Chapter 5: The Notary's Confession
Patricia Collins sat down without removing her coat.
Her hands trembled as she pushed the envelope toward Richard.
“I should have come forward earlier,” she said.
“But I was afraid.””
Marcus leaned across the desk.
“Afraid of Vanessa?””
Patricia shook her head.
“Not just Vanessa.””
Richard opened the envelope.
Inside were printed emails, copies of identification documents, and a handwritten statement.
He examined the first page.
Then his expression hardened.
“Patricia, did you notarize the property transfer agreement?””
“No.””
“Did you authorize anyone to use your notary credentials?””
She lowered her eyes.
“No. Someone stole them.””
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
“Convenient.””
Patricia flinched.
“I understand why you don't believe me. But I have proof.””
She removed her phone and opened a photograph.
It showed a laptop screen with an email requesting a digital verification code.
The sender's name was Vanessa Bennett.
“I received this message two months ago,” Patricia explained.
“She said she was helping an elderly family friend organize property documents. She claimed Mrs. Bennett had already agreed to the transfer.””
I leaned forward.
“What did you tell her?””
“I told her I needed to speak with you personally. She became angry. Then she said your son had full permission to handle your affairs.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I never gave her permission.””
“I know that now.””
Patricia opened another photograph.
It showed a handwritten note with a phone number and the words:
Use the old file. Nobody will check the original.
Richard looked at her.
“What old file?””
Patricia swallowed.
“Twelve years ago, when Mr. Bennett was still alive, I notarized some documents relating to the house. Vanessa somehow obtained a copy of my old notary certificate.””
My stomach tightened.
“How?””
Patricia looked toward Marcus.
“Your wife contacted me pretending to be an insurance representative. She asked for verification of an old property transaction.””
Marcus sat back.
“She lied about who she was?””
“Yes.””
Richard examined the dates.
“Why didn't you report this immediately?””
Patricia's eyes filled.
“Because I received a visit.””
“What kind of visit?””
“Two weeks ago, a man came to my house. He told me I should stop asking questions about the Bennett property.””
I remembered the man reflected in the window behind Lily.
“Was he tall? Dark hair? Maybe in his forties?””
Patricia nodded slowly.
“That's him.””
Marcus stood.
“Do you know his name?””
She hesitated.
“Ethan Cole.””
Richard looked up.
“Are you certain?””
“I heard Vanessa call him that during a phone conversation.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Who is Ethan Cole?””
Patricia took a breath.
“Your wife's former business partner.””
I looked at my son.
His face had gone pale.
“Vanessa never mentioned a business partner.””
“She might not have wanted you to know,” Patricia replied.
Richard pulled another sheet from the envelope.
It was a printed bank transfer receipt.
The amount was $18,500.
The recipient was listed as Ethan Cole.
The transfer had come from an account belonging to Vanessa.
Richard tapped the paper.
“Patricia, what does this payment represent?””
“That's what I was hoping you could help me determine.””
She turned toward me.
“Mrs. Bennett, I don't think Vanessa was only trying to steal your house. I believe someone was paying her to obtain it.””
A cold silence settled over the room.
Marcus shook his head.
“No. Vanessa wouldn't do that.””
I looked at him.
“Last night, you watched her plant a bracelet in my purse.””
He lowered his eyes.
Patricia continued.
“There was something else. Before I left Vanessa's house, I heard her speaking to Ethan on the phone.””
Richard leaned forward.
“What did she say?””
Patricia closed her eyes, trying to remember.
“She said, 'Once the old woman signs, everything will be settled. Marcus won't know until it's too late.''”
My son looked sick.
Richard stood and walked toward the window.
“That's enough for now. We need to preserve these records and let investigators handle the next steps.””
Patricia nodded.
Then she turned to me.
“I am sorry, Mrs. Bennett.””
I studied her face.
“Why are you really here?””
She looked confused.
“Because I wanted to tell the truth.””
“No,” I said.
“You came here because you're afraid of something. What aren't you telling us?””
Patricia's hands tightened around her handbag.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then she reached inside and removed a small flash drive.
“Vanessa gave me this.””
Richard took it.
“What is it?””
“A recording.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Of what?””
Patricia looked directly at him.
“Your wife discussing what she planned to do after your mother lost the house.””
My throat tightened.
Richard inserted the flash drive into his office computer.
A video file appeared.
The recording showed a dimly lit restaurant. Vanessa sat across from a man in a dark jacket.
Ethan.
His face was partially visible.
Vanessa leaned toward him.
“Once the deed is transferred, we can sell immediately.””
Ethan shook his head.
“What about Marcus?””
Vanessa laughed.
“Marcus believes whatever I tell him.””
The man smiled.
“And your mother-in-law?””
Vanessa lifted her wineglass.
“By then, she'll have nowhere to go.””
Marcus covered his mouth.
But the conversation continued.
Ethan leaned closer.
“What about the money?””
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“I want my half. We agreed on that.””
“Your half comes after the sale.””
“And what happens to Marcus?””
Ethan shrugged.
“He'll survive.””
Vanessa laughed again.
“He won't even know what happened until the divorce papers arrive.””
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Marcus stared at the screen.
Then he whispered, “She was planning to leave me?””
Patricia nodded.
“I believe so.””
Richard immediately saved a copy of the recording.
I reached for my son's hand.
He didn't take it.
Instead, he stood and walked toward the window.
His shoulders shook.
Then his phone rang.
It was a call from Diane.
He answered on speaker.
“Marcus, where are you?”” Diane demanded.
“I'm with Mom.””
“Good. Bring her home. Vanessa is ready to talk.””
Marcus laughed without humor.
“After everything?””
Diane lowered her voice.
“Listen to me carefully. You have no idea what you're getting into.””
“What does that mean?””
There was a pause.
Then Diane said something that made Richard turn around.
“Your father-in-law's estate is involved, too. If Evelyn goes to the police, all of us could lose everything.””
Marcus froze.
“Dad's estate?””
Diane immediately ended the call.
I stared at the phone.
May you like
Richard slowly closed the laptop.
“Evelyn,” he said, “I think we need to find out what Robert discovered before he died.””
