Chapter 7 - The Name She Never Used
Marcus drove back across town with Denise’s warning ringing in his ears.
“Do not go in angry.”
He did not plan to.
He planned to get Caleb safe.
That was different.
He parked across the street and called Dana Hall.
The attorney answered on the third ring.
“Marcus?”
He explained the call.
Dana became quiet.
“Do you know where Caleb’s biological father is?”
“No.”
“Any history of violence?”
Marcus looked at Simone’s darkened house.
“She told me he was dangerous. She said there was a restraining order years ago.”
“Do you have proof?”
“No.”
“Then don’t assume. We verify.”
Marcus hated the word verify.
Everything in his marriage suddenly required proof.
He walked to the neighbor’s house.
Mrs. Alvarez opened the door in slippers.
Caleb was sitting on her couch under a blanket.
When he saw Marcus, he ran to him.
Marcus held him.
“Did your mom hit you?”
“No.”
“Did she hurt you?”
“No.”
“Did she threaten you?”
Caleb nodded against his chest.
“With your dad?”
Another nod.
Mrs. Alvarez cleared her throat. “I heard yelling. Then Caleb came out the back gate.”
Marcus looked at the boy.
“Where is your mom now?”
“In the bedroom.”
“Alone?”
Caleb hesitated.
“No.”
Marcus’s stomach tightened.
“Who is with her?”
“I don’t know.”
Mrs. Alvarez glanced toward the window.
“A man came around ten.”
Marcus stared at Simone’s house.
Not jealousy.
Not yet.
Something stranger.
Fear.
He walked Caleb to his car and locked the doors. Denise was on her way to take the boy back with her.
Then Marcus returned to the porch and knocked.
Simone opened the door wearing a robe.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Where’s Caleb?”
Her eyes moved toward the street.
“You took him?”
“He left. He was scared.”
Her face hardened. “Bring him back.”
“Who is in the house?”
“No one.”
Marcus looked past her.
A man stepped into the hallway.
Late forties. Broad shoulders. Gray in his beard.
Simone turned sharply.
The man looked at Marcus.
Then said, “You must be Reed.”
Marcus’s mouth went dry.
The man did not sound like a stranger.
He sounded prepared.
“Who are you?”
The man reached into his jacket slowly and pulled out a worn leather wallet.
Not a weapon.
An ID card.
“Evan Cole,” he said.
Caleb’s last name before Marcus had petitioned for a legal name change was Cole.
Marcus looked at Simone.
She was pale.
Evan gave a humorless smile.
“I’m Caleb’s father.”
May you like
Then he looked past Marcus toward the car.
“And your wife has been lying to both of us for six years.”
