Chapter 4: The Wife He Never Knew He Had
For several seconds, Marcus couldn't hear anything except the sound of his own breathing.
A marriage certificate.
Another woman.
Four years ago.
He looked at Vanessa, waiting for her to laugh, to tell him this was some elaborate misunderstanding, to produce an explanation that might somehow make the impossible sound reasonable.
She did none of those things.
Instead, she whispered, "Please don't let them show you that document.""
Marcus slowly lowered his phone.
"Why?""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Because it's fake.""
Detective Harris was still speaking on the other end.
"Mr. Williams? Are you still there?""
"Yes. I'm listening.""
"We need you to come in tonight. We've recovered several documents from Mr. Miller's apartment, including financial records, identification documents, and the marriage certificate.""
"Who is the woman?""
"We're still verifying her identity.""
Marcus swallowed.
"Does she know about this marriage?""
"We believe she does.""
Marcus glanced at Olivia.
His sister looked as shocked as he felt.
"Detective, I need you to answer one question. Was my signature on that certificate?""
"Yes, sir.""
"I never signed a marriage certificate.""
"We understand that. That's why we're investigating.""
Marcus ended the call.
Vanessa immediately approached him.
"Baby, please. You have to listen to me.""
He stepped backward.
"Stop calling me that.""
"Marcus, I swear I never wanted this to happen.""
"Who did I supposedly marry?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"You don't know?""
"Robert handled everything!""
Marcus stared at her.
"Robert is dead.""
"I know!""
"Then who handled it after he died?""
Vanessa covered her face.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was Daniel closing his briefcase.
Olivia stepped forward.
"Vanessa, tell him.""
Vanessa glared at her.
"You have no right to judge me.""
"I helped you steal the money. I know exactly how much right I have.""
Marcus turned toward his sister.
"What are you talking about?""
Olivia took a breath.
"Four years ago, Vanessa told me that Dad's estate had a problem with an old business partnership. She said someone needed to be listed as a spouse to protect certain assets.""
Marcus frowned.
"She told you I was getting married?""
"No. She told me you had already signed the paperwork.""
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
"Who?""
Vanessa's voice became barely audible.
"Her name is Claire.""
"Claire what?""
"Claire Bennett.""
The name meant nothing to him.
He shook his head.
"Never heard of her.""
"She was an employee at one of Robert's financial offices.""
Marcus stared.
"An employee?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She was supposed to be part of a temporary arrangement.""
"A temporary marriage?""
"It wasn't supposed to be real.""
Marcus laughed.
"Do you hear yourself?""
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Listen. Robert told me that the estate needed another legal beneficiary. He said your father had made arrangements that would cause problems if you remained the only person with an interest in the property.""
"Why would my marital status matter?""
"Because of the trust.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Mrs. Williams, stop.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Why?""
"Because you're describing a legal scheme that could expose you to additional criminal charges.""
She went pale.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Explain.""
Daniel removed his glasses.
"Some trusts include provisions that change how assets are distributed after a beneficiary marries, divorces, or dies. But your father's trust did not contain the provision she's describing.""
Marcus's stomach tightened.
"So someone invented it?""
"That appears to be the case.""
Olivia shook her head.
"I knew there was something wrong. But I didn't know about the marriage.""
Marcus turned toward his sister.
"Why did you keep helping her?""
Olivia looked down.
"Because she told me the money would eventually be returned.""
"And you believed her?""
"At first.""
"Six years, Olivia.""
"I know.""
Marcus looked away.
He couldn't bear to see her face.
His phone rang again.
Detective Harris.
"Mr. Williams, we've identified the woman.""
Marcus answered immediately.
"Who is she?""
"Claire Bennett. Thirty-four years old. Former employee of Hayes Financial Services.""
"And?""
"She has agreed to cooperate.""
Marcus glanced at Vanessa.
"What has she told you?""
The detective paused.
"She says she never met you.""
Marcus felt a chill move down his spine.
"What?""
"She says the marriage was arranged through a third party. She was told you were aware of it and had agreed to the arrangement.""
"That's a lie.""
"We believe so. But there's another issue.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Go ahead.""
"Ms. Bennett claims she received monthly payments for maintaining the arrangement.""
"From whom?""
"An account connected to your wife.""
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head frantically.
"That's not true.""
Detective Harris continued.
"There's also a photograph of you signing documents at a law office.""
Marcus frowned.
"I never went to that office.""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
"Can you send me the address?""
"Yes. But I'd like you to come in first.""
"I'll be there.""
He ended the call.
Vanessa reached for him.
"Marcus, please. Don't go to the police.""
He looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
"Why?""
"Because they'll misunderstand everything.""
"They've already found a marriage certificate with my name on it.""
"Robert said it was just paperwork!""
"Robert is dead, Vanessa. Stop blaming a dead man for everything you did.""
She began sobbing.
"I was trying to protect our future!""
Marcus stared at her.
"Our future?""
"Yes!""
"Was Derek part of that future?""
She didn't answer.
"Was the man hiding in my closet supposed to inherit my father's house?""
Vanessa looked away.
Marcus shook his head.
"Unbelievable.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Marcus, I recommend you leave with me. We need to preserve the remaining documents in your father's study.""
Marcus nodded.
Then he remembered the silver key.
He looked at Olivia.
"Come with us.""
Olivia hesitated.
"Are you sure?""
"No. But I want the truth.""
She nodded.
As Marcus headed toward the door, Vanessa shouted after him.
"Marcus! If you walk out now, you'll destroy everything!""
He stopped.
Slowly, he turned around.
"No, Vanessa. I think you already did that.""
He left.
The police station smelled of burnt coffee and disinfectant.
Detective Harris met Marcus in a small interview room just after ten.
He was in his early fifties, with tired eyes and a gray mustache. He placed a folder on the table.
"Mr. Williams, I know tonight has been difficult.""
Marcus sat down.
"Difficult doesn't quite cover it.""
Harris nodded.
"Let's start with the marriage certificate.""
He opened the folder.
A photocopy showed Marcus's name beside Claire Bennett's.
The date was four years earlier.
The location was a courthouse in Nevada.
Marcus stared at the signature.
It looked like his.
Almost.
The capital M had the same shape. The final stroke in Williams was slightly longer than his usual signature.
But something else bothered him.
He looked at the date.
"September 18.""
"Correct.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I was in London that week.""
Detective Harris opened another document.
"Your travel records confirm that.""
"Then how could I have signed this?""
"That's what we're investigating.""
Marcus examined the witness signatures.
One name stood out.
Robert Hayes.
He pointed.
"Robert witnessed this?""
"According to the certificate.""
Marcus leaned back.
"He's been dead for two years.""
Harris nodded.
"Which means the document may have been prepared before his death and filed later.""
Marcus looked at the detective.
"Who submitted it?""
"A legal representative named Paul Whitmore.""
Marcus frowned.
"Never heard of him.""
"He's currently missing.""
The detective turned another page.
"We also recovered an email exchange between Mr. Hayes and your wife.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Show me.""
Harris slid the printed emails across the table.
The first message was dated August 30, four years earlier.
The paperwork is ready. Claire has agreed to proceed. We only need Marcus's identity documents and the authorization.
Vanessa's reply was short.
I'll take care of it. He won't suspect anything.
Marcus felt his fingers go numb.
The next email was from Robert.
Once the marriage is registered, the additional beneficiary structure can be activated. This will protect the transfer.
Marcus read the final message.
Vanessa had written:
And once the house is sold, nobody will ever connect the money to us.
He stared at the page.
Then he looked up.
"She knew.""
Harris nodded.
"Yes.""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"How much money did Claire receive?""
"Approximately $48,000 over four years.""
"And Derek?""
"He's being questioned.""
Marcus looked at the detective.
"Is he talking?""
Harris closed the folder.
"Not yet.""
"Then what?""
The detective leaned forward.
"Mr. Williams, there's one more thing we recovered.""
He placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Vanessa standing outside a hospital.
Beside her was an elderly man in a wheelchair.
Marcus stared.
His father's face was unmistakable.
But Richard Williams had died six years earlier.
Marcus looked at the photograph's date.
It was dated three weeks before his father died.
"Where was this taken?""
"At a private medical facility in Connecticut.""
Marcus studied the photograph.
"Why was Vanessa visiting my father?""
Harris watched him carefully.
"That's what we need you to help establish.""
Marcus shook his head.
"She told me she never visited him without me.""
The detective turned the photograph over.
On the back, someone had written a single sentence.
He knows about the second will.
Marcus looked up.
"What second will?""
Harris said nothing.
Then his phone rang.
He answered, listened briefly, and stood.
When he returned, his expression had changed.
"Mr. Williams, we just received a call from the hospital where your father spent his final weeks.""
Marcus felt his pulse quicken.
"What about it?""
"An employee has come forward.""
"Who?""
Harris hesitated.
"Your father's private nurse.""
He glanced at the photograph.
"She says your father was fully conscious when he signed the original will.""
Marcus stood.
"And?""
The detective lowered his voice.
"She says he told her exactly who was trying to steal his inheritance.""
He paused.
"Apparently, he named three people.""
Marcus swallowed.
"Who?""
May you like
Harris looked directly at him.
"Your wife. Your sister. And someone you still trust.""
