Chapter 10 - The Boxes in B-214
The police would not let Daniel touch the boxes.
They did let him stand in the evidence room and identify them.
"Dad's handwriting," he said. "Every label."
One box held business records from Walker Custom Cabinets, the small company Thomas had owned before retirement. Another held bank statements. A third contained canceled checks.
Then Ramirez lifted out a thick black ledger.
Daniel's father had written notes beside dozens of payments.
MARCUS - ADVANCE.
MARCUS - LOAN.
MARCUS - PAID AGAIN.
The amounts climbed year after year.
Five thousand. Twelve thousand. Twenty thousand.
Emily stood beside Daniel, stunned.
"Your dad gave him all this money?"
"Apparently."
At the bottom of one page, Thomas had written in red ink:
NO MORE. HOUSE PROTECTED FOR DANIEL. MARCUS CANNOT BORROW AGAINST IT.
Ramirez turned another page.
Stapled to it was a photocopy of a loan application.
The borrower was Marcus Walker.
Collateral: 414 Hawthorne Street.
Daniel's house.
"He tried to use a property he didn't own," Emily said.
"And Dad stopped him," Daniel replied.
That explained the resentment.
But it did not yet prove forgery, vandalism, or the break-in.
Then Ramirez opened the final box.
Inside was a handheld digital recorder.
Old. Dusty. Still labeled with masking tape.
M - OFFICE - FEB 14.
The battery was dead, but the memory card was intact.
A technician transferred the audio.
Thomas's voice came through weak but clear.
"I said no, Marcus."
Marcus answered, angry. "It's one signature."
"It's my house."
"It should be half mine."
"You already took more than your half from me."
A chair scraped.
Marcus said, "Then don't blame me when Daniel loses it too."
Daniel closed his eyes.
His father had known.
He had known Marcus would come after the house.
On the recording, Thomas spoke again.
"If you forge my name, I will report you."
The audio ended.
Emily gripped Daniel's hand.
Ramirez looked up from the computer.
"This is useful. Very useful."
Daniel's phone rang.
It was the insurance company.
He answered.
A man's voice said, "Mr. Walker, I'm calling about a fire reported at your property."
Daniel frowned.
"What fire?"
Then the station doors opened and a firefighter rushed in.
"Daniel Walker? Your detached workshop is fully involved."
Emily's face went white.
May you like
Someone was burning the evidence site.
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