Chapter 7: The Man Who## Chapter 7: The Man Who Wore Another Man's Face
“ Wore Another Man's Face
“Put the phone on speaker,” James ordered.
Marcus Bell stood frozen beside the openPut the phone on speaker,” James ordered.
Marcus Bell stood frozen beside the open cabinet, his fingers wrapped around a brass key that no longer seemed to belong to him.
Outside, the cabinet, his fingers wrapped around a brass key that no longer seemed to belong to him.
Outside, the other Marcus approached Unit 214 with measured steps. His polished shoes clicked against the concrete other Marcus approached Unit 214 with measured steps. His polished shoes clicked against the concrete floor.
He carried no weapon that James could see, but the confidence in his expression was more floor. He carried no weapon that James could see, but the confidence in his expression was more unsettling than a visible threat.
Richard moved toward the door.
James caught his arm.
“Don't.””
“But unsettling than a visible threat.
Richard moved toward the door.
James caught his arm.
“Don't.””
“But—”
“Look at him.””
Richard looked.
The man outside had Marcus Bell—”
“Look at him.””
Richard looked.
The man outside had Marcus Bell's face, his scar, and the same silver watch described by Vanessa. Yet the real Marcus stood beside's face, his scar, and the same silver watch described by Vanessa. Yet the real Marcus stood beside James, breathing hard, staring at the stranger as though he had seen a ghost.
The phone rang again.
James nodded James, breathing hard, staring at the stranger as though he had seen a ghost.
The phone rang again.
James nodded toward it.
Marcus answered.
“Thomas?””
A familiar voice filled the storage toward it.
Marcus answered.
“Thomas?””
A familiar voice filled the storage unit.
“You've made a terrible mistake.””
Marcus swallowed.
“You told me to destroy the records.””
“I unit.
“You've made a terrible mistake.””
Marcus swallowed.
“You told me to destroy the records.””
“I told you to follow instructions.””
“You told me Evelyn's money was being protected.””
told you to follow instructions.””
“You told me Evelyn's money was being protected.””
“And it was. Until you decided to become sentimental.””
James stepped closer to the phone.
““And it was. Until you decided to become sentimental.””
James stepped closer to the phone.
“Thomas Reed?””
The line went silent.
Then the caller laughed softly.
“James.Thomas Reed?””
The line went silent.
Then the caller laughed softly.
“James. You've grown into quite the businessman.””
James's jaw tightened.
“Where You've grown into quite the businessman.””
James's jaw tightened.
“Where is my father?””
Another pause.
“Still asking the wrong questions, I see.””
“ is my father?””
Another pause.
“Still asking the wrong questions, I see.””
“Answer me.””
“Your father made choices. So did your mother.Answer me.””
“Your father made choices. So did your mother. Neither of them understood the consequences.””
James looked through the open doorway at the man approaching them.
“What did you do to Neither of them understood the consequences.””
James looked through the open doorway at the man approaching them.
“What did you do to them?””
Thomas's voice sharpened.
“Nothing that wasn't necessary.””
Richard's face went white.
James leaned toward the phone.
“If them?””
Thomas's voice sharpened.
“Nothing that wasn't necessary.””
Richard's face went white.
James leaned toward the phone.
“If you have evidence that my father is alive, tell me where he is. If you don't, stop using his name to frighten people.””
Thomas exhaled.
you have evidence that my father is alive, tell me where he is. If you don't, stop using his name to frighten people.””
Thomas exhaled.
“Your father is alive.””
The words struck James with such force that he briefly forgot“Your father is alive.””
The words struck James with such force that he briefly forgot to breathe.
Richard stared at him.
Marcus closed his eyes.
James gripped the to breathe.
Richard stared at him.
Marcus closed his eyes.
James gripped the edge of the cabinet.
“Where?””
“Not here. Not anymore.””
“Give me an address.””
“You think you can buy your way out of edge of the cabinet.
“Where?””
“Not here. Not anymore.””
“Give me an address.””
“You think you can buy your way out of every problem, James? That's what your mother believed. That's what your father believed. And now every problem, James?
That's what your mother believed. That's what your father believed. And now look at you.””
James's voice dropped.
“My mother died believing she had failed to protect me.””
“Your look at you.””
James's voice dropped.
“My mother died believing she had failed to protect me.””
“Your mother died because she refused to understand when to stop asking questions.””
Richard stepped forward.
“You son of a—”
James raised one hand, stopping him.
Thomas continued.
“Give me the documents mother died because she refused to understand when to stop asking questions.””
Richard stepped forward.
“You son of a—”
James raised one hand, stopping him.
Thomas continued.
“Give me the documents, and I'll tell you what happened to your father.””
“No.””
“You haven't even heard my offer.””
“I heard you use, and I'll tell you what happened to your father.””
“No.””
“You haven't even heard my offer.””
“I heard you use my mother's death as leverage. That's enough.””
The stranger outside stopped walking.
He stood just beyond the doorway, close enough for James to see the my mother's death as leverage. That's enough.””
The stranger outside stopped walking.
He stood just beyond the doorway, close enough for James to see the faint scar beneath his left ear.
Then he lifted his hand.
He was holding a small remote faint scar beneath his left ear.
Then he lifted his hand.
He was holding a small remote.
Marcus's face drained of color.
“James,” he whispered, “get away from the cabinet.””
.
Marcus's face drained of color.
“James,” he whispered, “get away from the cabinet.””
A sharp electronic beep sounded.
The lights inside the storage unit flickered.
RichardA sharp electronic beep sounded.
The lights inside the storage unit flickered.
Richard looked toward the ceiling.
“What was that?””
Marcus shoved the cabinet away from the wall, revealing a small black device attached to its rear panel.
“It's a tracker looked toward the ceiling.
“What was that?””
Marcus shoved the cabinet away from the wall, revealing a small black device attached to its rear panel.
“It's a tracker.””
James stared at him.
“You put that there?””
“No. Thomas must have planted.””
James stared at him.
“You put that there?””
“No. Thomas must have planted it when the unit was last accessed.””
The stranger outside smiled.
Thomas's voice came through the phone again.
“Now you understand why I wanted you to come here.””
it when the unit was last accessed.””
The stranger outside smiled.
Thomas's voice came through the phone again.
“Now you understand why I wanted you to come here.””
James looked at the boxes, the papers, and the recorder.
He had spent years building a business thatJames looked at the boxes, the papers, and the recorder.
He had spent years building a business that could survive market crashes, hostile negotiations, and investors who changed their minds at the last moment.
But none of that could survive market crashes, hostile negotiations, and investors who changed their minds at the last moment.
But none of that had prepared him for the possibility that his family had been manipulated for nearly a decade.
He grabbed had prepared him for the possibility that his family had been manipulated for nearly a decade.
He grabbed the folder containing his father's documents.
“Richard, take the bank statements.””
Richard obeyed.
“Marcus, the folder containing his father's documents.
“Richard, take the bank statements.””
Richard obeyed.
“Marcus, the recorder.””
Marcus picked it up.
They moved toward the rear exit, a narrow metal the recorder.””
Marcus picked it up.
They moved toward the rear exit, a narrow metal door that opened onto a service alley.
Behind them, the stranger stepped into the unit.
door that opened onto a service alley.
Behind them, the stranger stepped into the unit.
“James,” he called, “your mother wanted you to have“James,” he called, “your mother wanted you to have those records.””
James stopped.
The man's expression changed.
“She also wanted you to know those records.””
James stopped.
The man's expression changed.
“She also wanted you to know why your father left.””
James turned slowly.
“Then tell me.””
The man glanced at the why your father left.””
James turned slowly.
“Then tell me.””
The man glanced at the phone in Marcus's hand.
“I can't.””
“Why not?””
“Because the person who can prove it is standing phone in Marcus's hand.
“I can't.””
“Why not?””
“Because the person who can prove it is standing right in front of you.””
James looked at Marcus.
Marcus shook his head.
“James, don't listen to right in front of you.””
James looked at Marcus.
Marcus shook his head.
“James, don't listen to him.””
The stranger continued.
“Ask him why he was the last person him.””
The stranger continued.
“Ask him why he was the last person to leave Evelyn's hospital room.””
James felt his blood turn cold.
He turned toward Marcus.
“Were you?””
to leave Evelyn's hospital room.””
James felt his blood turn cold.
He turned toward Marcus.
“Were you?””
Marcus's lips parted.
For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he whispered, “Yes.””
RichardMarcus's lips parted.
For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he whispered, “Yes.””
Richard stepped between them.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at James with wet eyes.
“I was in the room when your mother stopped breathing.””
The words seemed to empty the air stepped between them.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at James with wet eyes.
“I was in the room when your mother stopped breathing.””
The words seemed to empty the air from the building.
James stared at him.
“You told me you were in the corridor.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
“Because Thomas told from the building.
James stared at him.
“You told me you were in the corridor.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
“Because Thomas told me to.””
James's face hardened.
“Did you touch her?””
“No.””
“Did you give her anything?””
“No!””
Marcus me to.””
James's face hardened.
“Did you touch her?””
“No.””
“Did you give her anything?””
“No!””
Marcus's voice cracked.
“I swear to you, James. I didn't hurt your mother.””
“Then tell's voice cracked.
“I swear to you, James. I didn't hurt your mother.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
Marcus looked toward the stranger.
The man had stopped smiling.
“Thomas came into the me what happened.””
Marcus looked toward the stranger.
The man had stopped smiling.
“Thomas came into the room,” Marcus said.
“He told Evelyn the account had been transferred. room,” Marcus said.
“He told Evelyn the account had been transferred. She asked him to give it back. He refused.””
James's hands trembled.
“And then?””
“Your mother reached She asked him to give it back. He refused.””
James's hands trembled.
“And then?””
“Your mother reached for the call button. Thomas pulled the phone from the wall.””
Richard reco for the call button. Thomas pulled the phone from the wall.””
Richard recoiled.
“Why didn't you stop him?””
Marcus looked down.
“Because I was afraidiled.
“Why didn't you stop him?””
Marcus looked down.
“Because I was afraid.””
James stepped toward him.
“You let him threaten a dying woman?””
“I was twenty-nine.””
James stepped toward him.
“You let him threaten a dying woman?””
“I was twenty-nine. I had a young daughter. Thomas told me he knew where we lived. He said.
I had a young daughter. Thomas told me he knew where we lived. He said if I interfered, my family would disappear.””
“So you stood there.””
Marcus nodded, tears if I interfered, my family would disappear.””
“So you stood there.””
Marcus nodded, tears slipping down his cheeks.
“Yes.””
James looked away.
For eight years, he had believed his mother's final hours were beyond anyone slipping down his cheeks.
“Yes.””
James looked away.
For eight years, he had believed his mother's final hours were beyond anyone's control.
Now he was learning that someone had stood beside her bed and watched her fear's control.
Now he was learning that someone had stood beside her bed and watched her fear the people she trusted.
“What happened next?”” James asked.
Marcus swallowed.
“Thomas left. the people she trusted.
“What happened next?”” James asked.
Marcus swallowed.
“Thomas left. Your mother asked me to bring her the envelope Vanessa had taken. I Your mother asked me to bring her the envelope Vanessa had taken. I told her I couldn't.””
James's voice became almost inaudible.
“What did she say?””
told her I couldn't.””
James's voice became almost inaudible.
“What did she say?””
Marcus looked directly at him.
“She said, 'Then tell my son I tried.''”
James closed his eyes.
MarcusMarcus looked directly at him.
“She said, 'Then tell my son I tried.''”
James closed his eyes.
Marcus continued.
“Then she asked me to call you. I did. You were on a continued.
“Then she asked me to call you. I did. You were on a business trip. I left a message with your assistant, but Thomas intercepted it.””
James opened his eyes.
“ business trip. I left a message with your assistant, but Thomas intercepted it.””
James opened his eyes.
“Why didn't you call again?””
Marcus's shoulders slumped.
“Because the next morning, ThomasWhy didn't you call again?””
Marcus's shoulders slumped.
“Because the next morning, Thomas showed me a document that said I had accessed Evelyn's medication showed me a document that said I had accessed Evelyn's medication cabinet. He told me he would give it to the police if I ever spoke to you.””
cabinet. He told me he would give it to the police if I ever spoke to you.””
Richard stared at him.
“Was it true?””
“No.””
“Could heRichard stared at him.
“Was it true?””
“No.””
“Could he have made it look true?””
Marcus nodded.
“He had access to the hospital records. He knew have made it look true?””
Marcus nodded.
“He had access to the hospital records. He knew people. He could make anything look true.””
James looked toward the stranger.
“Who is people. He could make anything look true.””
James looked toward the stranger.
“Who is that man?””
Marcus followed his gaze.
“I don't know.””
The stranger's expression darkened.
“That's a lie.””
that man?””
Marcus followed his gaze.
“I don't know.””
The stranger's expression darkened.
“That's a lie.””
He reached into his jacket and removed a leather wallet. He opened it, revealingHe reached into his jacket and removed a leather wallet. He opened it, revealing an identification card.
James couldn't read the details from where he stood, but he recognized the photograph an identification card.
James couldn't read the details from where he stood, but he recognized the photograph.
It was Marcus Bell.
The stranger held the card up.
“My.
It was Marcus Bell.
The stranger held the card up.
“My name is Marcus Bell,” he said.
The real Marcus stared at him.
“No.””
The stranger smiled without name is Marcus Bell,” he said.
The real Marcus stared at him.
“No.””
The stranger smiled without warmth.
“You've spent eight years pretending to be someone you aren't. You took my identity, my job warmth.
“You've spent eight years pretending to be someone you aren't. You took my identity, my job, and my life. Did you think nobody would notice?””
James looked between the two men.
The stranger continued, and my life. Did you think nobody would notice?””
James looked between the two men.
The stranger continued.
“Thomas hired me to work in executive security. This man was my younger brother. He stole.
“Thomas hired me to work in executive security. This man was my younger brother. He stole my credentials after the hospital incident and disappeared.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That's not true.””
my credentials after the hospital incident and disappeared.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That's not true.””
“Then explain why your fingerprints don't match the personnel file.””
James felt the pieces“Then explain why your fingerprints don't match the personnel file.””
James felt the pieces shifting.
Two men.
One name.
A security shifting.
Two men.
One name.
A security assignment under Richard's credentials.
And a dead woman's records hidden in assignment under Richard's credentials.
And a dead woman's records hidden in a storage unit.
“Which one of you was in the hospital?”” James asked.
Both men answered at once.
“I a storage unit.
“Which one of you was in the hospital?”” James asked.
Both men answered at once.
“I was.””
They stared at each other.
The stranger's smile vanished.
Marcus looked at James.
“I can prove what was.””
They stared at each other.
The stranger's smile vanished.
Marcus looked at James.
“I can prove what happened.””
“How?””
He lifted the cassette recorder.
“Your mother recorded her conversation with Thomas.””
Thomas happened.””
“How?””
He lifted the cassette recorder.
“Your mother recorded her conversation with Thomas.””
Thomas's voice erupted from the phone.
“Put that down!””
For the first time, the's voice erupted from the phone.
“Put that down!””
For the first time, the caller sounded frightened.
Marcus pressed a button.
A burst of static crackled through the speaker.
Then a woman's weak caller sounded frightened.
Marcus pressed a button.
A burst of static crackled through the speaker.
Then a woman's weak voice emerged.
“Thomas, you promised me James would never be involved voice emerged.
“Thomas, you promised me James would never be involved.””
James stopped breathing.
His mother's voice.
Older. Tired. But unmistakably hers.
Thomas.””
James stopped breathing.
His mother's voice.
Older. Tired. But unmistakably hers.
Thomas answered on the recording.
“He was always involved, Evelyn. You simply refused to see it.””
“Give him the money.””
“You don't answered on the recording.
“He was always involved, Evelyn. You simply refused to see it.””
“Give him the money.””
“You don't understand what that money represents.””
“I understand that you stole it.””
A chair scraped against the floor.
Then Evelyn understand what that money represents.””
“I understand that you stole it.””
A chair scraped against the floor.
Then Evelyn spoke again.
“If you don't return what belongs to my son, I'll tell him who spoke again.
“If you don't return what belongs to my son, I'll tell him who his father really is.””
Silence followed.
Then Thomas said something that made James's knees weaken.
“Your his father really is.””
Silence followed.
Then Thomas said something that made James's knees weaken.
“Your husband didn't disappear, Evelyn. He was paid to disappear.””
The recording husband didn't disappear, Evelyn. He was paid to disappear.””
The recording ended.
James stared at the recorder.
Richard whispered, “Oh, my God.””
The stranger suddenly ended.
James stared at the recorder.
Richard whispered, “Oh, my God.””
The stranger suddenly lunged forward.
“Give me that!””
Marcus swung the recorder behind him.
Richard blocked lunged forward.
“Give me that!””
Marcus swung the recorder behind him.
Richard blocked the doorway, and the two men collided against a metal shelf. Boxes tumbled to the doorway, and the two men collided against a metal shelf. Boxes tumbled to the floor. James caught the recorder before it struck the concrete.
The stranger recovered the floor. James caught the recorder before it struck the concrete.
The stranger recovered quickly, shoving Richard against the wall.
“Move!””
Richard struck back quickly, shoving Richard against the wall.
“Move!””
Richard struck back, catching the man's shoulder.
James grabbed Marcus and pulled him toward the, catching the man's shoulder.
James grabbed Marcus and pulled him toward the rear exit.
“Go!””
They burst into the service alley.
Footsteps thundered behind them.
James heard Richard shout.
Then a crash rear exit.
“Go!””
They burst into the service alley.
Footsteps thundered behind them.
James heard Richard shout.
Then a crash.
He turned.
Richard emerged from the storage unit, clutching his arm.
He turned.
Richard emerged from the storage unit, clutching his arm. The stranger followed, holding a metal pipe.
James pushed. The stranger followed, holding a metal pipe.
James pushed Marcus toward the car.
“Get in!””
Richard stumbled behind them.
The stranger stopped at the alley entrance.
Marcus toward the car.
“Get in!””
Richard stumbled behind them.
The stranger stopped at the alley entrance.
He didn't pursue them.
Instead, he raised his phone and called someone.
James watched him from the driver'sHe didn't pursue them.
Instead, he raised his phone and called someone.
James watched him from the driver's seat as the Rolls-Royce pulled away.
The stranger lifted two fingers to seat as the Rolls-Royce pulled away.
The stranger lifted two fingers to his temple in a mocking salute.
Then he mouthed three words.
*Ask your father.*
his temple in a mocking salute.
Then he mouthed three words.
*Ask your father.*
James's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
He drove without speaking until they reached the mainJames's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
He drove without speaking until they reached the main road.
Richard sat in the back, breathing heavily. Marcus held the recorder against his road.
Richard sat in the back, breathing heavily. Marcus held the recorder against his chest.
Finally, Richard broke the silence.
“James, I need to tell you something.””
James stared at the chest.
Finally, Richard broke the silence.
“James, I need to tell you something.””
James stared at the road.
“Make it good.””
Richard swallowed.
“Before the acquisition negotiations began road.
“Make it good.””
Richard swallowed.
“Before the acquisition negotiations began, I received a private message from Thomas Reed. He said if I helped finalize the deal, he, I received a private message from Thomas Reed. He said if I helped finalize the deal, he would make sure my company survived the debt crisis.””
James glanced at him would make sure my company survived the debt crisis.””
James glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
“And what did he want in return?””
Richard's face crumpled.
“He wanted access to your mother's trust records.””
James's expression went cold.
“You knew about the trust in the rearview mirror.
“And what did he want in return?””
Richard's face crumpled.
“He wanted access to your mother's trust records.””
James's expression went cold.
“You knew about the trust?””
“No. Not at first. I thought he wanted due diligence information.?””
“No. Not at first. I thought he wanted due diligence information. I only realized there was something wrong when I saw the transfers.””
“And you kept I only realized there was something wrong when I saw the transfers.””
“And you kept negotiating.””
Richard lowered his head.
“Yes.””
James turned back to the road.
“ negotiating.””
Richard lowered his head.
“Yes.””
James turned back to the road.
“Then you weren't just a bystander.””
“I know.””
“No. You don't.””
RichardThen you weren't just a bystander.””
“I know.””
“No. You don't.””
Richard said nothing.
James's phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered through the car's hands-free system.
A man's voice came through.
“James said nothing.
James's phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered through the car's hands-free system.
A man's voice came through.
“James Carter?””
“Who is this?””
“My name is David Carter.””
James's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
The Carter?””
“Who is this?””
“My name is David Carter.””
James's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
The man continued.
“I believe you're looking for your father.””
James stopped breathing.
“Where are you man continued.
“I believe you're looking for your father.””
James stopped breathing.
“Where are you?””
“I can't tell you that yet.””
“Then prove you're who you say you are.””
A long pause followed.
?””
“I can't tell you that yet.””
“Then prove you're who you say you are.””
A long pause followed.
Then the man said, “When you were nine, you broke your wrist falling out of the oak tree behind our old house. YourThen the man said, “When you were nine, you broke your wrist falling out of the oak tree behind our old house. Your mother wanted to take you to the hospital mother wanted to take you to the hospital, but you begged her not to because you were afraid she'd miss her night shift.””
James's eyes filled.
Only three people had known that story.
, but you begged her not to because you were afraid she'd miss her night shift.””
James's eyes filled.
Only three people had known that story.
Himself.
His mother.
And his father.
The voice softened.
“I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, son.””
James pulledHimself.
His mother.
And his father.
The voice softened.
“I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, son.””
James pulled the car onto the shoulder.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he managed one question.
“Why did you leave?””
His father exhaled shakily.
“Because Thomas told me that if I stayed, he would make sure you and your mother paid for what I the car onto the shoulder.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he managed one question.
“Why did you leave?””
His father exhaled shakily.
“Because Thomas told me that if I stayed, he would make sure you and your mother paid for what I knew.””
James closed his eyes.
“And now?””
“Now he's looking for the original trust deed.””
“Why?””
“ knew.””
James closed his eyes.
“And now?””
“Now he's looking for the original trust deed.””
“Why?””
“Because it proves the money was never his.””
David paused.
“And James, there's something else. The trust wasn't created for you.””
JamesBecause it proves the money was never his.””
David paused.
“And James, there's something else. The trust wasn't created for you.””
James felt the world tilt.
“What?””
“It was created for someone else. Someone Thomas has been trying to find for years.””
The call felt the world tilt.
“What?””
“It was created for someone else. Someone Thomas has been trying to find for years.””
The call crackled.
Then David whispered the name.
“Your crackled.
Then David whispered the name.
“Your sister.””
The line went dead.
James stared at the phone.
He had grown up an only child.
His sister.””
The line went dead.
James stared at the phone.
He had grown up an only child.
His mother had never mentioned a daughter.
And now, somewhere in the tangled history of his family, mother had never mentioned a daughter.
And now, somewhere in the tangled history of his family, another secret waited to be uncovered.
But before he could process the revelation, a new message appeared on his screen another secret waited to be uncovered.
But before he could process the revelation, a new message appeared on his screen.
It contained a photograph of a young Black woman standing outside Carter Capital.
Beneath it were.
It contained a photograph of a young Black woman standing outside Carter Capital.
Beneath it were seven words.
*Your sister has been working for you.*
May you like
seven words.
*Your sister has been working for you.*
