Chapter 7
The man introduced himself as Victor Hayes.
He claimed to represent a private investment group interested in financing Marcus's transportation venture.
He spoke calmly and carried himself like someone accustomed to being obeyed.
But when I asked for his firm's registration details and written authorization, he became noticeably defensive.
“I'm here to facilitate a transaction,” he said. “Not to be interrogated.”
“Then explaining the transaction should be easy.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“Stop making this difficult, Andre.”
I ignored him.
Dorothy was still holding the papers.
I gently took them from her and placed them on a nearby table.
“Mrs. Williams has already told you she wants independent legal advice.”
Victor glanced at Marcus.
“This is a standard security agreement.”
“Then you won't mind waiting until her attorney reviews it.”
He snapped his briefcase shut.
“There's no reason to delay.”
Dorothy's voice trembled.
“I don't understand why everyone is in such a hurry.”
That question changed the room.
Victor had no convincing answer.
Instead, he began explaining that the opportunity might disappear if the documents weren't signed immediately.
I recognized the pressure tactic.
People who were confident in legitimate agreements didn't need to frighten elderly women into signing paperwork they didn't understand.
“Leave the documents,” I said. “We'll have them reviewed.”
Victor looked at Marcus.
Marcus shook his head almost imperceptibly.
I saw it.
So did Keisha.
Victor finally gathered his belongings and walked toward the door.
Marcus followed him outside.
Through the window, I watched them argue beside the driveway.
Victor gestured angrily.
Marcus pointed toward the house.
Then Victor climbed into his car and drove away.
Marcus remained on the lawn.
Keisha stepped outside.
“Who was that man?”
Marcus rubbed his face.
“You don't understand what you're interfering with.”
“Then explain it.”
He looked at her.
For once, there was no charming smile.
“The company is in trouble.”
“What company?” Keisha demanded. “The one you told me had already secured investors?”
Marcus looked away.
I walked onto the porch.
“Did you ever purchase the trucks?”
“No.”
“Did you sign contracts with customers?”
“Not final ones.”
“Then what happened to the money?”
He clenched his jaw.
“I paid expenses.”
“Show us the records.”
“I don't have everything.”
“Then get them.”
Marcus stared at me with pure resentment.
“You think you're better than me because you once owned a business?”
“No. I think you're responsible for explaining what happened to money you borrowed.”
He looked toward Keisha.
“I was trying to make something of myself.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I wanted you to succeed, Marcus. That's why I helped you.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“Because you lied to me!”
Her voice cracked.
“You told me I was saving your future. You told me the money was temporary. You told me Grandma's house would never be at risk.”
Marcus looked down.
Keisha stepped closer.
“Did you know the company was dissolved?”
He didn't answer.
“Did you know before I gave you the money?”
Still nothing.
Her face crumpled.
“Oh, my God.”
Marcus finally looked up.
“I thought I could fix it.”
“How?”
“I had another investor.”
“Victor?”
He nodded.
“What did he want from Grandma?”
Marcus hesitated.
I stepped forward.
“Tell us.”
He swallowed.
“He wanted the property as collateral.”
Dorothy began crying behind us.
Keisha turned toward her brother.
“You promised me you would never involve her.”
“I didn't think it would come to this!”
“You didn't think?” Keisha shouted. “You took money from your own sister and then tried to put our mother's house at risk!”
Marcus flinched.
For a moment, I felt sympathy for him.
He looked like a man who had made one bad decision after another until he couldn't see a way out.
But sympathy could not erase responsibility.
“Did you give Victor my personal information?” I asked.
Marcus stared at the ground.
“Answer me.”
“I gave him your name and some business information.”
“Why?”
“He wanted to know whether you could help secure financing.”
“Did you tell him I would guarantee the debt?”
Marcus said nothing.
Keisha covered her mouth.
The attorney's warning echoed in my mind.
My name had appeared on a document I had never signed.
“Did you forge my signature?”
Marcus suddenly looked up.
“No!”
His answer came too quickly.
I studied him.
“Then we'll establish what happened through the records.”
He stepped backward.
“You're going to destroy my life.”
I shook my head.
“You made decisions that put people at risk. What happens next depends on the truth.”
Marcus walked away without another word.
That evening, the attorney contacted us with an update.
The preliminary documents did not establish that Dorothy's home had been legally encumbered, but the proposed transaction required further investigation.
He also recommended that we preserve the suspicious paperwork and consider reporting the attempted misuse of our financial information.
We agreed.
Keisha sat beside me after the call.
“I don't know who my brother is anymore.”
I looked at her.
“Maybe you knew the part of him you wanted to believe in.”
She started crying.
I put an arm around her shoulders.
It wasn't forgiveness.
Not yet.
But it was the first time in months that we were facing a problem together instead of fighting each other.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message had arrived from an unfamiliar number.
It contained a photograph of a document bearing my name.
May you like
Beneath it were six words.
You need to see what he signed.
