Chapter 7 - THE MAN IN THE GARAGE
I called mansion security before I called 911.
“Lock the interior doors. Do not confront him unless he tries to enter.”
On my phone, Marcus reached the door and punched in a code.
Denied.
He tried again.
Denied.
Then he opened the black case.
Inside were lock tools.
That erased any possible story about a friendly visit.
Two security officers came down the stairwell behind him.
Marcus dropped the tools and raised his hands.
The officer looked at the lock picks on the concrete.
“Concerned parents usually ring the bell.”
Marcus was detained for questioning.
I reached the mansion twenty minutes later.
Donovan was awake and scared.
“Was the bad man coming for us?” he asked.
I crouched in front of him.
“No one is taking you anywhere.”
Mom watched me over his shoulder.
She knew promises had become dangerous in our family.
That evening, Caden arrived at the gate with red eyes.
“I didn’t send Marcus.”
“Then why did he have a contractor code?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who knew the code?”
He looked toward the old house.
“My mother.”
I crossed my arms.
“Caden, you filed for emergency custody using fake screenshots.”
“I didn’t know they were fake.”
“You signed the petition.”
“Marcus prepared everything. Mom said it was just to protect me if you went nuclear.”
“You tried to wire money from my company.”
His face changed.
That one landed.
“I didn’t.”
“The token traces to your phone.”
“I swear to you, Taylor, I didn’t make that transfer.”
I wanted to hate how convincing he sounded.
Then he said something I did not expect.
“Check Mom’s laptop.”
“Why?”
“Because she knows my passwords. All of them.”
I stared at him.
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“And there’s something else you need to know.”
May you like
“What?”
“Mom has been telling people you’re not Donovan’s biological mother.”
