Chapter 8 - The Men at the DoorEric stared at the basement stairs.
His face had lost all color.
I whispered, "Who are they?"
He didn't answer.
The men knocked again.
This time, harder.
Dad moved toward the stairs.
Eric grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
Dad looked at him.
"Who are they?"
Eric whispered, "Creditors."
"No."
His voice trembled.
"They're not."
He looked at me.
"They're worse."
Someone kicked the front door.
Mom screamed upstairs.
Dad rushed up.
I followed.
Two men stood outside.
One wore a dark suit.
The other wore a heavy jacket.
Neither looked angry.
That made them more frightening.
The suited man smiled.
"Mr. Whitman."
Eric froze.
"You know why we're here."
"We'll handle it."
"No."
The man glanced toward me.
"Rachel Whitman?"
My stomach dropped.
"Who are you?"
He ignored the question.
"You've caused some delays."
"What delays?"
The second man looked at Eric.
"He knows."
I stepped forward.
"Then tell me."
Eric grabbed my wrist.
"Don't."
I pulled away.
The suited man smiled.
"Your brother has an outstanding obligation."
"I don't owe you anything."
"No."
His eyes sharpened.
"Not yet."
That sentence sent ice through my veins.
He handed me an envelope.
Inside was a copy of the deed I'd found downstairs.
My hands went cold.
"Where did you get this?"
"Your brother."
I looked at Eric.
He shook his head.
"I didn't give them that."
The man smiled.
"Your family has been making copies for years."
Then he turned to leave.
I stopped him.
"Who are you?"
He looked back.
"Call me Mr. Kane."
"Is that your real name?"
His smile disappeared.
"No."
Then he walked away.
I closed the door.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, I looked at Eric.
"Who is Mr. Kane?"
Eric sat down.
"He works for the people I borrowed from."
"How much?"
Eric rubbed his face.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand."
Dad whispered, "What?"
"I thought I could repay it."
"When?"
"After the development deal."
I stared at him.
"What development deal?"
Eric looked at me.
"The property."
"What property?"
"The one being transferred to your name."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"Because once it's in your name, you can sell it."
"And you get the money."
He nodded.
I laughed.
"You created fake companies, forged my signature, altered insurance documents, stole my identity, and used me as collateral."
Eric's voice cracked.
"I was trying to survive."
"No."
I stood.
"You were trying to survive by making sure I died financially first."
Mom started crying.
Dad lowered his head.
I looked around the room.
Then I said something nobody expected.
"I'm not paying the mortgage."
Mom looked up.
"What?"
"Not another dollar."
"But they'll lose the house."
"Yes."
She stared at me.
"You'd let us lose our home?"
I looked at her.
"You told me not to contact you."
Her mouth opened.
No words came.
Then my father whispered, "Rachel, please."
I shook my head.
"You made your choice."
I walked out.
In the driveway, my phone rang.
Daniel.
"Rachel, where are you?"
"Leaving my parents' house."
"You need to come in immediately."
"Why?"
"We found the original corporate filing."
My heart started pounding.
"What did you find?"
A pause.
Then:
"Rachel, the company wasn't created four years ago."
"Then when?"
"It was registered ten years ago."
I frowned.
"I would've been twenty-six."
"Exactly."
"Who founded it?"
May you like
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Your mother."
