Marcus: So Vance knew she was alive this whole time?
Sarah: He came to this house six months ago to check if she was still hidden! He forced me to sign another paper!
Marcus: What paper?
Sarah: A paper saying that if I ever revealed Maya's existence, I would forfeit the house and admit to extortion!
Before Marcus could answer, the front doorbell rang loudly through the house. The sharp chime made Maya jump, hiding her face deep inside the sofa cushions.
Lily: Is that the bad man, Mommy?
Sarah: Oh God... Marcus, look out the window.
Marcus walked swiftly to the front living room window and parted the blinds. Parked in the driveway was a dark silver Mercedes sedan. A tall, well-dressed man with grey hair stepped out, adjusting his suit jacket in the afternoon heat.
Marcus: It’s Arthur Vance.
Sarah: Do not open that door! He has lawyers, Marcus! He has private security!
Marcus: Let him come in.
Sarah: Are you crazy? He will ruin us!
Marcus: He already ruined my family! Sit down with the girls in the kitchen and keep quiet.
Marcus walked over to the front entry hall, his fists clenched tight at his sides. The doorbell rang a second time, followed by three heavy knocks on the solid oak door.
Marcus: Coming.
Marcus pulled the door wide open. Dr. Arthur Vance stood on the porch, holding a brown leather briefcase with a polite, practiced smile on his face.
Dr. Vance: Good afternoon, Marcus. I was driving through the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by to drop off the new quarterly equipment reports.
Marcus: You don't make house calls for quarterly reports, Dr. Vance.
Dr. Vance: Well, I also wanted to check on Sarah. She didn't respond to my emails regarding the trust account maintenance.
Marcus: She didn't respond because she was busy showing me our hallway crawlspace.
Dr. Vance’s pleasant smile vanished instantly, his blue eyes hardening like ice. He stepped forward onto the threshold without being invited.
Dr. Vance: I see. So the secret is finally out in the open.
Marcus: Get out of my doorway before I throw you off my porch.
Dr. Vance: Don't be foolish, Marcus. If you cause a scene, your wife goes to federal prison for fraud, and your children end up in state foster care by nightfall.
Marcus: You falsified medical records, Vance! You faked a death certificate!
Dr. Vance: And who do you think the board of directors will believe? An elite hospital chief, or a maintenance worker and his unstable wife?
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