Chapter 8 - The Person Behind the Door
Daniel whispered for Lena to stay behind him.
The footsteps stopped.
A key turned.
The storage unit door opened.
Mark Carter stood outside.
He looked calm.
Almost amused.
“Lena.”
She stared at him.
“You forged my signature.”
Mark sighed.
“You always were dramatic.”
“You used my name to borrow money.”
“Your father needed help.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Mark stepped inside.
Daniel blocked him.
“You need to leave.”
Mark laughed.
“You don't understand what you're involved in.”
Daniel said, “I understand enough.”
Mark looked at Lena.
“You found the safe.”
“Yes.”
“You weren't supposed to.”
Lena's voice hardened.
“Who else knows about it?”
Mark didn't answer.
“Where's my father?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere you can't reach him.”
Lena felt a surge of anger.
“What did you do to him?”
“Nothing.”
Mark smiled.
“Your father is the one person in this family who still thinks he can control everyone.”
“And you?”
“I learned from him.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Who created the fake loan?”
Mark's smile disappeared.
“I did.”
Lena stared.
“Why?”
“Because the family business is collapsing.”
“So you used me.”
“We needed an asset.”
“You mean my assets.”
Mark shrugged.
“You were the only person Robert couldn't control financially.”
Lena almost laughed.
“He controlled me for years.”
“Not anymore.”
Mark looked at the documents.
“You know what your grandfather did?”
“He protected me.”
“He destroyed the family.”
Lena shook her head.
“He exposed the truth.”
Mark's expression hardened.
“Your grandfather left debts too.”
“Not mine.”
“You're wrong.”
Mark reached into his coat.
He pulled out a document.
“This is the original trust agreement.”
Lena took it.
She read it.
Her name appeared again.
But beneath it was another beneficiary.
Lena looked up.
“Who is this?”
Mark said nothing.
Daniel took the document.
His face changed.
“That can't be right.”
Lena looked at him.
“What?”
Daniel stared at the name.
“This person was never supposed to be included.”
“Who is it?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said the name.
Susan Carter.
Lena felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath her.
“My mother?”
Mark smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Lena looked at the document again.
Susan had been listed as a secondary beneficiary.
But that wasn't the strangest part.
There was a handwritten condition.
If Lena became unable or unwilling to control the trust, the assets would pass to Susan.
Lena looked at Mark.
“You knew.”
“Of course.”
“Did my father know?”
Mark's smile faded.
“Yes.”
“And my mother?”
Mark didn't answer.
Lena's voice dropped.
“Did she?”
A long silence.
Then Mark said:
“She signed the amendment.”
Lena stared.
Daniel immediately said, “That document needs authentication.”
Mark laughed.
“You're still thinking this is about paperwork.”
He stepped closer to Lena.
“Your mother has been working with your father for years.”
Lena shook her head.
“No.”
“You don't want to believe it.”
“She protected me.”
Mark looked almost sympathetic.
“She protected herself.”
Lena's phone began ringing.
Susan.
Lena answered.
Her mother's voice was trembling.
“Lena, where are you?”
“Where are you?”
“Please come home.”
“Why?”
Susan began crying.
“Because your father is gone.”
Lena's heart stopped.
“What happened?”
Susan whispered:
“He left me a message.”
“What did it say?”
Susan hesitated.
Then:
“He said if you found the second trust, you should never trust me.”
The call ended.
Lena looked at Mark.
He was no longer smiling.
May you like
Daniel said quietly:
“Someone got to your mother before we did.”
