Chapter 10: My Husband's Final Bargain
Daniel wanted to speak to me alone.
After everything that had happened, after the missing will, the attempted transfer, and the discovery of my father's ledger, he still believed he could control the conversation.
Detective Mitchell disagreed.
"You can speak to your husband in my presence," she told me.
"You will not be alone with him, and you will not sign anything he gives you.""
I nodded.
Across the farmhouse, officers had moved Daniel into the old dining room. The curtains were drawn, and a single lamp illuminated the table where my father used to read his newspaper.
When I entered, Daniel stood.
His suit was rumpled. His tie hung loose around his neck, and the confidence he usually wore like expensive cologne had begun to evaporate.
"Margaret.""
I remained beside the door.
"Tell me who forged my signature.""
He looked at Detective Mitchell.
"I need to speak to my wife privately.""
"That's not happening," she replied.
Daniel rubbed his face.
"Fine. Then listen carefully, both of you. The person responsible is Richard Cole.""
I stared at him.
"Richard prepared the transfer documents," he continued.
"He controlled the legal paperwork. He had access to the estate records. If a signature was forged, he was in the best position to do it.""
"Yet you signed the transfer request," I said.
"Because Richard told me it was legitimate.""
"You expected me to believe that?""
"I'm telling you what happened.""
I pulled out the chair opposite him but didn't sit.
"Then explain the $1.2 million that disappeared four years ago.""
His eyes flickered toward the window.
"That money wasn't stolen.""
"My father wrote your name beside the transfer and marked it unauthorized.""
"Your father didn't understand the company's financial position.""
"He understood enough to know you were moving money without permission.""
Daniel struck the table with his palm.
"Because I was trying to save the company!""
Detective Mitchell stepped forward.
"Mr. Hayes, keep your voice down.""
He ignored her.
"Do you know what would have happened if Hayes Development had collapsed? Hundreds of employees would have lost their jobs. Our properties would have been seized. We would have lost the house, the investments, everything.""
I looked at him.
"So you took money from my father's estate.""
"I borrowed it.""
"Without permission.""
"I intended to repay it.""
"When?""
He had no answer.
I sat down slowly.
"Did you tell Vanessa about the money?""
His face changed.
"Vanessa has nothing to do with this.""
"She was in Room 614 with you when the transfer was submitted.""
"She was helping me organize documents.""
"Documents about an affair?""
He looked away.
For a moment, the old Daniel returned: the man who could sit across from me at breakfast and lie with a perfectly calm face.
Then he leaned forward.
"I made mistakes, Margaret. I know that. But I can fix this if you stop cooperating with the investigation.""
Detective Mitchell folded her arms.
"Explain what you mean by that.""
Daniel barely glanced at her.
"If Margaret withdraws her complaint and confirms that she authorized the financial arrangements, the bank will release the funds. Richard can handle the remaining paperwork. The company can repay the trust over time.""
I stared at him.
"You want me to tell the bank I approved a transfer I never authorized?""
"You're my wife.""
"That doesn't answer the question.""
"It would protect Lily.""
I felt something inside me snap.
"Don't use our daughter to excuse what you've done.""
He lowered his voice.
"Think about what happens if the investigation continues. The company could go into receivership. The press could get involved.
Lily's wedding will become a public scandal. Ethan's family will ask questions. Your mother could be dragged into court.""
"You mean the woman your father-in-law appointed to protect Lily?""
Daniel went completely still.
I watched him carefully.
"How did you know about that?"" I asked.
He recovered too quickly.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"Evelyn Shaw told me.""
His eyes hardened.
"Have you spoken to her?""
"Yes.""
For the first time, genuine fear crossed his face.
"Where is she?""
I smiled without humor.
"You tell me.""
He stepped away from the table.
"Margaret, you don't understand what Evelyn is capable of. She has been manipulating your father for years. She wanted control of the estate.""
"Then why did Dad appoint her to protect it?""
"Because she fooled him!""
"Or because he discovered what you were doing.""
Daniel stared at me.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed a folded sheet of paper.
"This is the real problem," he said.
"Your father changed his will shortly before he died. The document Richard filed was only a draft.""
Detective Mitchell immediately moved closer.
"Where did you get that document?""
Daniel ignored her and held it out to me.
"Read it.""
I didn't take it.
"What is it?""
"An agreement Thomas made with Evelyn. It gives her authority over Lily's trust if I become unable to manage the company.""
I looked at Detective Mitchell.
She nodded for me to examine the document, but not to sign anything.
I opened the paper.
It contained several legal paragraphs, my father's name, and a witness signature.
At the bottom was a clause stating that the trust's assets could not be used to secure company debt without approval from the independent guardian.
My mother's name appeared on the final page.
Margaret Hayes was listed as a beneficiary, but not as the person authorized to control the trust.
"Why are you showing me this?"" I asked.
"Because it proves Richard knew about the arrangement. He concealed it, then used the altered paperwork to transfer the money.""
"But you signed the transfer.""
"Because he told me the documents had been approved.""
"You're asking me to believe you didn't know what you were signing?""
Daniel's mouth tightened.
"I trusted my lawyer.""
I placed the document on the table.
"You expect me to believe that after you spent years telling me to trust you?""
He looked at me with an expression that might once have made me feel sorry for him.
"Margaret, I love you.""
The words landed between us like a joke.
"You brought your mistress to our daughter's wedding.""
"I made a terrible mistake.""
"You tried to take her inheritance.""
"I was trying to save our family.""
"You took money from my father while he was dying.""
His eyes filled with anger.
"Your father was going to destroy everything!""
The room fell silent.
Detective Mitchell slowly reached for her notebook.
I felt my pulse pounding in my ears.
"What did you just say?""
Daniel looked as though he wanted to pull the words back into his mouth.
Then he sat down.
"He was going to report me. He'd discovered the transfers and threatened to go to the authorities. I had employees to protect.
Debts to pay. I couldn't let him destroy the company over a bookkeeping dispute.""
"It wasn't a bookkeeping dispute.""
"He wouldn't listen!""
"So you took the money?""
"I was going to put it back.""
"Did you take the original will, too?""
He stared at the table.
I knew the answer before he spoke.
"Richard said it was safer to keep it away from your father-in-law's estate attorney until we could resolve the issue.""
"Your father-in-law was dead.""
"I know that!""
His shout shook the room.
Detective Mitchell stepped between us.
"Mr. Hayes, I need you to stop talking until you've consulted legal counsel.""
But I had one final question.
"Daniel, did you know my father was still alive when you called me at 10:05 that night?""
He looked up.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered, "Yes.""
The world seemed to stop.
I gripped the edge of the table.
"What happened?""
Daniel covered his face with both hands.
"I went into the bedroom to speak with him. He was angry. He told me he had already contacted Evelyn and that she would expose everything.""
"And?""
"He said I had until midnight to confess.""
"What happened next?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I left the room.""
"Did you call an ambulance?""
"No.""
The detective's expression hardened.
"Who did?""
"I did. Later.""
"How much later?""
He looked at me.
"I don't remember.""
I could barely hear my own voice.
"Did you leave my father alone?""
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"Margaret, please.""
"Answer me!""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
Detective Mitchell signaled to the officer outside the room.
"That's enough. Mr. Hayes, you're coming with us.""
Daniel stood abruptly.
"You can't arrest me based on a conversation with my wife!""
"I'm not discussing charges with you. We need to clarify your statement and preserve evidence.""
As the officers approached, Daniel turned toward me.
"Margaret, if you let them take me away, you'll never know what really happened that night.""
I stared at him.
"You just told me.""
"No."" His voice broke.
"I told you what I did. I haven't told you what your mother did.""
My blood ran cold.
"What are you talking about?""
He leaned closer as the officers took his arms.
"Ask her why she was at the house at 10:30 p.m.""
I stopped breathing.
My mother had told me she left my father's house at approximately nine that evening.
Daniel was now claiming she returned.
May you like
And before the officers led him out, he gave me one final sentence.
"Your father wasn't the only person who knew about the missing will.""
