Chapter 5: The Man in the Black SUV
The driver's## Chapter 5: The Man in the Black SUV
The driver's window lowered another inch.
Denise window lowered another inch.
Denise couldn't see the man's face clearly through the glare on couldn't see the man's face clearly through the glare on the windshield, but she could see his hand resting on the steering wheel. He wore a dark jacket despite the warm afternoon the windshield, but she could see his hand resting on the steering wheel. He wore a dark jacket despite the warm afternoon, and the side of his head remained turned toward their house.
He was watching them.
“Get away from that window,” Charles ordered.
Nobody moved.
“Now!””
, and the side of his head remained turned toward their house.
He was watching them.
“Get away from that window,” Charles ordered.
Nobody moved.
“Now!””
His voice was so sharp that Tiana stumbled backward.
Aaliyah pulled the curtains shut while Denise hurried toward the front door.
Charles caught hisHis voice was so sharp that Tiana stumbled backward.
Aaliyah pulled the curtains shut while Denise hurried toward the front door.
Charles caught his wife's arm.
“Where do you think you're going?””
“To find out who that man is.””
“You are not wife's arm.
“Where do you think you're going?””
“To find out who that man is.””
“You are not leaving this house.””
Denise stared at him.
For twenty-seven years, Charles had occasionally tried to end arguments by leaving this house.””
Denise stared at him.
For twenty-seven years, Charles had occasionally tried to end arguments by raising his voice. Usually, she let him walk away until they could discuss things calmly.
Not today.
raising his voice. Usually, she let him walk away until they could discuss things calmly.
Not today.
“You don't get to give me orders anymore,” she said.
“Not after what you've done.””
She pulled free and reached for“You don't get to give me orders anymore,” she said.
“Not after what you've done.””
She pulled free and reached for the front door.
Charles stepped in front of her.
“If you go outside, he'll know we're frightened.””
Denise the front door.
Charles stepped in front of her.
“If you go outside, he'll know we're frightened.””
Denise laughed bitterly.
“And if I stay inside, he'll magically disappear?””
Charles looked toward the curtained window.
“Please. Just give me a minute.””
That word again.
Minute.
Two laughed bitterly.
“And if I stay inside, he'll magically disappear?””
Charles looked toward the curtained window.
“Please. Just give me a minute.””
That word again.
Minute.
Two years of grief, lies, and unanswered questions had apparently been built out of minutes Charles years of grief, lies, and unanswered questions had apparently been built out of minutes Charles had begged everyone to give him.
Denise stepped aside.
“One minute. Then you tell us everything you know about that car.””
Charles nodded and pulled had begged everyone to give him.
Denise stepped aside.
“One minute. Then you tell us everything you know about that car.””
Charles nodded and pulled his phone from his pocket.
He dialed a number from memory.
The call connected almost immediately.
“It's me,” he said quietly his phone from his pocket.
He dialed a number from memory.
The call connected almost immediately.
“It's me,” he said quietly.
“There's a vehicle outside.””
A pause.
“Yes, now.””
Another pause.
“No, I don't know who it is.””
He listened, then glanced at the others.
.
“There's a vehicle outside.””
A pause.
“Yes, now.””
Another pause.
“No, I don't know who it is.””
He listened, then glanced at the others.
“They've seen the car.””
Denise folded her arms.
“Who are you talking to?””
Charles ignored her.
“What do you mean, don't approach him?“They've seen the car.””
Denise folded her arms.
“Who are you talking to?””
Charles ignored her.
“What do you mean, don't approach him? He's sitting outside my house.””
He listened again.
His expression hardened.
“I'm not asking you to do anything reckless. I want to know who he is.””
The person on the other end spoke for several seconds.
He's sitting outside my house.””
He listened again.
His expression hardened.
“I'm not asking you to do anything reckless. I want to know who he is.””
The person on the other end spoke for several seconds.
Charles's face changed.
“Wait. You know that vehicle?””
He stared at the floor.
Charles's face changed.
“Wait. You know that vehicle?””
He stared at the floor.
“When did you last see it?””
A long silence followed.
Then Charles whispered, “Oh, God.””
He ended the call.
Denise stepped toward him.
“Who was that?””
“My attorney“When did you last see it?””
A long silence followed.
Then Charles whispered, “Oh, God.””
He ended the call.
Denise stepped toward him.
“Who was that?””
“My attorney.””
“Your attorney knows about the car?””
“He's been helping me with the property dispute.””
“What property dispute?””
Charles rubbed his face.
“Marcus's building. The.””
“Your attorney knows about the car?””
“He's been helping me with the property dispute.””
“What property dispute?””
Charles rubbed his face.
“Marcus's building. The transfer documents. The people who were trying to collect the money.””
Denise's expression sharpened.
“Your attorney knew Marcus might transfer documents. The people who were trying to collect the money.””
Denise's expression sharpened.
“Your attorney knew Marcus might be alive?””
“No.””
“Did he know you were hiding something?””
Charles hesitated.
“He knew I had information I couldn't disclose.””
“That is not an answer.””
Before be alive?””
“No.””
“Did he know you were hiding something?””
Charles hesitated.
“He knew I had information I couldn't disclose.””
“That is not an answer.””
Before he could respond, Tiana's phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
Her expression changed so quickly that Aaliyah noticed.
he could respond, Tiana's phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
Her expression changed so quickly that Aaliyah noticed.
“What is it?””
Tiana didn't answer.
“Tiana?””
She turned the phone around.
An unknown number had sent her a photograph.
It showed the front of their house,“What is it?””
Tiana didn't answer.
“Tiana?””
She turned the phone around.
An unknown number had sent her a photograph.
It showed the front of their house, taken from across the street.
The black SUV was visible in the foreground.
The picture had been taken only moments earlier.
Beneath it were seven words.
Tell your father to give us the file.
Denise felt the taken from across the street.
The black SUV was visible in the foreground.
The picture had been taken only moments earlier.
Beneath it were seven words.
Tell your father to give us the file.
Denise felt the blood drain from her face.
“What file?””
Charles stared at the message.
For several seconds, he appeared unable to speak.
Then he walked quickly to his study.
“Stay here blood drain from her face.
“What file?””
Charles stared at the message.
For several seconds, he appeared unable to speak.
Then he walked quickly to his study.
“Stay here.””
“No,” Denise said.
“We're done staying here while you hide things from us.””
He stopped.
“Denise.””
“No,” Denise said.
“We're done staying here while you hide things from us.””
He stopped.
“Denise, please.””
“Tell us what file they're talking about.””
Charles looked at Aaliyah, then at Tiana.
Finally, he returned to his desk and opened the manila folder.
He removed a small black, please.””
“Tell us what file they're talking about.””
Charles looked at Aaliyah, then at Tiana.
Finally, he returned to his desk and opened the manila folder.
He removed a small black flash drive.
“This.””
Tiana stared at it.
“You've had evidence this entire time?””
“Not evidence of everything. Marcus gave me this before he flash drive.
“This.””
Tiana stared at it.
“You've had evidence this entire time?””
“Not evidence of everything. Marcus gave me this before he disappeared.””
Aaliyah's eyes narrowed.
“What is on it?””
“Financial records. Emails. Copies of transactions involving the company.””
“Then why didn't you give it to the police?””
Charles lowered himself into disappeared.””
Aaliyah's eyes narrowed.
“What is on it?””
“Financial records. Emails. Copies of transactions involving the company.””
“Then why didn't you give it to the police?””
Charles lowered himself into his chair.
“Because the records implicated people who had connections throughout the city. I didn't know who I could trust.””
Denise looked at the drive.
“Did you look at it?””
“Some of it.””
“And his chair.
“Because the records implicated people who had connections throughout the city. I didn't know who I could trust.””
Denise looked at the drive.
“Did you look at it?””
“Some of it.””
“And?””
Charles swallowed.
“Some of the transactions were approved using my login.””
The room fell silent.
Tiana stepped away from him.
“You helped them steal the?””
Charles swallowed.
“Some of the transactions were approved using my login.””
The room fell silent.
Tiana stepped away from him.
“You helped them steal the money?””
“No!””
He stood so quickly that his chair rolled backward.
“I didn't steal anything. Somebody used my credentials to authorize payments. I discovered it after Marcus money?””
“No!””
He stood so quickly that his chair rolled backward.
“I didn't steal anything. Somebody used my credentials to authorize payments. I discovered it after Marcus came to me.””
“Then why would you hide the records?”” Denise asked.
“Because I couldn't prove who had accessed my account. And because the same people threatening Marcus began threatening came to me.””
“Then why would you hide the records?”” Denise asked.
“Because I couldn't prove who had accessed my account. And because the same people threatening Marcus began threatening me.””
Aaliyah studied his face.
“Did you sign the property transfer because they threatened you?””
Charles looked down at the flash drive.
“Yes.””
“Did you know it was fraudulent?””
me.””
Aaliyah studied his face.
“Did you sign the property transfer because they threatened you?””
Charles looked down at the flash drive.
“Yes.””
“Did you know it was fraudulent?””
“I knew something was wrong.””
“That isn't the same as saying no.””
He closed his eyes.
“No,” he admitted.
“It isn't.””
Denise backed away from the desk.
“You let“I knew something was wrong.””
“That isn't the same as saying no.””
He closed his eyes.
“No,” he admitted.
“It isn't.””
Denise backed away from the desk.
“You let your brother take the blame for something you were involved in.””
“I was trying to keep him alive!””
“And what about the rest of us?””
Charles had no answer.
Outside, a car door slammed.
Everyone turned your brother take the blame for something you were involved in.””
“I was trying to keep him alive!””
“And what about the rest of us?””
Charles had no answer.
Outside, a car door slammed.
Everyone turned toward the window.
The sound came from the driveway, not the street.
Aaliyah moved to the side of the curtain and toward the window.
The sound came from the driveway, not the street.
Aaliyah moved to the side of the curtain and looked through a narrow gap.
A man stood beside the SUV.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a charcoal jacket looked through a narrow gap.
A man stood beside the SUV.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a charcoal jacket. He carried no visible weapon. Instead, he held a slim brown envelope between two fingers, as if he had arrived to.
He carried no visible weapon. Instead, he held a slim brown envelope between two fingers, as if he had arrived to deliver a routine business letter.
He looked directly at the house.
Then he raised his phone and took another photograph.
Tiana whispered, “He's not even hiding.””
Charles moved deliver a routine business letter.
He looked directly at the house.
Then he raised his phone and took another photograph.
Tiana whispered, “He's not even hiding.””
Charles moved toward the curtain.
“Don't let him see you.””
“Why?”” Denise demanded.
“Are you afraid he'll recognize you?””
Charles didn't respond.
The doorbell toward the curtain.
“Don't let him see you.””
“Why?”” Denise demanded.
“Are you afraid he'll recognize you?””
Charles didn't respond.
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Then again.
The sound seemed unnaturally loud.
Aaliyah held the envelope containing her documents against rang.
Once.
Then again.
The sound seemed unnaturally loud.
Aaliyah held the envelope containing her documents against her chest.
“Don't answer it.””
Charles stared at the door.
The bell rang a third time.
Then a man's voice called through her chest.
“Don't answer it.””
Charles stared at the door.
The bell rang a third time.
Then a man's voice called through the wood.
“Mr. Reed? I know you're home.””
Denise's face tightened.
“Who is that?””
the wood.
“Mr. Reed? I know you're home.””
Denise's face tightened.
“Who is that?””
Charles whispered a name.
“Warren.””
Tiana looked at him.
“Who is Warren?””
“Warren Pike. He handledCharles whispered a name.
“Warren.””
Tiana looked at him.
“Who is Warren?””
“Warren Pike. He handled some of the company's private financing.””
“Is he the person who threatened Marcus?””
“I don't know.””
The man outside knocked twice some of the company's private financing.””
“Is he the person who threatened Marcus?””
“I don't know.””
The man outside knocked twice.
“Charles, I'm not here to cause a scene. I just need the file.””
Denise walked toward the door.
Charles grabbed her shoulder.
.
“Charles, I'm not here to cause a scene. I just need the file.””
Denise walked toward the door.
Charles grabbed her shoulder.
“Don't.””
She turned on him.
“You are not going to keep deciding what we can and cannot know.””
She pulled his hand“Don't.””
She turned on him.
“You are not going to keep deciding what we can and cannot know.””
She pulled his hand away and opened the door just far enough to stand in the gap.
The man smiled politely.
“Mrs. Reed.””
Denise didn't return the smile.
“You know who I am?””
“Of course. Warren Pike.””
He offered his away and opened the door just far enough to stand in the gap.
The man smiled politely.
“Mrs. Reed.””
Denise didn't return the smile.
“You know who I am?””
“Of course. Warren Pike.””
He offered his hand.
She ignored it.
“What do you want?””
“To speak with your husband.””
“Then speak.””
Warren's gaze hand.
She ignored it.
“What do you want?””
“To speak with your husband.””
“Then speak.””
Warren's gaze moved past her shoulder.
“Charles, the file.””
Charles appeared behind Denise moved past her shoulder.
“Charles, the file.””
Charles appeared behind Denise, clutching the flash drive.
“I'm not giving you anything.””
Warren's smile disappeared.
“You're making this unnecessarily difficult.””
“I'm done doing what you tell me, clutching the flash drive.
“I'm not giving you anything.””
Warren's smile disappeared.
“You're making this unnecessarily difficult.””
“I'm done doing what you tell me.””
“Are you?””
Warren glanced at Tiana, then at Aaliyah.
His eyes paused on the documents in Aaliyah's arms.
.””
“Are you?””
Warren glanced at Tiana, then at Aaliyah.
His eyes paused on the documents in Aaliyah's arms.
“You must be the young woman who's been asking questions.””
Aaliyah stepped closer.
“And you must be the man sending threats to a mother and her baby.””
Warren gave a small laugh“You must be the young woman who's been asking questions.””
Aaliyah stepped closer.
“And you must be the man sending threats to a mother and her baby.””
Warren gave a small laugh.
“I'm not responsible for every message people receive.””
“Then why are you here?””
“Because your boyfriend has a habit of leaving unfinished.
“I'm not responsible for every message people receive.””
“Then why are you here?””
“Because your boyfriend has a habit of leaving unfinished business behind.””
“He's not my boyfriend,” Aaliyah said.
“He's my son's father.””
Warren's expression shifted.
business behind.””
“He's not my boyfriend,” Aaliyah said.
“He's my son's father.””
Warren's expression shifted.
Only slightly.
But Denise saw it.
He had not expected her to say that.
WOnly slightly.
But Denise saw it.
He had not expected her to say that.
Warren looked at Charles.
“So you've told them.””
“They know enough,” Charles replied.
“No. They know a collection of half-truths that you've arranged to make yourself look better.””
Charles stepped into the doorway.
“Leave my house.””
Warren tilted hisarren looked at Charles.
“So you've told them.””
“They know enough,” Charles replied.
“No. They know a collection of half-truths that you've arranged to make yourself look better.””
Charles stepped into the doorway.
“Leave my house.””
Warren tilted his head.
“You remember what happened the last time you tried to handle this yourself?””
Charles went pale.
Denise gripped the edge of the door.
“What happened?””
Warren ignored head.
“You remember what happened the last time you tried to handle this yourself?””
Charles went pale.
Denise gripped the edge of the door.
“What happened?””
Warren ignored her.
“Give me the file, Charles. The original agreement. The transfer authorization. Everything that belongs her.
“Give me the file, Charles. The original agreement. The transfer authorization. Everything that belongs to the company.””
“The agreement belongs to Marcus.””
“Marcus is not in a position to claim anything.””
“He's alive.””
For to the company.””
“The agreement belongs to Marcus.””
“Marcus is not in a position to claim anything.””
“He's alive.””
For the first time, Warren's composure broke.
His eyes widened.
Then he recovered, straightening his jacket.
“That's a serious allegation.””
“It's a fact,” Aaliy the first time, Warren's composure broke.
His eyes widened.
Then he recovered, straightening his jacket.
“That's a serious allegation.””
“It's a fact,” Aaliyah said.
Warren looked directly at her.
“Be careful with what you believe. People have been looking for Marcus for a very long time.””
“Then perhaps you can tell us whereah said.
Warren looked directly at her.
“Be careful with what you believe. People have been looking for Marcus for a very long time.””
“Then perhaps you can tell us where to find him.””
“I can't.””
“Or you won't?””
Warren smiled again.
“Ask Charles. He knows more than he's telling you.””
He stepped backward toward the driveway.
Before turning to find him.””
“I can't.””
“Or you won't?””
Warren smiled again.
“Ask Charles. He knows more than he's telling you.””
He stepped backward toward the driveway.
Before turning away, he pointed at the flash drive in Charles's hand.
“You have until tomorrow morning. After that, I won't be able to protect you from the consequences of your decisions away, he pointed at the flash drive in Charles's hand.
“You have until tomorrow morning. After that, I won't be able to protect you from the consequences of your decisions.””
Charles's face twisted with anger.
“You were never protecting me.””
Warren's smile vanished.
“No,” he said quietly.
“I was protecting myself.””
He turned.””
Charles's face twisted with anger.
“You were never protecting me.””
Warren's smile vanished.
“No,” he said quietly.
“I was protecting myself.””
He turned and walked toward the SUV.
Denise watched him cross the driveway, then slammed the door.
Charles locked it.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Tiana pointed and walked toward the SUV.
Denise watched him cross the driveway, then slammed the door.
Charles locked it.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Tiana pointed at the flash drive.
“We're opening that file.””
Charles shook his head.
“Not here.””
“Why not?””
“Because if Warren has been monitoring our at the flash drive.
“We're opening that file.””
Charles shook his head.
“Not here.””
“Why not?””
“Because if Warren has been monitoring our communications, he may know exactly what we're doing.””
Denise stared at him.
“Then we go somewhere he can't monitor us.””
Charles looked toward the front window communications, he may know exactly what we're doing.””
Denise stared at him.
“Then we go somewhere he can't monitor us.””
Charles looked toward the front window.
“There's a place.””
“Where?””
He hesitated.
Then he reached into his desk drawer and removed a small brass key.
“Marcus's.
“There's a place.””
“Where?””
He hesitated.
Then he reached into his desk drawer and removed a small brass key.
“Marcus's old recording studio.””
Aaliyah went still.
“The building on the property transfer?””
“Yes.””
“Why would that place be safe?””
Charles turned old recording studio.””
Aaliyah went still.
“The building on the property transfer?””
“Yes.””
“Why would that place be safe?””
Charles turned the key over in his palm.
“Because two years ago, before Marcus disappeared, he told me there was something hidden inside the key over in his palm.
“Because two years ago, before Marcus disappeared, he told me there was something hidden inside it.””
“What?””
Charles looked at the four walls of his study, at the photographs of the family he had tried so desperately to it.””
“What?””
Charles looked at the four walls of his study, at the photographs of the family he had tried so desperately to protect by keeping them ignorant.
“A second copy of the records.””
Denise stared at him.
“And you never thought protect by keeping them ignorant.
“A second copy of the records.””
Denise stared at him.
“And you never thought to look?””
“I did.””
“What did you find?””
Charles's voice dropped.
“An empty room.””
He placed the to look?””
“I did.””
“What did you find?””
Charles's voice dropped.
“An empty room.””
He placed the key on the desk.
“But yesterday, somebody left a message on my voicemail.””
Tiana leaned forward.
“What key on the desk.
“But yesterday, somebody left a message on my voicemail.””
Tiana leaned forward.
“What did it say?””
Charles looked at Aaliyah.
“Three words.””
He swallowed.
“Check the floorboards.””
## Chapter did it say?””
Charles looked at Aaliyah.
“Three words.””
May you like
He swallowed.
“Check the floorboards.””
