Chapter 4: ## Chapter 4: The Call From a Dead Man
For three seconds, nobody dared: The Call From a Dead Man
For three seconds, nobody dared to touch the phone.
The name on the screen seemed to touch the phone.
The name on the screen seemed impossible.
*Marcus Reed.*
Denise stared at it, one hand pressed against her mouth. Tiana stood beside Aaliyah, gripping impossible.
*Marcus Reed.*
Denise stared at it, one hand pressed against her mouth. Tiana stood beside Aaliyah, gripping her arm so tightly that neither woman seemed to notice. Charles looked as though he had just watched a ghost walk through the her arm so tightly that neither woman seemed to notice. Charles looked as though he had just watched a ghost walk through the front door.
The phone rang again.
“Answer it,” Denise whispered.
Charles shook his head.
“Charles, answer that front door.
The phone rang again.
“Answer it,” Denise whispered.
Charles shook his head.
“Charles, answer that phone.””
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain it after you answer!””
The call stopped.
A second later, the phone.””
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain it after you answer!””
The call stopped.
A second later, the screen lit up with a new message.
Charles. Pick up. I know they're there.
Den screen lit up with a new message.
Charles. Pick up. I know they're there.
Denise snatched the phone before her husband could reach for it.
“Who is this?”” she demanded, forgetting that she was lookingise snatched the phone before her husband could reach for it.
“Who is this?”” she demanded, forgetting that she was looking at a text rather than speaking to the caller.
Aaliyah leaned over her shoulder.
“Call him back.””
Charles caught at a text rather than speaking to the caller.
Aaliyah leaned over her shoulder.
“Call him back.””
Charles caught Denise's wrist.
“Don't.””
She jerked away from him.
“You have spent two years telling me your brother was dead. Now his name is on your Denise's wrist.
“Don't.””
She jerked away from him.
“You have spent two years telling me your brother was dead. Now his name is on your phone, and you expect me to sit quietly?””
“I expect you to think before you do something you can't take back.””
phone, and you expect me to sit quietly?””
“I expect you to think before you do something you can't take back.””
Denise's eyes flashed.
“You should have thought about that before you made me bury a man whoDenise's eyes flashed.
“You should have thought about that before you made me bury a man who might still be breathing.””
She pressed the call button.
The phone began to ring.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then might still be breathing.””
She pressed the call button.
The phone began to ring.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then a man's voice came through the speaker.
“Charles?””
Denise stopped breathing.
The voice was older than she remembered, a man's voice came through the speaker.
“Charles?””
Denise stopped breathing.
The voice was older than she remembered, rougher around the edges, but unmistakable. She had heard it at birthday parties, Thanksgiving dinners, family reunions, and late-night phone rougher around the edges, but unmistakable. She had heard it at birthday parties, Thanksgiving dinners, family reunions, and late-night phone calls when Marcus needed somebody to listen to him complain about his older brother.
She had heard it two years earlier, or calls when Marcus needed somebody to listen to him complain about his older brother.
She had heard it two years earlier, or thought she had, in the memories she replayed after his funeral.
Now it was coming from the phone in her thought she had, in the memories she replayed after his funeral.
Now it was coming from the phone in her hand.
“Marcus?”” she whispered.
Silence.
Then the voice changed.
hand.
“Marcus?”” she whispered.
Silence.
Then the voice changed.
“Denise?””
Her knees nearly buckled.
“Oh, my God.””
“Denise, listen to me. Is Charles there?””
She stared at her husband.
“He's right here.””
“Put him“Denise?””
Her knees nearly buckled.
“Oh, my God.””
“Denise, listen to me. Is Charles there?””
She stared at her husband.
“He's right here.””
“Put him on the phone.””
Denise pressed the speaker button harder, as if doing so could bring her brother-in on the phone.””
Denise pressed the speaker button harder, as if doing so could bring her brother-in-law closer.
“Marcus, is it really you?””
A long pause followed.
“Yes.””
Denise made-law closer.
“Marcus, is it really you?””
A long pause followed.
“Yes.””
Denise made a small, wounded sound.
“Where have you been?””
“I can't explain that right now.””
“You can't explain it a small, wounded sound.
“Where have you been?””
“I can't explain that right now.””
“You can't explain it?”” Her voice rose.
“I stood beside your casket!?”” Her voice rose.
“I stood beside your casket! I watched your brother lower his head at your funeral! I cried for you for two years!””
“I know.””
“No, you don't know! You weren't here!””
“I know what happened, Denise.””
“Then why didn't you come home?””
The line went quiet.
Charles stepped forward.
“Marcus, you shouldn't have called.””
A harsh laugh came through the speaker.
“That's what you said last time.””
T I watched your brother lower his head at your funeral! I cried for you for two years!””
“I know.””
“No, you don't know! You weren't here!””
“I know what happened, Denise.””
“Then why didn't you come home?””
The line went quiet.
Charles stepped forward.
“Marcus, you shouldn't have called.””
A harsh laugh came through the speaker.
“That's what you said last time.””
Tiana moved closer to the desk.
“Uncle Marcus?””
The voice softened.
“Tiana?””
She covered her mouth with bothiana moved closer to the desk.
“Uncle Marcus?””
The voice softened.
“Tiana?””
She covered her mouth with both hands.
“It's me.””
“Baby girl, I'm sorry.””
Tiana began to cry.
She had hands.
“It's me.””
“Baby girl, I'm sorry.””
Tiana began to cry.
She had spent two years trying to remember her uncle's laugh without making herself miserable. She had kept his spent two years trying to remember her uncle's laugh without making herself miserable. She had kept his last birthday card in a drawer and sometimes opened it just to see his handwriting.
There had been days when last birthday card in a drawer and sometimes opened it just to see his handwriting. There had been days when she wanted to call his old number simply to hear his voicemail greeting.
Now he was speaking to her.
And he sounded alive.
“Why did she wanted to call his old number simply to hear his voicemail greeting.
Now he was speaking to her.
And he sounded alive.
“Why did you leave us?”” she asked.
“I didn't mean for it to happen this way.””
“Did you know we thought you leave us?”” she asked.
“I didn't mean for it to happen this way.””
“Did you know we thought you were dead?””
“Yes.””
“Then why?””
“I'll explain everything when I can.””
Tiana shook her you were dead?””
“Yes.””
“Then why?””
“I'll explain everything when I can.””
Tiana shook her head.
“Everybody keeps saying that. Everybody keeps telling us to wait. I'm tired of waiting.””
Marcus exhaled.
“You have every right to be.””
Aaliyah stood motionless beside the desk.
head.
“Everybody keeps saying that. Everybody keeps telling us to wait. I'm tired of waiting.””
Marcus exhaled.
“You have every right to be.””
Aaliyah stood motionless beside the desk.
She had imagined this moment in dreams that left her reaching for her phone in the middle of the night. She had imagined hearing Marcus's voice and immediately forgiving himShe had imagined this moment in dreams that left her reaching for her phone in the middle of the night. She had imagined hearing Marcus's voice and immediately forgiving him. She had imagined screaming at him until every ounce of pain inside her had somewhere to go.
But now that. She had imagined screaming at him until every ounce of pain inside her had somewhere to go.
But now that she could hear him breathing, she could barely form a sentence.
“Marcus?””
The silence that followed was different.
“Aaliyah,” he whispered.
Her eyes she could hear him breathing, she could barely form a sentence.
“Marcus?””
The silence that followed was different.
“Aaliyah,” he whispered.
Her eyes filled.
“Is it really you?””
“Yes, sweetheart.””
She pressed her fingers against her lips.
“Where have you been?””
“I've been trying to get back to you.””
“For two years?””
“I know.””
“You missed filled.
“Is it really you?””
“Yes, sweetheart.””
She pressed her fingers against her lips.
“Where have you been?””
“I've been trying to get back to you.””
“For two years?””
“I know.””
“You missed everything.””
“I know.””
“Our son was born. He has your eyes. He makes this little noise when he's everything.””
“I know.””
“Our son was born. He has your eyes. He makes this little noise when he's falling asleep, and I don't even know if you'd recognize it because you haven't been there to hear it.””
falling asleep, and I don't even know if you'd recognize it because you haven't been there to hear it.””
Marcus made a strained sound.
“Gabriel?””
“His name is Gabriel. The name you picked.””
“IMarcus made a strained sound.
“Gabriel?””
“His name is Gabriel. The name you picked.””
“I remember.””
“He's three months old.””
“I know how old he is.””
Aaliyah closed her eyes.
“Have you seen him?””
“No.””
The answer remember.””
“He's three months old.””
“I know how old he is.””
Aaliyah closed her eyes.
“Have you seen him?””
“No.””
The answer broke something inside her.
She turned away from the phone, trying to steady her breathing.
“You knew he was born, and you didn't come?””
broke something inside her.
She turned away from the phone, trying to steady her breathing.
“You knew he was born, and you didn't come?””
“I couldn't.””
“Why?””
“Because if I came back before I could protect you both,“I couldn't.””
“Why?””
“Because if I came back before I could protect you both, I would have put you in danger.””
Aaliyah turned sharply.
“Someone already threatened my baby!””
The room went still.
Marcus's voice changed immediately.
I would have put you in danger.””
Aaliyah turned sharply.
“Someone already threatened my baby!””
The room went still.
Marcus's voice changed immediately.
“What?””
Denise picked up Charles's phone and read the threatening message aloud.
For several seconds, the only sound was Marcus's breathing.
Then he spoke in a voice none of them had heard before“What?””
Denise picked up Charles's phone and read the threatening message aloud.
For several seconds, the only sound was Marcus's breathing.
Then he spoke in a voice none of them had heard before.
“Charles, did you tell them?””
Charles looked toward the floor.
“Some of it.””
“Some of it?”” Marcus snapped.
“You let them believe I was dead, and now you have them sitting in a room with threats coming through.
“Charles, did you tell them?””
Charles looked toward the floor.
“Some of it.””
“Some of it?”” Marcus snapped.
“You let them believe I was dead, and now you have them sitting in a room with threats coming through your phone?””
“I was trying to keep them safe.””
“You've been saying that for two years.””
“I didn't have a choice.””
“You always had a choice!””
Charles slammed his palm against the desk.
“You think I wanted to do your phone?””
“I was trying to keep them safe.””
“You've been saying that for two years.””
“I didn't have a choice.””
“You always had a choice!””
Charles slammed his palm against the desk.
“You think I wanted to do this? You think I enjoyed watching Denise cry herself to sleep? You think I wanted Tiana to grow up believing her uncle was in a this?
You think I enjoyed watching Denise cry herself to sleep? You think I wanted Tiana to grow up believing her uncle was in a grave?””
Marcus's voice grew colder.
“Then why did you sign the papers?””
Denise looked at the document grave?””
Marcus's voice grew colder.
“Then why did you sign the papers?””
Denise looked at the document on the desk.
“What papers?”” she asked.
Neither brother answered.
“Marcus,” she said, “what papers is he talking about?””
A long silence followed.
Then Marcus said, “The transfer.””
Denise looked down at the on the desk.
“What papers?”” she asked.
Neither brother answered.
“Marcus,” she said, “what papers is he talking about?””
A long silence followed.
Then Marcus said, “The transfer.””
Denise looked down at the property authorization.
“The building?””
“Yes.””
“You signed away your share to Charles?””
“No.””
Charles closed his eyes.
Marcus continued property authorization.
“The building?””
“Yes.””
“You signed away your share to Charles?””
“No.””
Charles closed his eyes.
Marcus continued.
“I never signed that document. I never gave him power of attorney. And I never agreed to transfer anything after my death.””
Denise stared at her husband.
“You forged your brother.
“I never signed that document. I never gave him power of attorney. And I never agreed to transfer anything after my death.””
Denise stared at her husband.
“You forged your brother's signature?””
Charles looked up sharply.
“It wasn't that simple.””
“Then make it simple for me!””
“I was under pressure.””
“From whom?””
Charles opened his's signature?””
Charles looked up sharply.
“It wasn't that simple.””
“Then make it simple for me!””
“I was under pressure.””
“From whom?””
Charles opened his mouth, but Marcus answered first.
“From the same people who wanted the money I owed them.””
Aaliyah slowly turned toward Charles.
“What money?””
Marcus continued before anyone could mouth, but Marcus answered first.
“From the same people who wanted the money I owed them.””
Aaliyah slowly turned toward Charles.
“What money?””
Marcus continued before anyone could interrupt.
“Two years ago, I discovered that somebody had been using our father's business to move money through properties we owned. I thought I could fix it without involving the family. interrupt.
“Two years ago, I discovered that somebody had been using our father's business to move money through properties we owned. I thought I could fix it without involving the family. I borrowed money to cover a shortfall, then found out the shortfall wasn't the real problem.””
Tiana frowned.
“What was?””
“Someone had been stealing from the company for I borrowed money to cover a shortfall, then found out the shortfall wasn't the real problem.””
Tiana frowned.
“What was?””
“Someone had been stealing from the company for years.””
Denise felt cold.
“Who?””
Marcus hesitated.
“That's why I'm calling.””
Charles stepped toward the phone.
“Marcus, don't.””
“I'm done protecting you years.””
Denise felt cold.
“Who?””
Marcus hesitated.
“That's why I'm calling.””
Charles stepped toward the phone.
“Marcus, don't.””
“I'm done protecting you.””
“You don't know what they'll do.””
“I know exactly what they've already done.””
His voice cracked with anger.””
“You don't know what they'll do.””
“I know exactly what they've already done.””
His voice cracked with anger.
“They took my name. They took my home. They made my family bury an empty box while I.
“They took my name. They took my home. They made my family bury an empty box while I hid like a criminal. And now they're threatening a woman and a child who have done absolutely nothing wrong.””
Aaliyah gripped the desk.
“Marcus, who is threatening us?””
“I can't hid like a criminal. And now they're threatening a woman and a child who have done absolutely nothing wrong.””
Aaliyah gripped the desk.
“Marcus, who is threatening us?””
“I can't say it over the phone.””
“Why not?””
“Because the people involved may be closer than you think.””
Denise glanced toward the windows.
The afternoon say it over the phone.””
“Why not?””
“Because the people involved may be closer than you think.””
Denise glanced toward the windows.
The afternoon sunlight suddenly felt exposing. Every house on the street looked ordinary. A neighbor walked a dog sunlight suddenly felt exposing.
Every house on the street looked ordinary. A neighbor walked a dog past the driveway. A delivery truck rolled to a stop at the corner.
Yet the room felt as though somebody had been standing outside it past the driveway. A delivery truck rolled to a stop at the corner.
Yet the room felt as though somebody had been standing outside it for years, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Where are you?”” Denise asked.
“I can't tell you.””
“Marcus, I'm your family!””
“I know, and that's exactly why I can't.””
She for years, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Where are you?”” Denise asked.
“I can't tell you.””
“Marcus, I'm your family!””
“I know, and that's exactly why I can't.””
She wiped her cheeks angrily.
“You don't get to decide what risks we can take after you've already wiped her cheeks angrily.
“You don't get to decide what risks we can take after you've already taken two years of our lives.””
Marcus fell silent.
Then he said, “You're right.””
The admission stunned her.
“I taken two years of our lives.””
Marcus fell silent.
Then he said, “You're right.””
The admission stunned her.
“I should have found another way,” he continued.
“I should have trusted you. I should have told you what was happening should have found another way,” he continued.
“I should have trusted you. I should have told you what was happening before I disappeared.””
Tiana leaned toward the phone.
“Can we see you?””
“Not yet.””
“Uncle Marcus, please.””
“I promise before I disappeared.””
Tiana leaned toward the phone.
“Can we see you?””
“Not yet.””
“Uncle Marcus, please.””
“I promise you, I'm trying.””
Aaliyah's voice was barely audible.
“What about Gabriel?””
Marcus took a shaky breath.
“I want to see my son more than anything.””
“Then you, I'm trying.””
Aaliyah's voice was barely audible.
“What about Gabriel?””
Marcus took a shaky breath.
“I want to see my son more than anything.””
“Then come home.””
“I can't until I know he's safe.””
“He isn't safe now!””
“I know come home.””
“I can't until I know he's safe.””
“He isn't safe now!””
“I know.””
“No, Marcus. You don't get to say you know and then disappear again.””
The words.””
“No, Marcus. You don't get to say you know and then disappear again.””
The words hung between them.
For the first time, Marcus had no answer.
Then a faint noise came through the speaker.
A door closing.
Footsteps.
Marcus stopped talking.
“Marcus?”” Charles hung between them.
For the first time, Marcus had no answer.
Then a faint noise came through the speaker.
A door closing.
Footsteps.
Marcus stopped talking.
“Marcus?”” Charles said.
No response.
“Marcus, are you there?””
The line crackled.
Then Marcus whispered, “Someone's said.
No response.
“Marcus, are you there?””
The line crackled.
Then Marcus whispered, “Someone's here.””
Denise straightened.
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
A chair scraped across a hard floor on the here.””
Denise straightened.
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
A chair scraped across a hard floor on the other end.
Marcus's breathing grew faster.
“Listen to me,” he said urgently.
“If anything happens, don't trust the man who other end.
Marcus's breathing grew faster.
“Listen to me,” he said urgently.
“If anything happens, don't trust the man who—”
The call ended.
Aaliyah lunged toward the phone.
“Call him—”
The call ended.
Aaliyah lunged toward the phone.
“Call him back!””
Charles pressed the button.
The number was unavailable.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Denise stared at the blank screen.
“Who was he going to say?””
Charles didn't back!””
Charles pressed the button.
The number was unavailable.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Denise stared at the blank screen.
“Who was he going to say?””
Charles didn't answer.
Tiana turned toward her father.
“Don't you dare tell us you don't know.””
Charles's face had gone ashen.
Aaliyah looked from him to the documents scattered answer.
Tiana turned toward her father.
“Don't you dare tell us you don't know.””
Charles's face had gone ashen.
Aaliyah looked from him to the documents scattered across the desk.
Then she noticed something she had overlooked before.
The threatening text had arrived less than a minute before Marcus called.
Someone had across the desk.
Then she noticed something she had overlooked before.
The threatening text had arrived less than a minute before Marcus called.
Someone had warned Charles to get rid of her.
And someone else had known precisely when Marcus would make contact.
She picked up warned Charles to get rid of her.
And someone else had known precisely when Marcus would make contact.
She picked up the phone and studied the timestamps.
“Somebody is watching this family,” she whispered.
Denise turned toward the front window.
the phone and studied the timestamps.
“Somebody is watching this family,” she whispered.
Denise turned toward the front window.
Across the street, a black SUV sat parked beneath a maple tree.
Its engine was running.
And as the four ofAcross the street, a black SUV sat parked beneath a maple tree.
Its engine was running.
May you like
And as the four of them stared at it, the driver's side window began to lower.
them stared at it, the driver's side window began to lower.
