Chapter 9: The Manager's Confession
Marcus Reed looked nothing like the confident manager who had ordered me out of the hotel.
When we arrived at the police station, he was sitting in a small interview room wearing the same charcoal suit.
His tie was loose.
His hair was disheveled.
And his hands wouldn't stop shaking.
A detective stood near the door.
"Mr. Brooks?""
My father approached.
"Yes.""
"I'm Detective Harris. Marcus requested to speak with you and your legal representative.""
Amelia stepped forward.
"I'm Amelia Grant. I'll be present for any discussion involving potential legal claims.""
The detective nodded.
"That's fine. We have already advised Mr. Reed of his rights.""
Marcus looked up.
His eyes immediately found mine.
"Ms. Brooks.""
I didn't respond.
He looked down.
"I know you probably don't want to hear this, but I'm sorry.""
I held Grace closer.
"Why did you help them?""
Marcus rubbed his hands together.
"I didn't know how far it had gone.""
My father pulled out a chair.
"Then start explaining.""
Marcus took a shaky breath.
"About six months ago, Mrs. Hale began contacting me about private arrangements at the hotel. At first, they were ordinary requests. Reserved rooms, restricted access, confidential meetings.""
"Who approved those arrangements?"" my father asked.
"I did.""
"Why?""
"She was a major client.""
My father stared at him.
"That doesn't explain why you allowed her to access restricted areas.""
Marcus lowered his eyes.
"She told me the meetings were connected to a corporate restructuring involving Brooks International.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Did she provide documentation?""
"Yes.""
"What kind?""
"Letters, authorization forms, and emails that appeared to come from the executive office.""
My father looked at Amelia.
She made a note.
"Did you verify those documents?""
Marcus shook his head.
"No.""
My father exhaled slowly.
"Continue.""
Marcus reached into his jacket and removed a small notebook.
"I kept records of the requests.""
The detective took the notebook.
"Is this your personal log?""
"Yes.""
He turned toward my father.
"Mrs. Hale told me that you had authorized certain confidential arrangements involving your family.""
My father frowned.
"She told you I had authorized them?""
"Yes.""
"Did you ever speak to me?""
"No.""
"Did you contact Catherine Moore?""
"No.""
My father leaned back.
"Then you knowingly acted on unverified instructions.""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
I finally spoke.
"Why did you ask me to leave today?""
He looked at me.
"Mrs. Hale told me you might arrive.""
"She told you that yesterday.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Marcus hesitated.
"She said you were involved in a private family dispute and that your presence could create a problem for the hotel.""
"What problem?""
He looked toward the detective.
Then he answered.
"She said you might try to access the executive archive.""
I shook my head.
"I didn't even know that archive existed.""
"I know that now.""
I stared at him.
"Did you?""
He looked down.
"I suspected something was wrong when you arrived.""
"Then why didn't you help me?""
Marcus's eyes filled.
"Because Mrs. Hale had already warned me that if I refused to cooperate, she'd expose a financial arrangement involving my brother.""
My father frowned.
"Your brother?""
Marcus nodded.
"He's a contractor. He received payments through a company connected to Hale Properties.""
"Did he provide legitimate services?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Some.""
"And the others?""
"Some payments were recorded as consulting fees. I don't know what work was actually performed.""
My father looked at Daniel.
"Get those records.""
Daniel nodded.
Marcus continued.
"Victoria told me that if I helped her access the archive, she'd make sure my brother wasn't investigated.""
The detective looked up.
"Did you assist her in removing documents?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
"Which documents?""
"The old acquisition files. Some financial records. And a folder relating to the Brooks family trust.""
My father went completely still.
"Did you read the documents?""
"Some of them.""
"What did you see?""
Marcus swallowed.
"There was a proposed guardianship arrangement involving Grace Brooks.""
I felt my arms tighten.
"Did it have my signature?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
Marcus looked at me.
"It appeared to.""
Amelia immediately leaned forward.
"Are you certain?""
"Yes. The signature was on the final page.""
My father looked at the detective.
"Was that document recovered?""
Marcus nodded.
"I left a copy in the document case.""
Daniel spoke up.
"The case recovered from Victoria's vehicle?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
My father stared at him.
"Why did you leave the case there?""
Marcus's voice broke.
"Because I realized what they were doing.""
The detective folded his arms.
"When?""
"This morning. After Ms. Brooks was struck.""
I frowned.
"Why then?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Because when I saw her holding that baby, I realized what I'd become.""
He wiped his face.
"I'd spent months convincing myself that I was just helping a wealthy client. I told myself the paperwork was legitimate. I told myself none of it concerned me.""
He paused.
"Then I watched Mrs. Hale slap a mother in front of her newborn, and I still tried to throw the mother out.""
Nobody spoke.
Marcus continued.
"I knew something was wrong. I just didn't want to admit it.""
My father leaned forward.
"Where is the original document?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know.""
"Who has it?""
"Victor.""
Amelia exchanged a glance with the detective.
"Mr. Reed, did you see any evidence that Danielle Brooks signed a guardianship authorization?""
"No.""
"Did you see her sign anything?""
"No.""
"Then why does the document contain her signature?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Victoria gave me a scanned copy.""
"From where?""
"She said it came from Ethan.""
Everyone turned toward my ex-husband.
Ethan had been sitting quietly beside the wall.
Now he stood.
"That's a lie.""
Marcus shook his head.
"That's what she told me.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"I never gave anyone Danielle's signature.""
Amelia raised her hand.
"Let's not jump to conclusions. We'll establish the source through the original files.""
The detective looked at Marcus.
"Did you receive any financial compensation?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"Forty thousand dollars.""
My father stared at him.
"For opening the archive?""
Marcus nodded.
"And for keeping the incident reports from reaching corporate.""
I felt sick.
Seven complaints.
Seven people.
All hidden because someone had been paid to keep quiet.
My father stood.
"Detective, I want every financial transaction connected to this matter investigated.""
"Understood.""
Marcus suddenly leaned forward.
"There's something else.""
The detective looked at him.
"What?""
Marcus turned toward my father.
"Victoria wasn't the person who started this.""
My father frowned.
"Who was?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Someone inside Brooks International.""
The room went silent.
My father slowly sat back down.
"Name.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know the whole story. But I saw the emails. The instructions came from someone with access to the executive office.""
Daniel immediately looked at my father.
"Sir, access logs.""
My father nodded.
"Pull them.""
Marcus continued.
"The person sent Victoria the original trust documents. They also provided her with the information about Danielle's appointments.""
I stared at him.
"Someone inside my father's company has been following me?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
My father looked at the detective.
"Can you identify the source?""
"We'll need the records.""
Marcus opened his notebook to the last page.
"I wrote down the name.""
He slid it across the table.
My father picked it up.
I watched his expression change.
His eyes narrowed.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Is this correct?""
Daniel read the name.
His face went pale.
"Sir...""
My father turned the notebook toward Amelia.
The name written there was:
*THOMAS BROOKS.*
My father's younger brother.
My uncle.
The man who had attended every family Christmas since I was born.
The man who had carried me on his shoulders when I was little.
The man who had once told me that if I ever needed anything, I could always call him.
I stared at the notebook.
"That can't be right.""
My father remained silent.
Marcus nodded.
"That's the name I saw on the email account.""
My father slowly closed the notebook.
"Thomas is the chief operating officer of Brooks International.""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Yes, sir.""
I couldn't understand it.
"Why would Uncle Thomas do this?""
My father didn't answer.
He stood and walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he simply stared outside.
Then he turned.
"Did you see any messages directly from Thomas?""
Marcus nodded.
"One.""
"What did it say?""
Marcus looked at the detective.
The detective nodded.
Marcus took a breath.
"It said that the trust documents needed to be corrected before the next board meeting.""
My father frowned.
"Corrected how?""
Marcus looked at me.
"By removing Danielle's independent authority and transferring certain rights to an administrator chosen by the company.""
Amelia shook her head.
"That's not something a company executive can do unilaterally.""
"I know," Marcus said.
"But the message also said the administrator would be Victor Hale.""
My father closed his eyes.
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
My uncle wanted to hand control of part of our family trust to Victor Hale.
But why?
What could Victor offer him that was worth betraying his own brother?
My father looked at Daniel.
"Call Thomas.""
Daniel hesitated.
"Sir, perhaps we should wait until—"
"Call him.""
Daniel stepped outside.
A few minutes later, he returned.
"He isn't answering.""
My father nodded.
"Try again.""
Daniel did.
This time, the call connected.
He placed it on speaker.
A familiar voice filled the room.
"Robert? What's going on?""
My father's expression didn't change.
"Thomas, where are you?""
"At the office. Why?""
"Because I need you to explain something.""
"Explain what?""
"Why your name appears in connection with an attempt to alter the family trust.""
Silence.
Then Thomas laughed.
"That's ridiculous.""
My father looked at Marcus.
"Do you recognize the voice?""
Marcus nodded.
My father continued.
"Marcus Reed has identified you as the person who provided Victoria Hale with confidential documents.""
Thomas's voice changed.
"Marcus? What is he doing with you?""
"Answer the question.""
"Robert, you're making a mistake.""
"Then correct me.""
Another pause.
Then Thomas said something that made my father grip the phone.
"You're not supposed to be looking at those documents.""
My father went completely still.
"What did you say?""
Thomas exhaled.
"I said you don't understand what you're getting into.""
My father lowered his voice.
"Explain it.""
Thomas laughed bitterly.
"You've spent your entire life pretending this company belongs to you alone.""
"It doesn't. It belongs to the shareholders.""
"And who controls the shares?""
My father didn't answer.
Thomas continued.
"That's right. You do.""
I looked at my father.
His expression was unreadable.
Thomas's voice became colder.
"You built an empire and expected everyone else to stand behind you. I spent thirty years making sure that empire actually worked.""
My father said nothing.
"You think Danielle is innocent? You think she's just an exhausted mother who accidentally walked into the wrong hotel?""
I felt my heart pounding.
My father stepped closer to the phone.
"Leave my daughter out of this.""
Thomas laughed.
"Then you should have kept her out of the trust.""
The call suddenly disconnected.
Daniel immediately tried calling back.
No answer.
My father stared at the phone.
Then Amelia received an alert.
She looked at it.
"Robert.""
He turned.
"What?""
"The emergency custody hearing has been updated.""
"How?""
She read the notification.
"Victor Hale has submitted additional evidence.""
My stomach tightened.
"What evidence?""
Amelia turned the screen toward me.
It was a photograph of a signed document.
My name appeared at the bottom.
My signature.
And beneath it was a statement declaring that I voluntarily agreed to temporary independent guardianship of Grace.
I stared at the page.
"I never signed that.""
Amelia zoomed in.
"That's what we'll need to establish.""
Then she looked at the date.
Her expression changed.
"This document is dated three days ago.""
My father shook his head.
"Impossible. Danielle was with me three days ago.""
I nodded.
"I was.""
Amelia looked at the bottom of the page.
There was another name.
A witness.
Thomas Brooks.
My uncle hadn't simply provided information.
May you like
He had supposedly witnessed me signing away my daughter's guardianship.
And the hearing was scheduled to begin in less than twelve hours.
