Chapter 4 - A NAME ON THE DEATH CERTIFICATE
At the hospital, Lily refused to let go of Marcus's sleeve until Mara explained every examination in words she could understand. A nurse cleaned her hands. Another brought her warm socks with yellow stars.
Marcus sat beside the bed and answered each question Lily asked, even the hard ones.
“Did the ocean hurt you?”
“Yes.”
“Did it make you forget me?”
“No, honey. Remembering you is how I found my way back.”
A detective named Jonah Reyes arrived with a social worker, Denise Parker. He looked skeptical until Marcus gave him his old employee number, the names of two security officers, and the scar from a childhood bicycle accident.
“We'll verify your identity,” Reyes said. “Meanwhile, nobody is taking Lily home with Vivian Sterling.”
Outside the room, Naomi Ellis, Marcus's attorney, arrived with a leather folder. She had received his message only that afternoon.
“Your mother had you declared dead through a court filing,” Naomi said. “She produced a death certificate and an identification report from a recovery contractor.”
“They never found me.”
“They identified a body. According to the document, through dental records.”
Marcus stared at her. “I had dental surgery last year. My records were updated before the voyage.”
“Then either someone used the wrong records—or somebody made sure they did.”
Naomi turned the folder around. There was a temporary guardianship order for Lily and a separate petition to distribute Marcus's personal trust.
“Your mother and sister applied to move forty-eight million dollars out of the trust.”
“When?”
Naomi tapped the date in the corner. “Tomorrow morning.”
Marcus looked through the glass at Lily, sleeping with one hand over her new stuffed rabbit.
May you like
Then Naomi lowered her voice. “And the motion lists your daughter as the reason the money must be released.”
