Chapter 6 - The Thing Evelyn Came to TakeMarcus reached the house before Detective Grant.
He found Evelyn in Sarah’s home office.
She stood beside the desk holding a small metal box.
“Put it down.”
His mother turned.
“Marcus.”
“What are you doing?”
“I came for something.”
“I can see that.”
“It belongs to me.”
“Then why is it in my wife’s office?”
Evelyn tightened her grip.
Marcus stepped between her and the door.
“What’s in the box?”
“Old family papers.”
“Open it.”
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“Open it.”
Evelyn looked at her son for a long moment.
Then she set the box on the desk.
Inside were yellowing documents, photographs, tax statements and a black ledger.
Marcus recognized his father’s handwriting before touching it.
“What is this?”
“Walter’s private accounting book.”
Marcus lifted it.
“Why does Sarah have it?”
“I gave it to her.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
He stared.
“Why?”
“Because she asked me whether your father had ever found unexplained withdrawals.”
Marcus slowly opened the ledger.
Pages contained dates, vendor names and handwritten amounts.
Near the back, one entry had been underlined twice.
C. — $90,000. No more access.
Marcus stopped breathing.
“C is Caleb?”
Evelyn sat.
“Yes.”
“You said you didn’t see proof.”
“I didn’t know this book still existed until last month.”
“Where was it?”
“In storage.”
“And instead of bringing it to me, you gave it to Sarah?”
“She was already investigating.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“You trusted my wife with the truth but not your son.”
“I knew what you would do.”
“What?”
“Confront Caleb.”
“Damn right.”
“And then what?”
“He would deny it. You would split the family. The company might collapse.”
Marcus stared at her.
“The company is already collapsing.”
Evelyn looked down.
“Sarah told you.”
“One-point-eight million.”
His mother closed her eyes.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
Marcus slammed the ledger onto the desk.
“You suspected?”
“Lower your voice.”
“This is my house!”
“And Jaden is already terrified!”
Marcus stopped.
The reminder worked.
He turned away.
When he spoke again, his voice was quieter.
“You let this happen.”
Evelyn began crying.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
“From becoming your father.”
Marcus turned.
“What does that mean?”
“Walter discovered Caleb’s theft and became obsessed with proving it.”
“Maybe because someone stole from him.”
“He stopped sleeping. Stopped trusting anyone. He and Caleb fought constantly.”
“And you chose Caleb?”
“No.”
“Then who did you choose?”
Evelyn’s voice cracked.
“The family.”
Marcus shook his head.
“You chose silence.”
Detective Grant arrived with another officer.
Evelyn immediately stiffened.
Grant examined the box and ledger.
“Mrs. Evelyn, why were you removing these items?”
“I wasn’t removing them.”
Marcus stared at her.
“You were holding the box.”
“I came to retrieve papers that belonged to my husband.”
Grant looked at Marcus.
“Did you give permission?”
“No.”
Evelyn’s face reddened.
“I have a key.”
“That doesn’t necessarily give permission to enter whenever you want,” Grant said.
“I’m his mother.”
Grant remained expressionless.
“That also doesn’t answer the question.”
Marcus almost smiled despite everything.
The investigators photographed the ledger.
Grant then asked something Marcus had not considered.
“Who else knew this ledger existed?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Sarah.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
Marcus knew immediately she was lying.
“Mom.”
“I said no.”
“Look at me.”
She refused.
“Who?”
Evelyn whispered.
“Caleb.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“When?”
“He saw it years ago.”
“Before Dad died?”
“Yes.”
Grant leaned forward.
“Did Mr. Walter confront Caleb using this ledger?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“They argued.”
“How seriously?”
Evelyn’s hands trembled.
“Very.”
“Any threats?”
“I don’t remember.”
Marcus stared at her.
“You remember.”
His mother looked at him.
“Your father told Caleb if one more dollar disappeared, he’d go to police.”
“What did Caleb say?”
Evelyn swallowed.
“He told Walter the company needed him more than it needed the truth.”
Grant stopped writing.
Marcus felt cold.
After the police left with photographed copies, Marcus stood alone with his mother.
“You cannot go near Sarah’s office again.”
“Marcus.”
“No.”
“I’m trying to help.”
“You don’t know how.”
Evelyn looked toward the family photographs lining the hallway.
“I’m still your mother.”
“And Sarah is my wife.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Evelyn picked up her purse.
At the door, she stopped.
“There is something else.”
Marcus said nothing.
“Your father changed his will a week before he died.”
Marcus frowned.
“I’ve seen the will.”
“You saw the final version filed after his death.”
“What are you saying?”
“There was another draft.”
“What did it say?”
Evelyn’s face turned pale.
“He intended to remove Caleb from every financial position connected to the company.”
Marcus stared at her.
“Where is that document?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who had it?”
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Evelyn whispered the answer.
“Caleb.”
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