Chapter 9 - Unit 214The attorney's name was Lena Brooks.
She was practical, patient and unimpressed by family drama.
Marcus liked her immediately.
Rachel liked that Lena told Marcus “no” without sounding nervous.
When Marcus suggested going to Westbridge and demanding access, Lena shook her head.
“Absolutely not.”
“My son's listed as an authorized user.”
“Is he?”
Marcus looked at Jordan.
They were meeting by video from the dining room.
Jordan had finally shown them the storage receipt that morning.
He had not yet shown the envelope.
“I never signed anything,” Jordan said.
Lena nodded.
“Then his name appearing there could itself be evidence. Don't muddy that evidence by using access he says he never requested.”
Marcus sat back.
“What do we do?”
“I'll send a preservation letter to the facility. That asks them not to destroy account records or available surveillance while we determine next steps.”
“Will they give you the contents?”
“No. Not automatically.”
“What if Adrian clears it out?”
“He may. But you don't commit trespass to prevent hypothetical evidence destruction.”
Marcus exhaled.
Rachel almost smiled.
After the call, Marcus said, “Everybody loves telling me not to do things.”
Rachel kissed his cheek.
“Because you keep having ideas.”
Jordan watched them.
For the first time in days, the house almost felt normal.
Then Marcus looked at him.
“Anything else about the unit?”
Jordan hesitated.
“No.”
The lie landed differently now.
Every time he told one, he could feel the cost immediately.
At school, Mrs. Alvarez met him for his rescheduled cessation appointment.
She did not focus only on nicotine.
“What happens right before you want to smoke?”
Jordan thought.
“Usually I feel trapped.”
“By what?”
“Expectations.”
“Whose?”
He almost said Dad.
Then stopped.
“Mine.”
Mrs. Alvarez nodded.
“Anyone else's?”
Jordan stared at the floor.
“My uncle.”
She waited.
“He asks me to do things.”
“What kind of things?”
“Errands.”
“Do you feel safe?”
Jordan considered that.
Adrian had never hit him.
Never threatened physical harm.
But safety suddenly seemed larger than that.
“I don't know.”
“That's an answer.”
Jordan rubbed his hands together.
“I did stupid stuff.”
“Stupid and dangerous aren't the same as irredeemable.”
He looked up.
She continued.
“You can be accountable without deciding you're permanently bad.”
Jordan thought of Marcus taking the keys.
Trust is earned.
Not: You are worthless.
Not: I'm done with you.
Just consequences.
He left the counseling office without smoking.
That afternoon Marcus received an email from Lena.
Westbridge had acknowledged the preservation request.
Unit 214 was leased solely to Adrian.
Jordan was listed as an authorized access person added eight weeks earlier through the online portal.
The signature associated with Jordan's authorization was electronic.
Jordan denied making it.
Lena advised documenting that denial.
Marcus felt sick.
Adrian had used Jordan's identity.
Not dramatically.
Not with some elaborate forged passport.
Just a name, birth date and email.
Enough to create confusion.
Enough to make a sixteen-year-old look involved.
Rachel read the email twice.
“This is why Adrian wanted him carrying things.”
Marcus nodded.
“If anyone asks, Jordan looks connected.”
“Maybe.”
“Rachel.”
“I agree it's possible. I'm saying we still prove it.”
Marcus stood.
“I want to call him.”
“No.”
“I want to hear him lie.”
“That gives him warning.”
“He already knows we're asking questions.”
Rachel stepped closer.
“Marcus, your job right now isn't winning an argument with Adrian.”
“What is it?”
“Being Jordan's father.”
Marcus looked toward the stairs.
Upstairs, Jordan sat on his bed staring at the envelope.
His hands trembled.
He had reached the end.
He carried it downstairs.
Marcus and Rachel were still in the kitchen.
Jordan stopped in the doorway.
“Dad.”
Marcus turned.
Jordan held out the envelope.
“I lied again.”
Marcus's expression tightened.
Jordan continued before courage disappeared.
“This was in my backpack when you caught me smoking.”
Rachel went still.
Marcus did not take it immediately.
“You've had that the whole time?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“I opened it.”
Marcus finally accepted the envelope.
He removed the forged authorization.
His face changed.
Rachel came beside him.
Jordan whispered, “I didn't sign that.”
Marcus looked at the signature bearing his name.
“No.”
Then he looked at his son.
“I didn't either.”
At the bottom of the envelope was the photograph of Adrian beside the fake real-estate sign.
Rachel turned it over.
Once Marcus signs, we're done.
Marcus sat down.
For several seconds he seemed unable to speak.
Jordan's voice cracked.
“I'm sorry.”
Marcus did not answer.
Not because he rejected the apology.
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Because his brother had apparently planned to take control of a family asset.
And he had used Marcus's son to carry the evidence.
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