Chapter 7: The Truth Behind the Disappearance
Nia stared at Malik.
“Say that again.””
Malik swallowed.
“Your father survived.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
The attic seemed to tilt beneath Nia's feet.
For twenty years, she had carried a funeral inside her.
She had remembered a casket she never saw opened.
A photograph beside a church altar.
Her mother's black dress.
The flowers.
The whispers.
And now a man stood in front of her saying the entire thing had been a lie.
Nia looked at Marcus.
“Is it true?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Dad?””
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.””
Nia's breath left her.
“You survived.””
“Yes.””
“And you watched me mourn you.””
“I did.””
“Why?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Because the man who attacked me believed I was dead. If he discovered I survived, he would have come after you.””
Nia shook her head.
“But you knew where I was.””
“Yes.””
“You watched me grow up.””
“Yes.””
“You watched me graduate.””
Marcus's eyes filled.
“Yes.””
“My wedding?””
He looked down.
“Yes.””
Nia's face twisted.
“You were there?””
“Across the street.””
“You saw me marry Darius?””
“Yes.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I tried.””
“You tried?””
Her voice cracked.
“You let me marry the man who just beat me with a belt.””
Marcus flinched.
“I didn't know what Darius had become.””
“But you knew who his family was.””
“Yes.””
“You knew there were secrets.””
“Yes.””
“You knew his father was dangerous.””
“Yes.””
“And you still stayed away.””
Marcus looked at the floor.
“I thought distance would keep you alive.””
Nia laughed bitterly.
“It didn't.””
“No.””
The word came quietly.
“It didn't.””
Malik stepped forward.
“I need you to hear the rest.””
Nia turned toward him.
“What else did Darius do?””
Malik glanced at the phone.
“The recording wasn't everything.””
He unlocked the device.
“There are more.””
Darius's voice played again.
*“Once she signs the release, Mom gets the trust documents. I get the property. And Malik gets his share.””*
Nia looked at Malik.
“You were supposed to get paid?””
Malik shook his head.
“I was supposed to pretend I knew nothing.””
“Same thing.””
“I know.””
The recording continued.
Denise's voice sounded nervous.
*“What about Marcus?””*
Darius laughed.
*“Marcus is old news.””*
Then another voice entered.
A man's voice.
Older.
Rougher.
Nia's blood went cold.
She looked at Marcus.
He stared at the phone.
The voice said:
*“He should have stayed buried.””*
Marcus whispered, “No.””
Nia's heart pounded.
“Who is that?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Malik stopped the recording.
“Who is it?””
Marcus looked at him.
“Darius's father.””
Nia shook her head.
“You said he was dead.””
“I thought he was.””
Malik stepped closer.
“He isn't.””
Nia stared.
“How many people in this family are supposed to be dead?””
Nobody laughed.
Tasha took the phone.
“Where is Darius's father?””
Malik looked at her.
“I don't know.””
“Then how do you know he's alive?””
“Because Darius met him last month.””
Nia's stomach tightened.
“Where?””
“An old warehouse.””
Marcus's face changed.
“Which warehouse?””
Malik hesitated.
“The one near the river.””
Marcus went pale.
“That's where I was attacked.””
Nia turned toward him.
“What?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Twenty years ago, your father-in-law arranged a meeting there.””
“And you went?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Marcus took a breath.
“He tried to force me to hand over the financial records.””
“And you refused.””
“Yes.””
“Then what?””
“He shot me.””
Tasha covered her mouth.
Nia whispered, “You were shot?””
Marcus nodded.
“I survived.””
“And then?””
“I ran.””
“Where?””
“A friend found me.””
“Who?””
Marcus looked toward the broken attic window.
“Your father's old attorney.””
Nia stared.
“You disappeared with him.””
“Yes.””
“And Mom knew?””
“Yes.””
Nia looked at her mother.
“She knew you were alive?””
Marcus nodded.
Her mother began crying.
“I knew.””
Nia's face hardened.
“You both lied to me.””
Her mother whispered, “We thought we were saving you.””
Nia turned away.
She needed air.
She walked to the attic window.
The neighborhood lights shimmered below.
For twenty years, she had thought her father's death was the first tragedy her family endured.
Now she realized it had been the beginning of a conspiracy.
Behind her, Tasha said, “What happens now?””
Marcus answered.
“We find the original deed.””
Nia turned.
“Why?””
“Because the trust has one condition.””
“What condition?””
Marcus looked at her.
“You must claim the property personally before your thirty-first birthday.””
Nia frowned.
“I turned thirty last month.””
“Yes.””
“So I have time.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not much.””
“How much?””
“Three days.””
Nia's eyes widened.
“Why?””
“Because the trust expires on the fourth day.””
Tasha stared.
“Then Darius was trying to make her sign before that.””
Marcus nodded.
“And once the trust expires?””
“The property becomes available to whoever holds the valid transfer documents.””
Nia looked at the broken trunk.
“So the deed is the key.””
“Yes.””
Malik suddenly raised a finger.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at him.
He pointed to the bottom of the trunk.
“There.””
A false wooden panel.
Marcus crouched.
He ran his fingers along the edge.
“There was never supposed to be a compartment.””
Malik shook his head.
“Apparently there was.””
Marcus pressed down.
The panel clicked.
Nia leaned closer.
Inside was a small metal box.
No lock.
Just a folded piece of paper taped to the lid.
Nia pulled it free.
Her father's handwriting.
*The person who finds this must know the truth before opening the box.*
Nia stared at Marcus.
“What truth?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Your mother wasn't the one who betrayed me.””
Evelyn gasped.
Nia frowned.
“Then who was?””
Marcus pointed toward Malik.
Everyone turned.
Malik's face went white.
“What?””
Marcus said quietly, “His father.””
Malik stepped backward.
“No.””
“Your father gave them my location.””
Malik shook his head violently.
“My father died when I was twelve.””
“He didn't.””
Malik stared.
Marcus continued.
“He changed his name.””
Nia's phone buzzed.
A new message.
Unknown number.
*You should stop listening to your father.*
Then another.
*He still hasn't told you why he really disappeared.*
Nia's hands went cold.
A third message arrived.
*Ask him who your real father is.*
She stared at the screen.
Then slowly looked at Marcus.
“Dad…”
Marcus's expression changed.
“What?””
Nia held up the phone.
He read the message.
His face drained of color.
Tasha whispered, “That's impossible.””
Marcus didn't respond.
Nia stepped closer.
“Why would someone say that?””
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
“Because they know exactly where to hurt you.””
“That's not an answer.””
“I know.””
“Then give me one.””
Marcus looked at the metal box.
Then at Nia.
“There is something inside that box I never wanted you to find.””
Nia's voice became cold.
“What?””
May you like
Marcus whispered:
“Your birth certificate.””