Chapter 8: The Woman Behind the Camera
Danielle couldn't stop shaking.
I read the message three times before handing her phone back.
"Call the police," I said.
She nodded, but her fingers wouldn't cooperate.
Nia stood near the staircase, looking as though she might collapse.
"Marcus, I told you we need to leave.""
I turned toward her.
"Where?""
"Somewhere Jordan doesn't know.""
"Does he know where you live?""
She didn't answer.
"Nia.""
"Yes.""
I stared at her.
"Does he know where my mother is staying?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
I immediately called my mother.
She answered after two rings.
"Marcus?""
"Mom, listen to me. Are you inside?""
"Yes, sweetheart. What's wrong?""
"Lock the doors. Don't open them for anyone except Danielle or me.""
"Why?""
"Someone may be watching the house.""
My mother went quiet.
Then she whispered:
"Is this about Jordan?""
I looked at Danielle.
"Yes.""
My mother sighed.
"I knew that man was trouble.""
"Mom, please. Just stay inside.""
"I will.""
I ended the call.
Danielle had finally managed to dial the police.
While she spoke, I returned to the laptop.
The recording had revealed something important.
Jordan knew Danielle had discovered the account.
And he had apparently arranged for someone to monitor her.
But there was something else.
I replayed the final thirty seconds.
The background noise was faint, but I could hear a woman speaking.
Not Nia.
Not my mother.
A different woman.
She said:
"Is the camera running?""
Then Jordan answered:
"Yes. Get the other folder.""
I paused the recording.
"Who is that?"" I asked.
Nia looked at the screen.
"I don't know.""
I turned toward her.
"You were working with him. How can you not know?""
"I never heard that voice before.""
I replayed it.
The woman spoke again.
"Did you bring the original?""
Jordan answered:
"Of course.""
Then a sound like paper being placed on a table.
The woman laughed.
"She'll never see this coming.""
I stopped the recording.
Danielle came closer.
"Who is she?""
"I don't know.""
Nia stared at the screen.
Then she suddenly whispered:
"Wait.""
I turned.
"What?""
She leaned closer to the laptop.
"Play that part again.""
I did.
The woman said:
"She'll never see this coming.""
Nia covered her mouth.
"Oh, my God.""
"What?""
She looked at me.
"I know that voice.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
She hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"Emily.""
I frowned.
"Who is Emily?""
"Jordan's business assistant.""
"Do you know her?""
"I met her twice. She handled some of the property paperwork.""
Danielle crossed her arms.
"So there's another person involved.""
Nia nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at the laptop.
"Then we need to find her.""
Before I could say anything else, the doorbell rang.
All three of us froze.
Danielle moved behind me.
I approached the front window and carefully looked outside.
A woman stood on the porch.
She was in her early thirties, wearing a beige coat and holding a black leather folder.
She looked directly at the window.
Then she raised her hand.
And waved.
Nia gasped.
"That's her.""
Emily.
I stepped away from the window.
"Nobody opens the door.""
The woman knocked again.
"Mr. Carter?""
I remained silent.
She raised her voice.
"Mr. Carter, my name is Emily Ross. I need to speak with you.""
Danielle whispered, "How does she know we're here?""
I looked toward Nia.
Nia shook her head.
"I didn't tell her.""
Emily knocked again.
"I know you're inside. I'm not here to cause trouble.""
I approached the door but kept it locked.
"What do you want?""
Emily held up the folder.
"I have documents concerning your mother's account.""
I glanced at Danielle.
"What documents?""
"The originals.""
My heart began pounding.
"What originals?""
She looked toward the street.
Then she leaned closer to the door.
"The original power of attorney. The original property agreement. And a copy of the transfer authorization Jordan submitted to the bank.""
I stared at her.
"Why would you have those?""
"Because I prepared them.""
Nia stepped forward.
"You're the one who prepared the documents?""
Emily looked through the narrow glass panel.
"Yes.""
Nia's face twisted.
"You knew what Jordan was doing!""
Emily shook her head.
"I didn't know everything at first.""
"You're lying!""
Emily sighed.
"Mrs. Carter, I'm not here to discuss your decisions. I'm here because Jordan is planning to disappear.""
That stopped everyone.
I unlocked the door but kept the security chain attached.
"Explain.""
Emily looked directly at me.
"Jordan received a warning this afternoon. He knows the bank has frozen the remaining funds. He also knows the police are investigating.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"How do you know?""
"Because I was at his office when Victor called him.""
"Where is he?""
"Preparing to leave town.""
"When?""
"Tonight.""
Danielle stepped closer.
"Why should we trust you?""
Emily looked at her.
"You shouldn't.""
She opened the folder and slid several papers through the narrow gap.
"Just read these.""
I picked them up.
The first was a property transfer agreement.
The second was a power of attorney.
The third was a printed email.
I read the email.
It had been sent from Jordan to Emily.
Prepare the final ownership documents. Marcus must appear as the person authorizing the transfer. If he refuses, use the signature already on file.
I looked up.
"What signature?""
Emily pointed to the second page.
At the bottom was my signature.
But I had never signed it.
My hands went cold.
"Where did this come from?""
Emily answered quietly.
"Jordan copied it from a document you signed at your wife's birthday dinner last year.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"He took a photograph of your signature from a restaurant receipt and used it to reproduce your handwriting.""
I looked at Nia.
She covered her mouth.
I remembered that dinner.
Nia had insisted I sign a card for her mother. She had placed the card on the table and taken a photograph.
I hadn't thought anything of it.
Now I understood.
My signature had been stolen from a moment when I believed I was celebrating my wife's birthday.
"Why are you helping us?"" I asked Emily.
She looked down.
"Because I found out what Jordan planned to do with me.""
"What?""
She hesitated.
Then she opened the folder to another page.
It was a payment agreement.
Her name was listed as a recipient of $50,000.
But underneath it was a handwritten note.
*Emily will take responsibility for preparing all fraudulent documents if the investigation begins.*
I stared at the page.
"He planned to blame you.""
Emily nodded.
"He told Victor I was the only person who had access to the original files. He intended to make me the main suspect.""
Nia whispered:
"That's what he does.""
Emily looked at her.
"What?""
"He makes people believe they're special. Then he uses them.""
For the first time, the two women looked at each other without anger.
Just recognition.
Different victims.
Different choices.
The same man.
I opened the door wider.
"Come inside.""
Emily entered.
She placed her folder on the table and removed a small silver recording device.
"I also have a recording of Jordan and Victor discussing the money.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you give this to the police?""
"I tried.""
"What happened?""
"Victor has a friend in the local office. Someone tipped them off that I was coming.""
My expression hardened.
"You're saying someone inside law enforcement is helping them?""
Emily nodded.
"I don't know how high it goes.""
Danielle sat down.
"Then who can we trust?""
Emily looked at me.
"Someone outside the county.""
She reached into her bag and handed me a business card.
A federal investigator.
I studied it.
Then I looked at Emily.
"How did you get this?""
"Because I sent him a copy of the first recording.""
I frowned.
"When?""
"Three days ago.""
My heart began pounding.
"Three days?""
She nodded.
"He's been waiting for more evidence before moving.""
I looked at the card.
There was a phone number written on the back.
Before I could call it, my phone rang.
Detective Bennett.
I answered.
"Detective?""
"Mr. Carter, I need you to listen carefully.""
"What happened?""
"We just received information that Jordan Blake is attempting to leave the state.""
Emily looked up.
I put the call on speaker.
"Do you know where he is?""
"We have a possible location, but we need to confirm it.""
Emily leaned forward.
"I know exactly where he is.""
The detective paused.
"Who is speaking?""
"My name is Emily Ross. I worked for Blake Property Solutions.""
A long silence followed.
Then Bennett said:
"Ms. Ross, we've been looking for you.""
Emily swallowed.
"I have the original documents and recordings.""
"Can you come to the station?""
Emily looked at me.
"Not the county station.""
Detective Bennett exhaled.
"Why?""
"Because someone there is protecting Jordan.""
The detective didn't respond immediately.
Then she said:
"You're right to be cautious.""
I stared at the phone.
Bennett continued:
"Mr. Carter, I need to tell you something. We received another report this evening.""
"What report?""
"Someone has filed a complaint claiming your mother is missing.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
"According to the report, she was removed from her residence by an unauthorized family member.""
I looked at Danielle.
"Who filed it?""
The detective lowered her voice.
"Your wife.""
I turned toward Nia.
She shook her head violently.
"No. I didn't!""
Detective Bennett continued.
"Mrs. Carter reported that Danielle took your mother without permission and may be holding her against her will.""
Danielle stepped backward.
"That's insane!""
I grabbed my coat.
"We're going to Mom's.""
Bennett's voice sharpened.
"Mr. Carter, wait. There's something else.""
I stopped.
"We checked the location you provided for your mother.""
"And?""
"She's not there.""
My stomach dropped.
"What do you mean she's not there?""
"The neighbor says two people arrived approximately thirty minutes ago and took her away.""
I looked at Nia.
She was crying.
But then Emily said something that made me turn toward her.
"Jordan.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
Emily's face had gone pale.
"Jordan didn't go after the money tonight.""
May you like
She swallowed.
"He went after your mother.""
