Page 44 of The Liar I Married

FORTY

THREE DAYS LATER

I’m staying with Alex and I still haven’t seen my kids.

Michael moved swiftly and viciously to contact child protection to inform them that I’m still unstable and need to be kept away from my girls.

He insisted he’d read the suicide note and gave a damning statement.

So now they want a report from a psychiatrist and I’ll need a court order if I’m ever to see them again.

John has been to see me a number of times and informs me that he destroyed the so-called suicide note.

Surprisingly, he has been very supportive and informed them that Michael was lying and the note said only I was going to my grandmother’s house and that there wasn’t a threat of suicide in it.

I guess I owe him big time for that because there was no intent on my part.

He did tell them that I left after we’d had a disagreement but as I didn’t drive away in an erratic manner, he had no cause for concern.

He also informed them that it was taking time for me to regain my memory after the accident and the children were safe in his custody and being cared for by my mother.

The interview I had with the child protection officers was tense.

“You must understand, Mrs. Harper, that we take every complaint seriously and act swiftly to protect the children.” The woman wearing a fitted white and gray pencil skirt with loafers peers at me over the top of her glasses.

Her friend remains silent staring at me as if I’m a serial killer.

“The fact it was your own brother who upgraded the complaint adds another layer of concern.”

I remain calm, and having Alex close by listening to the conversation as my witness makes me feel a whole lot better.

“I have nothing to hide but I’m sure that Michael didn’t tell you that he was in the vehicle with me when it was wrecked.

” I look from one to the other and see their blank expressions; it’s like talking to brick walls.

“He grabbed the steering wheel and caused me to hit the tree. He then left the scene of the accident, leaving me and my girls alone in the car. We didn’t get any help for two hours or more.

If they had been injured, they could have died in that time.

You know I’ve been in a coma for almost twelve months and it’s taken me a little time to recall everything that happened. ”

“There is nothing in the police report about someone else being inside the vehicle.” White Shirt narrows her gaze at me making me feel as if I’m in the Spanish Inquisition.

I take in the lines around her mouth, and the way she puckers her lips in distaste as she observes my every move.

It’s as if she has already made up her mind.

“The police only spoke to me a couple of days ago and I explained that Michael was in the car. He wasn’t wearing gloves so his fingerprints will be all over it.

It’s a new SUV and to my knowledge he’d never been inside it before that night.

The detective who interviewed me said he’ll dust it for prints. It will prove I’m telling the truth.”

“Very well.” White Shirt stands and pushes a notepad into her briefcase.

“We’ll review your case once we’ve heard from the police.

In the meantime, the restrictions on visiting your children are still active.

” She narrows her gaze on me. “If you break the rules, Mrs. Harper, the twins will be placed in foster care.” She heads for the door and her companion follows close behind. “There’s no need to see us out.”

I turn to Alex and shrug. “They’re a law unto themselves, aren’t they? I don’t believe they listened to a word I said.”

“I know I shouldn’t get involved, Jessie, but I really believe you should have a lawyer present when you speak to them next time.” Alex sat on the arm of the sofa, one leg swinging. “The last comment she made came close to a threat. I’m sure you can go to court to have this ruling reversed.”

I nod. “I’ll speak to John. He’ll know what to do.”

The doorbell chimes and Alex heads to see who’s there. A few seconds later he returns to the family room and raises both eyebrows at me. Concerned, I stand behind him but I can’t see who’s waiting outside. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Alex indicates over one shoulder with his thumb. “It’s your dad. I know you two weren’t seeing eye to eye prior to the accident so I figured I should ask you before I allowed him to come in.”

It’s true. The relationship between me and my dad had never been the same since we discussed the second family he supported.

I’d been sad that he hadn’t come and seen me.

My mother had been by and shown me videos of the girls she’d taken before school.

I’d told her everything and she assured me that I should put things behind me and move forward which I intend to do.

When I’d mentioned my dad, she shook her head.

He didn’t want to see me. I’d never discussed the other family with her as I’m still unsure how much she knows.

I nod. “Sure, we need to mend bridges.”

My father looks tanned and healthy; the reduction in work and living in Florida obviously suits him. I smile as he walks toward me. “Hi Dad. I’m really glad you’re here.”

“Me too.” He hugs me. “I’m so sorry I put you through all this. I couldn’t forgive myself when you had the accident. I figured we’d lost you. When your mom told me you had recovered, I couldn’t wait to see you.”

I lead him to the sofa and sit down. “It’s been tough since I woke from the coma.”

“I hear that Michael is giving you a hard time.” He sits beside me on the sofa.

“I’ve been concerned about him for a long time.

He came to me a month before your grandmother died, asking for a loan.

It was substantial and I couldn’t get it out of him what he wanted it for.

I told him if he needed that amount of money, he needed to go through the bank.

Now John tells me that the audit on his clients’ books isn’t looking good. ”

I stare at him uncomprehending. “What does this mean?”

“Simply, your brother’s a crook, and a liar, and I’ve been covering his ass for years.

” He shakes his head in obvious despair.

“Well, I should have told your mother about Andrea Long and her daughter Michelle but then I would have needed to explain and, in your mother’s eyes, Michael can do no wrong.

The truth is, Andrea was underage when she became pregnant.

She was living with her grandmother months into the pregnancy and then her grandmother passed, leaving Andrea homeless.

She has no other living relatives and when she went to Michael, he denied absolutely that it was his child.

She hunted me down and her story made a lot of sense to me.

The timing of where she met him, and the fact she knows about the birthmark on his right hip, made me, let’s say, more than a little suspicious. ”

I feel that if my eyes get any wider they’ll fall out and roll across the floor. I can’t believe my ears. “I figured that Michael preferred older women.”

“He does now.” Dad rolls his eyes. “When Andrea told me she was going to the cops, I needed to do something. I couldn’t tell your mom; she is a valued member of the community and a scandal like that, in this close environment would have ruined her.”

I wave a hand at him. “Anyway, so Michael was in trouble and you decided to bail him out?”

“Yes, I contacted Andrea again and set her up in an apartment. I supported her until she had the baby and then we conducted a DNA test. I used my own DNA for a comparison and, being Michael’s father, it came back as a grand paternal match.

Michelle is my granddaughter, although Michael still denies he even met Andrea.

” He meets my gaze. “I feel obliged to support Andrea. Now, since she finished college and has a job, it’s not the same.

I help out when necessary, like any grandparent, and I set up a trust fund for college for Michelle. ”

I can’t believe my ears. “What else has Michael lied about?”

“Too many things to list.” Dad sets his weary eyes on me. “I must tell your mom. I know Michael has a gambling problem. It was only a matter of time before he started embezzling from the firm. If he has, I won’t be able to buy him out of trouble again.”

I blink, trying to make sense of it all. “He just inherited a lot of money; he can’t be broke.”

“I’m not sure, but from what John told me about the audit, he’s been running some type of Ponzi scam, where he takes money from investors and pays them with other investors’ money.

It’s doomed to fail because if one person wants to cash in, it causes a problem.

He had four clients cash in this year. He needed to pay them or he’d be caught.

He negotiates million dollar deals daily…

well, he did. He’s suspended right now.” He holds my hand, linking our fingers.

“I figure he knew about the will and was so desperate for money, he tried to kill you. He borrowed money from some shady characters and they don’t like not being paid on time.

I’d say they threatened him and might just do that if he doesn’t pay them. ”

Sorrow engulfs me. “Why didn’t he tell me the truth? Once the estate came into my hands, I’d have helped him.”

“There is no helping him, Jessie.” Dad shook his head, his face suddenly older. “Trust me, I’ve tried. He’d have taken every cent you own. John will call the cops if the books prove he embezzled from the company. He’ll go away for a long time.”