained by people.
I looked away.
My phone vibrated.
A message from James.
Marcus, don't make any decisions until we speak. There's something I need to explain.
I called immediately.
He answered.
"Marcus.""
"Where are you?""
"Somewhere private.""
"Why were you with Daniel Foster?""
Silence.
Then he sighed.
"I knew you'd see that photograph.""
"Answer the question.""
"I was trying to get information.""
"From Daniel?""
"Yes.""
"Inside the university archives?""
"Marcus, it's complicated.""
"Then simplify it.""
He was quiet for several seconds.
Finally, he said:
"Daniel contacted me three weeks ago.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Why?""
"He claimed he had evidence that someone inside the company was planning to steal confidential information.""
"And you believed him?""
"Not entirely.""
"Yet you met him.""
"Yes.""
"How many times?""
"Four.""
I closed my eyes.
Four times.
While I was reviewing the Whitmore proposal.
While Olivia was investigating the forged signature.
While Vanessa was standing in the graduation courtyard.
James had been meeting Daniel.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wasn't sure who else was involved.""
I looked toward the office door.
"Do you suspect me?""
"No. I suspect someone in our senior management team.""
"Who?""
He hesitated.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
"Your father left a warning about this.""
My eyes opened.
"What?""
"James Reed.""
I gripped the phone.
"How do you know about my father's warning?""
"Because he gave me a copy of it eight years ago.""
I went completely still.
"Eight years ago?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he made me promise.""
I stared at the photograph on the wall.
"James, I swear to God, if you don't explain everything right now...""
"Listen to me. Your father knew Daniel's family was connected to Richard Whitmore. He suspected they might eventually try to get access to the Reed business records again.""
I sat down.
"What did he tell you?""
"He said if anyone approached you with an opportunity involving Whitmore Construction, I was supposed to investigate it quietly.""
"And you did?""
"Yes.""
"Then why are you meeting Daniel?""
"Because he told me he had evidence that Richard was preparing to use your company in another fraud.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Why didn't you come to me?""
"Because he also told me someone close to you might be involved.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
James took a breath.
"I didn't know. I still don't.""
"Then what did you find?""
"Daniel has been working with Richard for years. But I believe he has been planning to betray Richard, too.""
I leaned forward.
"What does he want?""
"Money. A way out. Protection.""
"Protection from whom?""
"Richard.""
I looked at the clock.
"James, where are you?""
"Near Marietta.""
"Why?""
"Because Daniel told me something about the old industrial property.""
My heart started beating faster.
"The Collins property?""
"Yes.""
"What?""
James lowered his voice.
"There's another account hidden beneath the property records. One that links Richard Whitmore to the missing six million dollars.""
I stood.
"Do you have proof?""
"I have part of it.""
"Where?""
James paused.
Then he said:
"With me.""
I closed my eyes.
"Come to my office. Now.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because someone is following me.""
The line crackled.
Then James whispered:
"Marcus, I think Richard knows I have the original transfer records.""
The call ended.
I immediately contacted security.
Within minutes, two vehicles were dispatched to James's last known location.
Olivia arranged for the police to assist.
Vanessa sat quietly in my office.
She had been listening.
"Do you think James betrayed you?""
I stared at the phone.
"I don't know.""
"But you trust him?""
I looked at her.
"That's the problem. I used to.""
She lowered her eyes.
"I know what that feels like.""
I almost responded.
Then I stopped myself.
Her experience with Ethan was not the same as mine.
But the similarity was uncomfortable.
We had both trusted people who had been using us.
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Marcus Reed.""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Reed, this is Officer Mitchell with Atlanta Police.""
"What happened?""
"We located James Carter's vehicle.""
I stood.
"Where is he?""
"At an industrial property near Marietta.""
"Is he all right?""
There was a pause.
"His vehicle was abandoned.""
I gripped the phone.
"Was there any sign of a struggle?""
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Has he been taken to a hospital?""
"No, sir. We haven't located him yet.""
Vanessa stood.
"Marcus?""
I raised a hand.
Officer Mitchell continued.
"We found something inside the vehicle.""
"What?""
"A brown envelope addressed to you.""
My stomach tightened.
"What's inside?""
"We haven't opened it yet. But there's a handwritten note on the front.""
"What does it say?""
The officer read it aloud.
"Don't trust the man who raised you.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
My father was dead.
There was only one man who had raised me besides him.
My mother's older brother.
Uncle Robert.
I drove to my mother's house with Vanessa and Olivia.
It was nearly midnight when we arrived.
My mother opened the door immediately.
She looked frightened.
"Marcus? What's happened?""
"Where's Uncle Robert?""
Her face changed.
"Why?""
"Is he here?""
She glanced toward the living room.
"He's upstairs.""
I walked inside.
My uncle appeared at the top of the staircase.
He was sixty-three, tall, and always impeccably dressed.
He had helped my father raise me after his death.
He'd taught me how to negotiate.
How to read contracts.
How to recognize people who smiled while lying.
He'd even helped me establish Reed Development Group.
I had trusted him almost as much as my father.
He looked surprised.
"Marcus? What's going on?""
I held up the photograph of James's abandoned vehicle.
"Do you know anything about Richard Whitmore?""
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
"Why are you asking?""
"Because his company has been using forged documents bearing my signature.""
My uncle descended the stairs.
"That's serious.""
"Very.""
He looked at Olivia.
"Who's this?""
"My attorney.""
He nodded.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"You're Eleanor's granddaughter.""
Vanessa stiffened.
"You know my grandmother?""
"Of course.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
He gave a tired smile.
"Your father and I knew everyone in that business.""
I placed the old settlement on the coffee table.
My uncle looked down.
The moment he saw the signatures, his face went pale.
I noticed.
"Uncle Robert?""
He swallowed.
"Where did you get this?""
"From Westbridge.""
He slowly sat down.
"Your father should have destroyed that.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why?""
He looked at me.
"Because the settlement wasn't what you think it was.""
I leaned forward.
"Then explain it.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Your father wasn't just trying to help Eleanor Collins. He was protecting himself.""
I stared at him.
"From what?""
My uncle looked toward my mother.
She appeared equally confused.
Then he spoke.
"Your father and Richard Whitmore were partners in more than one business.""
"I know that.""
"No, Marcus. You don't.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded paper.
"Eleven years ago, your father agreed to transfer ownership of a property to Richard in exchange for repayment of a private loan.""
I frowned.
"What loan?""
"Six million dollars.""
I looked at the old settlement.
"That's the same amount.""
My uncle nodded.
"Because Eleanor's settlement was used to conceal the original transaction.""
I felt the room tilt.
"You're saying Dad was involved?""
"Not in the fraud. But he knew the money had been diverted. He wanted to recover it without destroying Eleanor's life.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
My uncle's expression became unreadable.
"Because he discovered something else.""
"What?""
He looked directly at me.
"Richard Whitmore wasn't the only person involved.""
He paused.
"Someone inside your father's family helped him.""
I looked toward my mother.
She shook her head slowly.
My uncle lowered his eyes.
"Your father discovered the truth shortly before he died.""
"Who?""
He looked back at me.
Then he whispered:
"Me.""
Nobody moved.
My uncle Robert sat with his hands clasped.
My mother covered her mouth.
Vanessa stepped backward.
I stared at the man who had been my second father.
"You're saying you helped Richard?""
He shook his head.
"I helped him move money. I didn't know what he was doing.""
"You were involved in the transfers?""
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"Not all six million.""
I laughed once.
It sounded ugly.
"Not all?""
He lowered his head.
"Marcus, I was young. Richard promised me a share of a development company. He told me the money was legitimate.""
"You were forty years old.""
He flinched.
I continued.
"You watched my father lose sleep over this. You watched him fight to protect Eleanor. And you said nothing.""
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Richard had connections. He threatened to destroy my family.""
I stepped closer.
"Which family? The one you were stealing from?""
My mother began crying.
"Robert, is this true?""
He looked at her.
"I'm sorry.""
She shook her head.
"Your brother trusted you.""
"I know.""
I turned away.
Then I looked back.
"Where is James Carter?""
My uncle swallowed.
"I don't know.""
"Do you know where Richard is?""
He didn't answer.
I took out my phone.
"Then the police can ask you.""
My uncle suddenly stood.
"Marcus, wait!""
I turned.
He reached into his pocket and removed a small USB drive.
"Your father gave me this before he died. He told me to keep it safe.""
I stared at the device.
"What's on it?""
"The complete record of the original transfers.""
I held out my hand.
He hesitated.
Then he placed it in my palm.
But before I could say anything, he added:
"There's also a recording of your father explaining why he never told you the truth.""
I looked at the USB drive.
May you like
My father had left me one final message.
And I was about to discover why he had trusted the wrong person with it.
