Chapter 7: The Day They Nearly Won
The next morning, Marcus sat beside his attorney while Denise occupied the front bench directly behind him.
Aaliyah remained between Evelyn and Naomi.
Marcus’s attorney rose.
“Mrs.
Carter destroyed household property in front of multiple witnesses.”
He played the shortened video.
Dishes crashed, relatives gasped, and Aaliyah walked out.
The judge looked over her glasses.
“Mrs.
Carter, did you do this?”
Aaliyah stood.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Denise smiled behind Marcus.
Evelyn rose beside her.
“The recording was edited.
We have the complete doorbell file, but we received it yesterday and need time to authenticate it.”
Marcus’s attorney shook his head.
“The missing minutes do not change the danger shown.”
“They show the financial provocation and the petitioner’s threat,” Evelyn said.
The judge turned to Marcus.
“Who currently occupies the property?”
“My mother and I.”
Aaliyah’s head snapped toward him.
“Denise doesn’t live there.”
The judge raised one hand.
“Speak through counsel, please.”
Marcus’s attorney handed over a document.
“Denise Carter changed her mailing address two weeks ago.”
Evelyn whispered, “They planned this before the dinner.”
Aaliyah’s fingers began to shake.
The judge read the document.
“Until the evidence is reviewed, I’m granting Marcus temporary possession for seventy-two hours.
Neither party may sell, transfer, or borrow against the property.”
Denise leaned forward and whispered, “Checkmate.”
Naomi heard her.
“This isn’t over.”
Outside the courtroom, Marcus approached Aaliyah with his attorney several steps behind.
“You can end this today,” he said.
“Sign the agreement and I’ll give you thirty thousand.”
“You offered twenty yesterday.”
“Consider the extra ten an apology.”
Aaliyah looked at him.
“You still think my life has a price.”
“I’m trying to keep Mother out of serious trouble.”
“And what about me?”
“You’ll recover.”
She flinched as though he had shoved the words into her chest.
Naomi moved closer, but Aaliyah held up one hand.
“No,” Aaliyah said.
“I need to hear him clearly.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“If you keep fighting, we’ll both lose everything.”
“Then return the money and tell the truth.”
“I can’t.”
“You mean you won’t.”
Denise joined them.
“You have seventy-two hours to become reasonable.”
Leonard came through the courthouse doors with Carla beside him.
Carla’s face was pale, and she clutched a large envelope.
Denise froze.
“Why is she here?”
Carla stopped in front of Aaliyah.
“Because I’m done being afraid.”
“You signed a confidentiality agreement,” Denise said.
“No.
You wrote one and told me it was binding.”
Denise stepped toward her.
“Think carefully about what you say.”
Carla handed the envelope to Evelyn.
“These are the messages Denise sent me.
She gave me a copy of Aaliyah’s signature and told me where to place my stamp.”
Marcus stared at his mother.
“You had the signature before I agreed to the loan?”
Denise said nothing.
Carla’s eyes filled.
“She also told me Marcus would take the blame if anyone found out.”
Marcus turned slowly.
“Is that true?”
“You were supposed to follow the plan,” Denise said.
“The plan that left me responsible for everything?”
Aaliyah looked at Carla.
“Why did you help her?”
“My husband lost his job.
Denise paid our mortgage for two months, then said I owed her.” Carla wiped her cheek.
“What I did was wrong.
I’m prepared to admit it.”
Evelyn opened the envelope.
Printed messages, payment receipts, and a copy of Aaliyah’s signature filled the folder.
Denise reached for it.
Leonard caught her wrist and moved her hand away.
“Don’t,” he said.
Two investigators walked through the courthouse doors.
One displayed his identification.
“Denise Carter?”
Denise stepped back.
The second investigator looked at Marcus.
“Marcus Carter, we need both of you to answer questions about the deed, the bank transfers, and a home-equity application submitted under Aaliyah Carter’s name.”
Marcus’s attorney closed his briefcase.
Denise pointed at Aaliyah.
“She is doing this because she hates me.”
Aaliyah shook her head.
“No, Denise.
I’m doing this because you counted on me staying quiet.”
The first investigator held out his hand for Denise’s phone.
May you like
She clutched it against her chest.
“We already have the warrant,” he said.
