Chapter 4: The Message From the Dying Man
I read the message three times.
Then I looked at Denise.
"How does Elliot Cole have my number?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me again.""
"I'm not!""
I held up the phone.
"He says you've been lying for nine years. He says Raymond isn't Maya's only secret. What does that mean?""
Denise pressed her hands against her chest.
"Marcus, you need to understand something. Elliot is very sick. He's confused. Raymond has been telling him things that aren't true.""
"Then why is he contacting me?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at the message again.
*Whatever you do, don't let him take her.*
My eyes moved toward the driveway.
Lauren was standing beside her car with Maya. My daughter was hugging her stuffed rabbit, watching the front door.
I suddenly felt exposed.
Someone had been watching our family.
Someone knew about Maya.
Someone knew I was leaving with her.
And someone was desperate enough to warn me.
I called the number.
It rang twice.
A weak male voice answered.
"Marcus Hayes?""
"Yes. Who is this?""
"Elliot Cole.""
"How did you get my number?""
"Denise gave it to me.""
I turned toward my wife.
Her face went white.
"Why?"" I demanded.
"Marcus, put the phone down.""
I ignored her.
"Elliot, I received your message. I need you to explain what you mean.""
There was a faint sound of hospital machinery in the background.
"Are you somewhere private?""
"I'm standing in my house.""
"Then listen carefully. Raymond is not the person you should be worried about most.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"It means my son has spent years using other people's identities to get what he wants.""
I looked at Denise.
She had moved closer.
"Your son has been having an affair with my wife," I said.
Elliot was silent.
Then he answered quietly.
"I know.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"How?""
"Because he told me.""
I stared at the wall.
"He told you?""
"Raymond tells me everything when he wants money.""
I felt anger rising.
"Does he also tell you about the loan he took against my house?""
"Yes.""
The answer was so immediate that I nearly dropped the phone.
"You knew?""
"I found out last month.""
"And you did nothing?""
"I tried.""
His voice weakened.
"Mr. Hayes, I have been in and out of hospitals for months. My son controls several of my financial accounts. Every time I try to stop him, he threatens to abandon me.""
I looked at Denise.
She was staring at the floor.
"What does Maya have to do with your estate?""
Elliot took a slow breath.
"She may be entitled to something. But that isn't why Raymond wants her.""
"Then why?""
"Because Raymond believes he can use her identity to gain access to something that belongs to me.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
"My family trust.""
I glanced at the document Denise had given me.
The inheritance paperwork suddenly seemed much more important.
"Explain.""
Elliot coughed.
"Twenty-two years ago, my wife and I established a family trust. It was designed to protect our grandchildren. But there's a condition. Any biological grandchild must be independently verified before receiving benefits.""
I looked toward the driveway.
"Raymond wants Maya's identity verified?""
"Not exactly.""
"What exactly does he want?""
Elliot paused.
Then he said, "He wants to replace the records.""
I stared at the phone.
"Replace what records?""
"His original birth records. His paternity records. Everything that connects him to my family.""
I didn't understand.
"Why would he do that?""
"Because Raymond isn't my biological son.""
The room seemed to shrink.
I looked at Denise.
She was now sitting on the edge of the sofa.
"Elliot, you're saying Raymond isn't your son?""
"I raised him. I loved him. But his mother had an affair before we married. I found out when Raymond was already an adult.""
"Then why does he have access to your estate?""
"Because I never changed his legal status. I didn't believe a family should be destroyed by something that happened before a child could understand it.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Then why does Maya matter?""
"Because Raymond has convinced himself that if Maya is recognized as my biological granddaughter, he can use her claim to challenge the trust.""
I looked at Denise.
"Did you know this?""
She began shaking her head.
"No.""
I covered the microphone.
"Denise, stop.""
Then I returned to the call.
"How do I know you're telling me the truth?""
"You don't.""
His answer surprised me.
"That's why I'm asking you to meet me.""
"Where?""
"Riverside Medical Center. Room 417.""
I looked at the clock.
It was almost ten.
"Why tonight?""
"Because Raymond is coming here tomorrow morning.""
"To see you?""
"To make me sign something.""
"What?""
"A document transferring control of the trust.""
I stared at the wall.
"Then refuse.""
"I already did.""
"What happened?""
His voice dropped.
"He told me if I didn't cooperate, he'd make sure Maya never saw you again.""
My blood ran cold.
I looked toward the window.
A dark SUV was parked across the street.
I hadn't noticed it before.
"Is that Raymond's vehicle?"" I asked.
There was a pause.
"What does it look like?""
"Black SUV.""
Elliot's breathing changed.
"Marcus, get your daughter away from that house.""
I looked outside again.
The SUV's headlights came on.
Then it pulled away.
"Who was that?"" Denise whispered.
I ended the call.
"Lauren!"" I shouted.
My sister opened the passenger door.
"What?""
"Get Maya inside your car. Lock the doors.""
She didn't ask questions.
She helped Maya into the back seat.
I walked outside.
The SUV had disappeared around the corner.
I checked both ends of the street.
Nothing.
When I returned, Denise was standing in the doorway.
"Was that Raymond?""
"I don't know.""
She started crying.
"Marcus, I'm scared.""
I looked at her.
For the first time, I believed she might genuinely be afraid.
But that didn't make her innocent.
I stepped past her.
"You're staying here tonight.""
She grabbed my arm.
"Don't leave me alone.""
I looked down at her hand.
"Where was that concern when Maya was begging you to stop?""
She released me.
I walked toward Lauren's car.
Maya rolled down the window slightly.
"Daddy?""
I leaned closer.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Are we going somewhere safe?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"Are you coming?""
"Of course.""
She looked at me for a moment.
Then she asked, "Is Mommy coming too?""
I didn't know how to answer.
"Not tonight.""
Her little face fell.
I opened the back door and sat beside her.
"Sweetheart, sometimes adults make choices that hurt people. We have to figure out what happened before we know what comes next.""
She looked at her hands.
"Does Raymond know where we live?""
I froze.
"Why do you ask?""
She reached into her backpack and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I found this under my bed.""
I unfolded it.
It was a printed photograph of our house.
Taken from across the street.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*Soon, little girl. You'll be with your real family.*
My hands went cold.
I showed Lauren.
She immediately locked the doors.
"Marcus, we're leaving.""
I looked at Maya.
"Did you see who left this?""
She nodded.
"Uncle Raymond.""
I stared at her.
"When?""
"Yesterday afternoon.""
"Was Mommy home?""
Maya nodded.
"She let him inside.""
I looked toward our house.
Through the front window, Denise was standing in the darkness.
She was holding her phone.
And when our eyes met, she quickly pulled the curtains shut.
I turned to Lauren.
"Take Maya to your house. Don't stop anywhere.""
"What about you?""
"I'm going to the hospital.""
"Marcus, don't go alone.""
"I need answers.""
Lauren stared at me.
Then she nodded.
"Call me every ten minutes.""
I watched her drive away.
Then I opened Elliot's message again.
A second message had arrived.
*I found the original document. Your daughter is not the only child Raymond has been trying to claim.*
I stood beside my car, staring at the words.
Then another message appeared.
*And Marcus, if you want to understand why he chose your family, ask Denise what happened to the baby she gave birth to before Maya.*
I stopped breathing.
Denise had never told me about another child.
Not once in eleven years.
I immediately called her.
She answered after the first ring.
"Marcus?""
I could barely get the words out.
"Did you have another baby before Maya?""
Silence.
May you like
Then I heard her whisper:
"Who told you that?""
