Chapter 5: Plan B
Jordan stared at the folder name.
“Dad?””
Marcus looked over his shoulder.
“What is it?””
Jordan pointed at the screen.
“There's another file.””
My mouth went dry.
“Don't open that.””
Marcus turned toward me.
“Why?””
“Because it contains private information.””
He looked at the folder again.
Then he clicked.
A document appeared.
The first page contained a list of dates, financial accounts, and instructions.
The second page contained a photograph of Marcus leaving his office.
The third page contained a handwritten note.
Marcus read it aloud.
“'If the medical petition is challenged, establish a pattern of unpredictable behavior and obtain additional witness statements.''”
He stopped.
His eyes moved to the next line.
“'Use the incident at the lake house if necessary.''”
He looked up.
“What incident?””
I felt my hands go cold.
Raymond stood abruptly.
“That's enough. We need to stop looking at these files.””
Marcus turned toward him.
“You've said that three times. Every time we find something, you want us to stop.””
Raymond looked toward the front door.
“Because you're making things worse.””
“Worse for whom?””
Raymond said nothing.
Marcus looked back at the laptop.
The document continued.
If Marcus becomes physically aggressive, document the behavior and request an immediate emergency evaluation.
Jordan frowned.
“Dad has never been physically aggressive.””
Marcus scrolled.
Another paragraph appeared.
If necessary, arrange for a confrontation in a controlled environment where witnesses can observe his reaction.
Marcus's expression changed.
He looked at me.
“You planned to make me look dangerous?””
I shook my head.
“That's not what it means.””
“Then what does it mean?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
He turned the laptop toward me.
“Your name is on this file!””
I began crying.
“Raymond handled those details.””
Raymond slammed his palm against the table.
“Don't put everything on me!””
Marcus stared at him.
“Then explain it.””
Raymond walked toward the kitchen window.
“I was trying to protect my sister.””
“From what?””
“From losing everything.””
Marcus laughed.
“She had a home, a car, access to our accounts, and a husband who trusted her. What exactly was she going to lose?””
Raymond turned.
“You don't understand what it was like living with you.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“You controlled everything.””
“I built a business.””
“You controlled the money. You controlled the decisions. Danielle had to ask you before spending money on anything substantial.””
I stared at Raymond.
That wasn't how it had happened.
Marcus had never restricted my spending. He had encouraged me to manage our household, make investments, and pursue my own interests.
But Raymond had always resented him.
He had once lost his own business because of reckless financial decisions. Marcus had rescued him, but Raymond never stopped feeling humiliated by it.
Marcus seemed to remember something.
“You were the one who asked me for another loan last year.””
Raymond's jaw tightened.
“I was in a difficult position.””
“I gave you two hundred thousand dollars.””
“And you reminded me of it every time we argued.””
“I never did that.””
“You made sure I knew I owed you.””
Marcus looked genuinely stunned.
“Raymond, I helped you because you were family.””
Raymond shook his head.
“You helped me because you wanted to feel like the hero.””
Marcus stared at him.
Then he looked at the laptop.
“Is that why you agreed to help Danielle?””
Raymond didn't answer.
The silence was enough.
Jordan opened another file.
This one contained a spreadsheet.
He scrolled through several rows.
“Dad, these are bank transfers.””
Marcus moved closer.
The spreadsheet listed amounts, dates, and account references.
Most transfers were relatively small.
Five thousand dollars.
Eight thousand.
Twelve thousand.
But one entry stood out.
<text color="secondary" size="xs" weight="medium">TRANSFER RECORDED — SEPTEMBER 29</text>
<title size="2xl" color="default" tabularNums={true}>$485,000</title>
Marcus stared at the number.
“Where did this money go?””
Jordan clicked the corresponding entry.
The destination account belonged to a company called Northbridge Consulting.
Marcus frowned.
“I've never heard of that company.””
Raymond looked away.
I tried to intervene.
“It's an investment account.””
Marcus turned.
“Whose investment?””
“Mine.””
“With nearly half a million dollars from a company account?””
“It was temporary.””
“Did you have authorization?””
I didn't answer.
Marcus picked up his phone.
“Patricia needs to see this.””
He took several photographs of the screen.
Then he looked at Raymond.
“Did you receive any of this money?””
Raymond's face tightened.
“I was paid for consulting work.””
“Consulting?””
“I helped with business restructuring.””
“Half a million dollars?””
Raymond shrugged.
“It was a complicated project.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You've been stealing from me.””
Raymond exploded.
“I BUILT THIS WITH YOU!””
Marcus stepped forward.
“No. You worked for me. You received a salary. I gave you opportunities.””
“You think you own everybody!””
“I gave you a second chance when your company collapsed!””
“And I paid for it every single day!””
Their voices rose.
Jordan moved behind Marcus.
I could see the fear returning to his face.
“Dad, please.””
Marcus immediately stopped.
He took a breath.
Then he stepped away from Raymond.
“I'm sorry, son.””
Raymond laughed bitterly.
“Look at that. Even now, the boy gets everything.””
Jordan stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
Raymond's expression hardened.
“You have no idea what your mother and I sacrificed.””
I stepped forward.
“Raymond, stop.””
He looked at me.
“No. I'm done protecting you.””
Marcus raised his phone.
“Neither of you is going anywhere until the police arrive.””
Raymond reached for his jacket.
Marcus moved toward him.
“Don't.””
Raymond stopped.
Then he looked at Jordan.
“Your mother did all of this because she wanted to protect you.””
Jordan shook his head.
“Don't use me.””
“I'm telling the truth.””
“No. You're trying to make me feel guilty.””
Raymond's eyes narrowed.
“You wouldn't even exist if it weren't for me.””
Jordan flinched.
Marcus stepped between them.
“Don't you ever speak to him like that again.””
Raymond raised his hands.
“Fine.””
He sat down.
For a moment, the kitchen became quiet.
Then Jordan looked at the folder again.
“Dad, there's another document.””
Marcus approached him.
“What now?””
Jordan clicked it.
A photograph appeared.
It showed a small office.
A desk.
A filing cabinet.
And a man standing beside a computer.
Marcus leaned closer.
“That's Gregory's office.””
I felt my stomach drop.
Jordan opened the file details.
The photograph had been taken two months earlier.
The next image showed a document on the desk.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
It was a medical evaluation form.
But something about it was different.
The doctor's name was not Samuel Whitaker.
It was Dr. Leonard Price.
Marcus frowned.
“Why are there two doctors?””
Raymond suddenly stood.
“Close that file.””
Marcus turned.
“Why?””
“Because that document has nothing to do with this.””
Jordan opened the next photograph.
It showed a text message printed on paper.
The sender's name was visible.
Gregory Mills.
The message read:
The first doctor won't cooperate anymore. We need another option.
Below it was a reply.
From Raymond.
I know someone who can sign without asking too many questions.
Marcus looked at him.
“You arranged another doctor?””
Raymond didn't answer.
Marcus read the next message.
Make sure the report says he is a danger to himself and his family. That will speed things up.
He looked at Raymond.
“Did you write this?””
Raymond's shoulders dropped.
“Yes.””
Marcus stepped backward.
“You wanted me declared dangerous?””
Raymond shook his head.
“I was desperate.””
“For what?””
Raymond looked toward me.
I knew he was about to reveal something I had worked very hard to conceal.
“Tell him,” he said.
I shook my head.
“Don't.””
Raymond laughed.
“You think you can still protect yourself?””
Marcus turned toward me.
“What is he talking about?””
I looked at the floor.
Raymond spoke.
“Danielle wasn't just afraid of losing access to your company.””
He pointed toward the laptop.
“She had debts.””
Marcus frowned.
“What debts?””
Raymond continued.
“Over a million dollars.””
I stared at him.
“That's not true.””
Marcus looked at me.
“Danielle?””
I swallowed.
“I made some investments.””
“What investments?””
“Private real estate projects.””
“Without telling me?””
“I thought I could recover the money.””
Marcus's expression changed.
“How much?””
I couldn't speak.
Raymond answered.
“One million, three hundred thousand.””
Marcus slowly sat down.
Jordan looked at me.
“Mom?””
I closed my eyes.
The debt had begun with a property investment I believed would double within six months.
Then another opportunity.
Then another.
When the first project collapsed, I borrowed money to cover the losses.
I told myself I could fix everything.
But the debt kept growing.
Eventually, Raymond introduced me to a private lender.
The lender wasn't interested in excuses.
He wanted repayment.
And he wanted it quickly.
Marcus looked at the spreadsheet.
“Was that where the money went?””
I nodded.
“Some of it.””
“Some?””
I began crying.
“I didn't know what else to do.””
Marcus stared at me.
“You could have told me.””
“I was ashamed.””
“You could have asked for help.””
“I thought you'd leave me.””
He looked away.
Then he said something that silenced the room.
“I would have helped you.””
I looked at him.
He continued.
“Even if you had lost every dollar. Even if you had made the worst investment in Maryland. I would have helped you.””
His eyes filled.
“But you decided I was worth more dead, confused, or legally powerless than I was alive.””
I shook my head violently.
“No. I never wanted you dead.””
Marcus didn't respond.
Jordan moved toward the laptop.
“Dad, there's one more thing.””
Marcus rubbed his face.
“Open it.””
The final file contained a document titled EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY.
Jordan read the first paragraph.
Then he stopped.
“What is it?”” Marcus asked.
Jordan looked up.
“It says if the guardianship petition fails, the family should proceed with an emergency medical incident.””
Marcus went completely still.
“What kind of medical incident?””
Jordan scrolled.
His face drained of color.
Then he whispered:
“Something called an accidental overdose.””
I began shaking.
Marcus slowly turned toward me.
“Danielle.””
I couldn't meet his eyes.
He picked up his phone and dialed emergency services.
This time, his voice was steady.
“My name is Marcus Reed. I believe someone has been tampering with my food and medication. I need immediate assistance.””
He gave the address.
Then he added:
“And I need someone to investigate a possible attempted poisoning.””
I closed my eyes.
The word poisoning seemed to hang in the air.
When Marcus ended the call, he turned toward me.
“Have I already been poisoned?””
I shook my head.
“I don't know.””
He stared at me.
Then he asked the question that destroyed whatever remained of my composure.
“Did you ever give me something that you knew could hurt me?””
I opened my mouth.
Before I could answer, Raymond spoke.
“She didn't know about the last dose.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“What last dose?””
Raymond looked at me.
I stared at him.
“Raymond, don't.””
He ignored me.
“The substance in the drinks wasn't the only thing being used.””
Marcus's face went pale.
“What else?””
Raymond swallowed.
May you like
Then he said:
“Check the medication bottle in your bedroom.””
