Chapter 2 - The Red Ledger Clues
Marcus dropped his hands.
The rain hammered hard against the barn roof.
Richard picked up the dropped lantern.
His shadow loomed large on the wooden wall.
“Your father was a weak man,” Richard said.
“He wanted a legacy at any cost.”
Marcus took a step toward his father-in-law.
“You stole a child?”
“You let my mother believe her baby died?”
Richard smiled without any warmth.
“I created a future for my own daughter.”
“Chloe deserved the best life possible.”
“I made sure the Vance wealth stayed here.”
Marcus felt a cold sick feeling in his stomach.
“Chloe knows,” Marcus whispered.
Richard did not deny it.
“Chloe is practical, Marcus.”
“She knows what it takes to protect a home.”
“Now give me that birth certificate.”
Marcus shoved the paper into his jacket pocket.
He turned and ran out into the pouring rain.
He climbed into his truck and started the engine.
He drove straight to Sarah Miller’s small house.
The house sat deep in the pine trees.
A single warm light burned in the kitchen window.
Marcus slammed his car door shut.
He ran up the wooden porch steps.
He knocked frantically on the heavy door.
The door swung open after a moment.
Sarah Miller stood in the warm doorway.
She wore an old wool shawl around her shoulders.
Her grey eyes filled with sudden tears.
“You know,” Sarah whispered.
Marcus could barely breathe.
“Are you my mother?”
Sarah stepped back and opened the door wider.
Marcus stepped into the small, warm living room.
The room was filled with framed photographs.
Every single photo was of Marcus.
His first day of kindergarten.
His high school graduation.
His wedding day with Chloe.
Marcus stared at the walls in shock.
“You were always watching,” Marcus said.
Sarah sat down in a creaky rocking chair.
“David forced me to sign the adoption papers.”
“He threatened to ruin my family’s land.”
“Richard handled all the legal work.”
“They told me my baby girl died in surgery.”
“They told me you were an orphan they saved.”
Marcus sat on the small sofa opposite her.
“Who is Maya?” Marcus asked.
Sarah reached into her shawl.
She pulled out a small silver pocket watch.
“Maya is my brother’s daughter.”
“She found the adoption files in Richard’s office.”
“She worked for Richard as a clerk last year.”
“She risked everything to find the truth for me.”
The front door suddenly burst open.
Chloe stood in the entryway.
Her hair was soaked from the storm.
She held an envelope in her shaking hands.
“Marcus, come home right now,” Chloe demanded.
“You are ruining our family over lies.”
Marcus stood up slowly.
“Did you know, Chloe?”
“Did you know your father blackmailed my family?”
Chloe’s eyes darted toward Sarah.
“My father protected us!” Chloe shouted.
“Your father was going to bankrupt the farm!”
“My father saved the business!”
Marcus felt his heart break completely.
“You knew the whole time.”
Chloe took a step into the room.
“It doesn’t matter now, Marcus.”
“Eleanor just passed away at the hospital.”
The words hung heavy in the warm air.
Marcus closed his eyes in deep pain.
His mother was gone.
He had not been there to hold her hand.
“She left a final will,” Chloe said softly.
Chloe held up the thick white envelope.
“She signed it two hours ago.”
“She left everything to me.”
“She removed your name from the deed, Marcus.”
Sarah stood up from her rocking chair.
“Eleanor would never do that,” Sarah said.
“She loved Marcus more than her own life.”
Chloe produced a legal document from the envelope.
Eleanor’s shaky signature was at the bottom.
Richard’s official seal was stamped in red ink.
“The land is mine now,” Chloe said.
“If you leave this house with her, Marcus, you lose.”
“You will never see your son again.”
Marcus stared at his wife.
The woman he loved had become a stranger.
“You are using our baby as a weapon?”
“I am protecting his future,” Chloe spat.
“Choose right now, Marcus.”
“Come home and forget this girl exists.”
“Or walk out that door with nothing.”
Marcus looked at Sarah’s tear-filled eyes.
He looked at the wall of his own childhood photos.
He pulled his wedding ring off his finger.
He placed it quietly on the side table.
“I am staying,” Marcus said firmly.
Chloe’s face turned bright red with rage.
“You will regret this for the rest of your life.”
She turned and slammed the door shut.
The sound echoed through the quiet forest.
Marcus sank back down onto the sofa.
He had no home.
He had no money.
He had lost his mother and his son.
Sarah walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I am so sorry, Marcus.”
“I ruined your life.”
“No,” Marcus said softly.
“The lie was already ruining it.”
Maya stepped out from the back hallway.
She held a black record book in her hands.
“We are not finished yet, Marcus.”
“Richard made one critical mistake.”
Marcus looked up at his cousin.
“What mistake?”
Maya opened the black record book on the table.
“Eleanor didn’t sign that will tonight.”
“Eleanor was slipped a sedative at ten o’clock.”
“I have the hospital log right here.”
“She was completely unconscious when Richard visited.”
Marcus stood up quickly.
“That means the signature is a forgery.”
“It is,” Maya said.
“But we need proof before the court hearing tomorrow.”
“Richard is filing the land transfer at sunrise.”
“If he completes it, he can sell the farm immediately.”
Marcus looked out the window into the dark storm.
“Where are the original land deeds kept?”
“In Richard’s safe at his main office,” Maya said.
“The safe requires two separate keys.”
Maya pulled out the small blue brass key.
“This is the first key,” Maya said.
“Where is the second one?” Marcus asked.
Maya pointed to the table where Marcus sat.
“Your father hid it inside your baby rattle.”
“The silver one you kept on your desk.”
May you like
Marcus froze.
“Chloe took that rattle to the nursery tonight.”
