Chapter 3
I listened to the recording three times.
Each time, the same words made my stomach twist.
“Marcus trusts me with everything.”
Susan's voice.
Then Raymond's.
“When are you transferring the rest?”
I looked at my wife.
She stood near the kitchen counter, staring at the floor.
I had known Raymond's voice my entire life.
He was my older brother.
The man who taught me how to ride a bicycle.
The man who stood beside me at Nicole's funeral.
The man who told me Susan would be good for Lily.
My chest tightened.
“What money?”
Susan shook her head.
“Marcus, that conversation has nothing to do with Lily.”
I stared at her.
“Then answer the question.”
She crossed her arms.
“It's private.”
I almost laughed.
“Private?”
I looked toward my daughter.
“She recorded this because she was afraid of you.”
Susan's face hardened.
“She shouldn't have been spying.”
Angela stepped forward.
“She's seven years old.”
Susan pointed at her.
“Stay out of this.”
I raised my hand.
“Enough.”
Lily was trembling again.
I knelt beside her.
“Baby, we're leaving now.”
She nodded.
Angela took her hand.
I gathered our bags and followed them outside.
Susan shouted from the doorway.
“Marcus, if you leave, don't expect me to be waiting when you come back!”
I stopped.
For a moment, I remembered the woman I married.
Her smile.
Her kindness toward Lily when we first met.
The way she promised to help us heal after Nicole's death.
Then I remembered the clippers.
The recordings.
My daughter's tears.
I turned.
“Right now, I don't know whether I want you waiting.”
Susan's face collapsed.
I walked to the car.
Lily climbed into the back seat beside Angela.
I buckled her carefully.
Then I touched the uneven patch of her hair.
“Does your head hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Just a little.”
I swallowed.
“We'll get you checked, sweetheart.”
She looked at me.
“Daddy, am I ugly now?”
The question nearly brought me to my knees.
I crouched beside the open door.
“Lily, look at me.”
She raised her eyes.
“You are beautiful.”
She touched the shaved section.
“But Susan said nobody would want to look at me.”
I closed my eyes.
Then I gently took her hand.
“Your beauty isn't something another person can take away.”
She began crying.
I kissed her forehead.
“And your daddy loves every part of you.”
She leaned toward me.
I held her until she stopped shaking.
Then we drove away.
At Angela's house, I helped Lily settle into the guest room.
Angela made hot chocolate.
Lily curled up on the sofa with Buttons.
For the first time that afternoon, she looked relaxed.
I sat beside her.
“Sweetheart, I need to ask you something.”
She nodded.
“When did Susan start treating you badly?”
Lily looked down.
“After you went back to working late.”
I felt my chest tighten.
That had been six months earlier.
My construction company had won a large commercial project.
I had been leaving before sunrise and returning after dinner.
I thought I was securing our future.
Instead, I had left my daughter alone with someone who frightened her.
“What happened first?” I asked.
Lily twisted Buttons' ear.
“She said I made too much noise.”
I nodded.
“Then?”
“She made me stay in my room.”
“How long?”
“Until you came home sometimes.”
I closed my eyes.
“Did she feed you dinner?”
Lily hesitated.
“Sometimes.”
My heart pounded.
“What do you mean?”
“She said if I complained about food, I could wait until breakfast.”
Angela covered her mouth.
I took a slow breath.
“Baby, did you ever go to bed hungry?”
Lily nodded.
Tears filled my eyes.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I held her hand.
“Thank you for telling me.”
She looked worried.
“Are you mad?”
“Not at you.”
She leaned against me.
I kissed her hair.
“We're going to make sure you're safe.”
Later, after Lily fell asleep, Angela and I sat in the kitchen.
She looked exhausted.
“Marcus, you need to report this.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
“Lily needs to see a doctor.”
“I've already arranged an appointment for tomorrow morning.”
Angela looked at me.
“And you need to find out what that money conversation means.”
I stared at the phone.
Raymond.
My own brother.
I had trusted him with everything.
He managed several financial accounts for my construction company.
He also helped Susan with household bills when I traveled.
I thought I was making life easier for everyone.
Now I wondered what they had been doing behind my back.
I called Raymond.
He answered after five rings.
“Little brother!”
His voice sounded cheerful.
Too cheerful.
“Raymond.”
“What's going on?”
I took a breath.
“I need to ask you something.”
“Sure.”
“Have you been transferring money with Susan?”
Silence.
Then he laughed.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Marcus, I don't know what you're talking about.”
I looked at the phone.
“I have a recording.”
The line went quiet.
Then Raymond spoke carefully.
“What kind of recording?”
“One where Susan says I trust her with everything.”
He exhaled.
“Marcus, don't jump to conclusions.”
I closed my eyes.
“What money?”
“It's complicated.”
“Then explain.”
He hesitated.
“Not over the phone.”
My heart pounded.
“Raymond, if you're hiding something involving my daughter, I need to know.”
“Lily has nothing to do with this.”
I stared at the wall.
“Then why was Susan discussing money while threatening her?”
Raymond sighed.
“Meet me tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“My office.”
I agreed.
After hanging up, I checked the business banking application.
Several transfers stood out.
Amounts I didn't recognize.
Payments to unfamiliar vendors.
Reimbursements that had been approved under Raymond's credentials.
My stomach tightened.
I opened another account.
Then another.
The total was far larger than I expected.
I sat back.
Angela noticed my expression.
“Marcus?”
I couldn't speak.
She moved beside me.
“What is it?”
I turned the screen toward her.
She stared.
“Oh, my God.”
I nodded slowly.
Someone had been moving money out of my company.
And the person approving the transfers was my own brother.
I looked toward the hallway.
Lily was asleep.
Safe.
For the moment.
I felt anger rise inside me.
But beneath it was something worse.
Shame.
I had trusted the wrong people.
And my daughter had suffered while I wasn't looking.
Angela placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Marcus, this isn't going to be easy.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
She squeezed my hand.
“But you're not alone.”
I looked at her.
Then toward the room where Lily slept.
For the first time since walking into that kitchen, I felt something stronger than rage.
Determination.
I would find out what Susan had done.
I would find out why Raymond was involved.
And I would never again allow my daughter to believe she had to endure cruelty just to keep our family together.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Raymond appeared.
Don't tell anyone about the recording.
I stared at the screen.
A second message arrived.
Especially not the police.
May you like
My blood ran cold.
Because innocent people rarely begged you to keep evidence hidden.
