Chapter 4: The Name on the Deed
“Your father.””
The words barely left her mother’s mouth before the room seemed to shrink around Nia.
“My father?””
Her mother nodded.
Tasha stared at her.
“Mom, Dad has been dead for twenty years.””
“I know.””
“Then how can he own the house?””
“He doesn’t.””
Nia’s pulse hammered.
“You just said his name.””
“I said his name because he is the reason the house exists.””
Three knocks sounded against the front door.
Denise.
“Nia,” she called.
“We need to talk.””
Nia ignored her.
She turned back to her mother.
“Start from the beginning.””
Her mother wiped her cheeks.
“I met Denise before you ever met Darius.””
Tasha frowned.
“You knew her?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Their mother looked toward the window.
“Your father worked with her husband.””
Nia sat down slowly.
“What did Dad do?””
“Construction.””
“I know that.””
“You know he worked construction. You don't know what he was building.””
Her mother opened the drawer again and removed a small brown notebook.
The cover was cracked.
Nia recognized it immediately.
Her father's handwriting.
She hadn't seen it since she was ten.
Her mother placed it on the table.
“He and Denise's husband were partners on several properties. Small houses at first. Then larger developments.””
Tasha picked up the notebook.
“Why have I never seen this?””
“Because I was afraid.””
Nia stared at the worn cover.
“Afraid of what?””
“Of what would happen if the wrong person found it.””
Denise knocked again.
“Your mother knows exactly what I'm talking about!””
Nia's head snapped toward the door.
Her mother whispered, “She shouldn't be here.””
Tasha moved closer to the curtains.
“She came alone.””
Nia looked at the notebook.
“Mom, what does this have to do with Darius?””
Her mother took a shaky breath.
“Everything.””
She opened the notebook to a marked page.
Several addresses were written there.
One was circled.
Nia recognized it.
Her house.
Her stomach twisted.
Below the address was a note in her father's handwriting:
*For Nia. Hold until she is old enough.*
Nia's eyes filled instantly.
“What?””
Her mother looked down.
“Your father bought that property before he died.””
Tasha stared at the page.
“He bought it for Nia?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't we know?””
“Because your father didn't want anyone to know.””
Nia turned another page.
There were numbers.
Payments.
Names.
Dates.
And one name appeared again and again.
*Carter.*
Denise's family.
Nia looked up.
“Dad was doing business with them.””
“Yes.””
“And something happened.””
Her mother nodded.
“Your father discovered money was being moved out of their joint accounts.””
“By who?””
“Denise's husband.””
Tasha whispered, “So Dad caught him stealing?””
“Not exactly.””
Her mother closed the notebook.
“He caught him hiding debts.””
A sharp knock hit the door.
Denise shouted, “Nia! Open this door!””
Nia stood.
“What happened after Dad found out?””
“He wanted to leave the partnership.””
“Did he?””
Her mother didn't answer.
Nia's face hardened.
“Mom.””
“No.””
The word came quietly.
“He never got the chance.””
Silence.
Nia's mouth went dry.
“What do you mean?””
“He died three weeks later.””
Tasha stared at her.
“Mom, are you saying Dad's death wasn't an accident?””
“I don't know what happened to your father.””
“But you suspect something.””
“Yes.””
Nia looked at the door.
Denise's voice came again.
“Your father knew the truth!””
Her mother flinched.
Nia whispered, “How does she know we're talking about him?””
“She always knew.””
“Then why did she let me marry Darius?””
Her mother's eyes filled with shame.
“Because she thought she could use you to get what your father left behind.””
Nia froze.
“What did he leave behind?””
Her mother looked at the notebook.
“Proof.””
Tasha turned the page.
“Proof of what?””
“Fraud.””
The word hung in the air.
Nia's phone buzzed.
A text from an unknown number.
*You have ten minutes to come outside. Bring the notebook.*
Another message appeared.
*If you don't, Darius will come here himself.*
Nia stared at the screen.
Tasha read over her shoulder.
“Absolutely not.””
Nia looked toward the front door.
“How does he know?””
Her mother whispered, “Because he has been watching us.””
Tasha stepped toward the curtains again.
“He's not outside.””
“Darius doesn't have to be.””
Nia's mother stood.
“Denise wouldn't threaten you unless she was desperate.””
Nia looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because she knows what is in that notebook.””
Nia picked it up.
“Then I'm going to ask her.””
Her mother grabbed her wrist.
“No.””
Nia gently pulled free.
“You spent twenty years protecting me with secrets.””
Her mother began crying.
“And look where that got me.””
Nia's expression softened for half a second.
Then hardened again.
“I need the truth.””
She walked to the front door.
Tasha followed.
“Nia, wait.””
Nia turned.
“I'll be careful.””
“You just punched your husband tonight.””
“And I'd do it again.””
Tasha almost smiled.
“That's not what I meant.””
“I know.””
Nia unlocked the door.
Denise stood on the porch.
She was no longer wearing the composed expression she had worn in the living room.
Her burgundy dress was wrinkled.
Her eyes were red.
She looked past Nia.
At the notebook.
Then her face drained of color.
“Oh, God.””
Nia stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
“You knew my father.””
Denise swallowed.
“Yes.””
“You knew about the house.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Darius was hurting me.””
Denise's eyes dropped.
“Yes.””
Nia's voice shook.
“And you did nothing.””
Denise looked at her.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
Nia stared.
“What does that mean?””
Denise stepped closer.
“Your father wasn't killed because of money.””
Nia's breathing stopped.
“He was killed because of what he discovered.””
A car engine started somewhere down the street.
Denise glanced toward the sound.
“Get inside.””
“Why?””
“Because Darius is coming.””
Nia shook her head.
“No.””
Denise grabbed her arm.
“You don't understand. He knows about the notebook.””
Nia pulled away.
“How?””
Denise's voice dropped to a whisper.
“Because I gave him your father's files.””
Nia stared at her.
“You what?””
Denise's eyes filled with tears.
“I thought I was protecting my son.””
“And you destroyed my family.””
“I know.””
Headlights appeared at the end of the street.
Denise turned.
Her face went pale.
“He's here.””
Nia looked.
A black SUV rolled slowly toward the house.
Tasha opened the front door behind her.
“Nia!””
Denise whispered, “Hide the notebook.””
Nia looked down.
Then back at the approaching vehicle.
The SUV stopped directly across from them.
The driver's door opened.
Darius stepped out.
But he wasn't alone.
A man climbed out of the passenger side.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Nia had never seen him before.
Denise stared at him.
Her lips parted.
“No…”
Nia looked between them.
“Who is that?””
May you like
Denise backed away.
“That man died twenty years ago.””