Chapter 5: The Brother Who Wanted His Life
The garage door rose with a metallic rattle.
Julian stepped between Derek and the opening.
"Stop.""
Derek froze, one hand still on the handle.
"Move, Julian.""
"No.""
"Don't make this ugly.""
Julian looked at the key in Derek's hand.
"How did you get that?""
Derek shrugged.
"Your wife gave it to me.""
"Why?""
"Ask her.""
Julian felt anger surge through him, but he kept his voice level.
"You aren't entering my garage or taking anything from it.""
Derek let out a short laugh.
"Your garage? That's funny.""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded document, the same one he had shown Julian through the doorway.
"You need to read this.""
"I'll read it when my attorney receives a copy.""
Derek's face tightened.
"Of course. Run to the lawyer. That's what you do when things get difficult.""
Julian said nothing.
Derek took another step toward him.
"You think you're the only one who has sacrificed? You get the house, the steady job, the family. Everybody talks about how responsible Julian is. How Julian always does the right thing.""
His voice sharpened.
"Do you know what it's like being the person nobody expects anything from?""
Julian looked at him steadily.
"That doesn't give you the right to steal from me.""
Derek's mouth twisted.
"Steal? You haven't even seen the whole picture.""
"Then show me.""
For a moment, Derek seemed to consider it.
Then his gaze shifted past Julian, toward the house.
"Where's Isaiah?""
"Inside.""
"Good. He doesn't need to hear this.""
Julian stepped closer, blocking Derek's view.
"Don't use my son to make a point.""
Derek laughed again, but the sound lacked confidence.
"Your son? Vanessa has been raising him while you disappear for twelve hours a day.""
Julian felt the words hit a raw place.
He had missed school assemblies. He had arrived late to birthday parties. He had spent weekends repairing appliances and picking up extra shifts because he believed his work was protecting his family.
But Isaiah had never been unwanted in his own home until Vanessa decided otherwise.
"You're not going to stand here and blame my son for your choices," Julian said.
Derek's expression hardened.
"Fine. Then let's talk about the house.""
He unfolded the document.
"This property has been transferred.""
"With a signature I never gave.""
"That's what you think.""
"That's what my attorney is investigating.""
Derek's eyes narrowed.
"You already hired someone?""
"Yes.""
For the first time, Derek appeared genuinely unsettled.
He glanced at his phone.
Julian noticed.
"What's the problem, Derek?""
"Nothing.""
"Then leave.""
Derek crumpled the document into his fist.
"You don't understand. There are people waiting on this deal.""
"What deal?""
Derek said nothing.
"Who are these people?""
"People who aren't going to be happy if this falls apart.""
Julian stared at him.
"You put my house into a deal with people I don't know?""
Derek looked away.
The silence answered more than words could have.
Julian took out his phone and called Rachel on speaker.
She answered quickly.
"Julian?""
"Derek is here trying to remove an item from the garage. He's also claiming the property has already been transferred.""
Rachel's voice became firm.
"Mr. Mitchell, if you can hear me, do not remove anything or interfere with the property while this disputed filing is being investigated. Julian has been advised to preserve the relevant records.""
Derek's eyes flashed.
"Who is this?""
"Rachel Brooks, legal counsel for Julian Carter. Any questions about the disputed transfer can be directed to my office.""
Derek scoffed.
"You're not my lawyer.""
"No, I'm not. And you should obtain your own legal advice.""
Julian watched Derek's face.
The confidence he had brought to the driveway was beginning to fracture.
Rachel continued.
"Julian, please document any further attempts to access the garage. If he refuses to leave or attempts to force entry, contact law enforcement.""
"I will.""
Julian ended the call.
Derek stared at him.
"You think a lawyer is going to save you?""
"No," Julian replied.
"I think the truth will help.""
Derek shook his head and stepped back.
"You always did think you were better than me.""
"I never thought that.""
"You didn't have to say it. Everybody knew.""
Julian studied his brother-in-law.
For years, Derek had arrived at family gatherings with stories about business opportunities that never materialized. Vanessa defended him whenever Julian questioned his requests for money.
Julian had mistaken his own reluctance to embarrass the family for kindness.
Perhaps Vanessa and Derek had mistaken it for weakness.
"How much money do you owe?"" Julian asked.
Derek's eyes narrowed.
"What?""
"How much?""
"That's none of your business.""
"You used our joint account to pay your company. You put my name on a deed I never signed. How much money are you trying to cover up?""
Derek's face reddened.
"You don't know anything about my finances.""
"Then explain why you needed my house.""
Derek looked at the open garage.
For a second, Julian thought he might finally tell the truth.
Instead, Derek said, "Because Vanessa promised me it would be mine.""
The words hung in the freezing air.
Julian felt his chest tighten.
"What did you say?""
Derek seemed to realize he had revealed too much.
He shoved the document back into his jacket.
"Ask your wife.""
Then he turned and walked toward the SUV.
Julian didn't follow him.
He watched until the vehicle disappeared around the corner, then closed the garage door and locked it.
Inside, Isaiah was sitting on the living room sofa with Marcus, the neighbor Julian had asked to stay nearby. A blanket covered the boy's legs, and a mug of warm milk rested on the coffee table.
Marcus stood.
"Everything all right?""
"For now.""
Marcus glanced toward the garage.
"That your wife's brother?""
"Yeah.""
"He looked angry.""
"He has reasons to be worried.""
Marcus nodded but didn't press.
After he left, Julian sat beside Isaiah.
"Did you hear anything?""
"A little.""
Julian put an arm around him.
"I'm sorry.""
"Why?""
"Because you shouldn't have to hear grown-ups fighting.""
Isaiah leaned against him.
"Is Uncle Derek a bad man?""
Julian took a breath.
"He's made some choices that hurt people. But it's not your job to decide what kind of man he is.""
"Is Mom bad too?""
Julian looked at the boy's face.
"No one is only one thing, buddy. But people are responsible for what they do, even when they love someone.""
Isaiah thought about that.
Then he asked, "If Mom loves Uncle Derek, does that mean she doesn't love me?""
Julian pulled him close.
"No. It doesn't mean that. But loving someone doesn't make every choice they make okay.""
Isaiah nodded slowly.
Julian could tell the answer hadn't solved the question.
Perhaps nothing would for a while.
That evening, Julian made spaghetti. Isaiah helped sprinkle cheese over the bowls, and they ate at the kitchen table while snow tapped against the windows.
For a brief moment, the ordinary rhythm of dinner made the house feel like home again.
Then Julian's phone rang.
Rachel.
"I've received the preliminary records," she said.
"There's something important you need to know.""
Julian stood and walked into the hallway.
"What is it?""
"The deed isn't the only document filed six weeks ago. There was also a loan application referencing the property.""
"How much?""
"Two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.""
Julian gripped the phone.
"Against my house?""
"That's what the application indicates. The lender appears to have relied on the submitted ownership documents and a supporting authorization.""
"I never authorized a loan.""
"I understand. The application is now being reviewed. But we need to determine whether any funds were disbursed and where they went.""
Julian looked through the doorway at Isaiah, who was carefully winding spaghetti around his fork.
"Can they take the house?""
"I can't promise you the outcome yet. The disputed signature and the circumstances surrounding the filing will matter. We'll move quickly to protect your position.""
Julian thanked her and ended the call.
Two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
He had bought the house for less than that.
He had spent years paying down the mortgage, repairing the roof, replacing the furnace, and building a life inside those walls.
Someone had tried to use all of it as collateral.
And the person whose name appeared on the transfer was his wife's brother.
At 8:41 p.m., a new message arrived from Vanessa.
*Derek told me you spoke to him. Please don't do anything else until I can explain.*
Julian stared at the screen.
He typed a reply.
*Tell me the truth. Why is Derek's name on my house?*
The typing indicator appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Then her answer arrived.
*Because I was trying to protect you.*
Julian read it twice.
He almost laughed.
Protect him?
She had allowed their son to sleep in a garage. She had signed documents that appeared to bear his forged signature. Their joint account had lost thousands of dollars.
He typed again.
*From what?*
This time, the reply came immediately.
*From what Derek knows about the money you gave him.*
Julian went completely still.
He had never given Derek any money.
Not the twelve thousand dollars he had requested.
Not the fourteen thousand dollars that had disappeared from the joint account.
Nothing.
Unless Vanessa was talking about something else.
He called her.
She answered on the first ring.
"Julian?""
"Explain that message.""
Her breathing sounded uneven.
"I can't do it over the phone.""
"You can start by telling me what money you're talking about.""
"Please. Just meet me.""
"Where?""
"The old diner on Route 6. Tomorrow morning. Nine o'clock.""
Julian hesitated.
"Why not tonight?""
"Because Derek is watching the house.""
Julian looked toward the front window.
A car passed through the falling snow.
"What does that mean?""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"It means he's desperate, Julian. And if he realizes what I have, he could do something stupid.""
"What do you have?""
Silence.
Then she whispered, "The original agreement.""
Julian's heart began to pound.
"What agreement?""
"The one that proves your signature was never supposed to be on that deed.""
He closed his eyes.
"Vanessa, if you're lying to me—"
"I'm not.""
"Then tell me one thing. Why did you put Isaiah in the garage?""
There was a long silence.
When she finally answered, her voice had broken.
"Because Derek told me if Isaiah stayed out of the way, you would sign the papers without asking questions.""
Julian felt the room tilt.
"You punished our son to help your brother steal my house?""
"No!"" Vanessa cried.
"That's not what I meant.""
"Then what did you mean?""
"I was trying to buy time.""
"For what?""
Her answer came so quietly that he almost missed it.
"Because the person Derek borrowed the money from isn't a bank.""
Julian stared at the wall.
"Who is it?""
Vanessa began to cry.
"I don't know his real name.""
"Vanessa—"
"But I know what he told Derek.""
"What?""
Her next words changed everything.
"He said if the money wasn't paid by Friday night, he was coming for the house himself.""
The line went dead.
Julian stood in the hallway, listening to the silence.
May you like
Friday night was tomorrow.
And someone Julian had never met believed his home belonged to them.