Chapter 14: The Name They Tried to Erase
Arthur read## Chapter 14: The Name They Tried to Erase
Arthur read his father's signature until his father's signature until the letters blurred.
“My father knew the letters blurred.
“My father knew,” he whispered.
Evelyn placed the amended birth record beside the old photograph.
“His,” he whispered.
Evelyn placed the amended birth record beside the old photograph.
“His signature establishes that he authorized this amendment. It does not, by itself, establish why he signature establishes that he authorized this amendment. It does not, by itself, establish why he did so or what he knew about the circumstances surrounding it.””
Arthur barely seemed did so or what he knew about the circumstances surrounding it.””
Arthur barely seemed to hear her.
“He told me Catherine was a distant family friend. He said Diane had grown to hear her.
“He told me Catherine was a distant family friend. He said Diane had grown up without siblings.””
Margaret gave a bitter laugh.
“D up without siblings.””
Margaret gave a bitter laugh.
“Diane had a sister. She simply decided the world wouldiane had a sister. She simply decided the world would be easier to control if nobody knew.””
Elena opened the be easier to control if nobody knew.””
Elena opened the cardboard box and removed several more documents.
“Catherine's original papers show that she and Diane were raised in the same household. cardboard box and removed several more documents.
“Catherine's original papers show that she and Diane were raised in the same household. After Catherine became pregnant, the family began treating her as a disgrace. Diane, After Catherine became pregnant, the family began treating her as a disgrace. Diane, meanwhile, was considered the responsible daughter.””
“Why would Arthur's father get involved?”” I asked.
Elena looked at Arthur meanwhile, was considered the responsible daughter.””
“Why would Arthur's father get involved?”” I asked.
Elena looked at Arthur.
“Because your father's family managed the legal arrangements for the Vale estate. The families had business ties, and the trust was designed to protect the inheritance of Catherine's descendants.””
Arthur sat down slowly.
“Because your father's family managed the legal arrangements for the Vale estate. The families had business ties, and the trust was designed to protect the inheritance of Catherine's descendants.””
Arthur sat down slowly.
“My father always said the trust existed to settle a business dispute.””
“It did settle a dispute,” Elena said.
“My father always said the trust existed to settle a business dispute.””
“It did settle a dispute,” Elena said.
“But the dispute was about who would control the money after Catherine's child was born.””
Marcus looked at the birth record.
“Rebecca.
“But the dispute was about who would control the money after Catherine's child was born.””
Marcus looked at the birth record.
“Rebecca was the child.””
“Yes,” Elena replied.
“The evidence was the child.””
“Yes,” Elena replied.
“The evidence indicates that Rebecca was born to Catherine and that her identity was changed through a series of legal amendments indicates that Rebecca was born to Catherine and that her identity was changed through a series of legal amendments. The reason those amendments were made still needs to be established.””
Margaret folded her hands together.
“I. The reason those amendments were made still needs to be established.””
Margaret folded her hands together.
“I know why Diane wanted Rebecca separated from Catherine.””
“Then know why Diane wanted Rebecca separated from Catherine.””
“Then tell us,” Marcus said.
Margaret looked toward Lily, who was sitting beside tell us,” Marcus said.
Margaret looked toward Lily, who was sitting beside me with her stuffed rabbit.
“Because Catherine was entitled to a substantial share of the Vale trust. When she became pregnant, Diane convinced the family that Catherine was unstable and incapable of raising a me with her stuffed rabbit.
“Because Catherine was entitled to a substantial share of the Vale trust. When she became pregnant, Diane convinced the family that Catherine was unstable and incapable of raising a child. She told them that the baby would be better off with another relative child. She told them that the baby would be better off with another relative.””
“And you agreed to take Rebecca?”” I asked.
“I did. I believed I was protecting her from.””
“And you agreed to take Rebecca?”” I asked.
“I did. I believed I was protecting her from a family that had already rejected her mother.””
Margaret's eyes a family that had already rejected her mother.””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“But I was given false papers. I was told Catherine had agreed to the arrangement. By the time I learned that the documents filled.
“But I was given false papers. I was told Catherine had agreed to the arrangement. By the time I learned that the documents were fraudulent, Rebecca was already a little girl, and I was afraid the courts would take her away from were fraudulent, Rebecca was already a little girl, and I was afraid the courts would take her away from me.””
“You could have told Catherine the truth,” Marcus said.
“Yes.””
“You could have told Rebecca.””
“Yes.””
“You could have gone to the police.””
Margaret bowed me.””
“You could have told Catherine the truth,” Marcus said.
“Yes.””
“You could have told Rebecca.””
“Yes.””
“You could have gone to the police.””
Margaret bowed her head.
“Yes.””
her head.
“Yes.””
Marcus turned away.
For a moment, I thought he would leave the room. Instead, he walked to the window and stood silently, breathing through his anger.
Lily slipped from her chair and approached Margaret.
“Did Mommy know youMarcus turned away.
For a moment, I thought he would leave the room. Instead, he walked to the window and stood silently, breathing through his anger.
Lily slipped from her chair and approached Margaret.
“Did Mommy know you were scared?””
Margaret looked at her.
“She did.””
“Did she know you loved her?””
“Yes. I hope she were scared?””
Margaret looked at her.
“She did.””
“Did she know you loved her?””
“Yes. I hope she did.””
Lily considered this.
“Then you should tell did.””
Lily considered this.
“Then you should tell the truth now. Mommy can't tell it anymore.””
Margaret covered her mouth.
“I will the truth now. Mommy can't tell it anymore.””
Margaret covered her mouth.
“I will, sweetheart. I promise.””
Evelyn collected the documents and explained that they would be preserved for examination. She, sweetheart. I promise.””
Evelyn collected the documents and explained that they would be preserved for examination. She also arranged for the investigators to obtain the original records from the relevant archives and compare the signatures against verified also arranged for the investigators to obtain the original records from the relevant archives and compare the signatures against verified samples.
But one question remained.
Why had Arthur's father authorized the amendment?
Arthur answered it himself several samples.
But one question remained.
Why had Arthur's father authorized the amendment?
Arthur answered it himself several hours later.
He had gone into his study and returned with an old diary.
“My father kept records of meetings and hours later.
He had gone into his study and returned with an old diary.
“My father kept records of meetings and private transactions. I found this after his death, but I never understood the references.””
He opened private transactions. I found this after his death, but I never understood the references.””
He opened the diary to a page marked with a ribbon.
The entry was dated shortly after Rebecca's birth.
*The arrangement the diary to a page marked with a ribbon.
The entry was dated shortly after Rebecca's birth.
*The arrangement has been completed. Catherine must remain unaware of the child's location until has been completed. Catherine must remain unaware of the child's location until the trust dispute is resolved.
Daniel assures me the paperwork will withstand scrutiny. Diane believes the matter is settled.*
Arthur's the trust dispute is resolved. Daniel assures me the paperwork will withstand scrutiny. Diane believes the matter is settled.*
Arthur's voice faltered.
“There's another entry, three months later.””
He turned the page.
*Diane has requested further voice faltered.
“There's another entry, three months later.””
He turned the page.
Diane has requested further changes. I refused. The child is not to be moved again without my consent.
Evel changes. I refused. The child is not to be moved again without my consent.*
Evelyn leaned forward.
“Did your father sign any additional amendments after that?””
“Not that I know of.””
“Then weyn leaned forward.
“Did your father sign any additional amendments after that?””
“Not that I know of.””
“Then we need to compare the dates with the official records.””
Arthur continued reading.
A final entry had been written need to compare the dates with the official records.””
Arthur continued reading.
A final entry had been written in the margin, in a different ink.
*If anything happens to me, the original papers must be in the margin, in a different ink.
If anything happens to me, the original papers must be returned to Catherine. She has the right to know what was done.
Beneath the sentence was a small drawing of a returned to Catherine. She has the right to know what was done.*
Beneath the sentence was a small drawing of a blue bird.
Lily stood up.
“That's Mommy's bird.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She pointed to the symbol blue bird.
Lily stood up.
“That's Mommy's bird.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She pointed to the symbol.
“Mommy used to draw that in the corners of her letters. She.
“Mommy used to draw that in the corners of her letters. She said it meant someone was watching over you.””
Arthur closed the diary gently.
“Your said it meant someone was watching over you.””
Arthur closed the diary gently.
“Your mother was trying to tell us something.””
The next morning, Evelyn received confirmation that the bank had preserved the full transaction history mother was trying to tell us something.””
The next morning, Evelyn received confirmation that the bank had preserved the full transaction history. The investigators were also examining the identity documents used during the attempted transfer.
No one. The investigators were also examining the identity documents used during the attempted transfer.
No one had yet established whether the woman beside Diane was Catherine.
But the records revealed something else.
Diane had visited the bank with had yet established whether the woman beside Diane was Catherine.
But the records revealed something else.
Diane had visited the bank with Daniel Whitmore on the day the amendment was submitted.
A third person had accompanied Daniel Whitmore on the day the amendment was submitted.
A third person had accompanied them.
The visitor's name had been entered incorrectly, but the bank's access log them.
The visitor's name had been entered incorrectly, but the bank's access log contained a telephone number.
Evelyn passed it to the investigators.
Hours later, they traced it contained a telephone number.
Evelyn passed it to the investigators.
Hours later, they traced it to a private office belonging to a company that had received payments from the Carter estate.
The company had to a private office belonging to a company that had received payments from the Carter estate.
The company had no public website, no listed employees, and no documented business activity.
Its registered director was a woman no public website, no listed employees, and no documented business activity.
Its registered director was a woman named Evelyn Catherine Carter.
The name appeared again and again in the records.
Evelyn stared at named Evelyn Catherine Carter.
The name appeared again and again in the records.
Evelyn stared at the screen.
“Someone has been maintaining a legal identity under the name originally intended for Rebecca.””
the screen.
“Someone has been maintaining a legal identity under the name originally intended for Rebecca.””
“Why?”” I asked.
“To control assets that might otherwise have passed“Why?”” I asked.
“To control assets that might otherwise have passed to Rebecca or Lily.””
Marcus looked furious.
“So the woman in the photograph isn't necessarily Catherine. to Rebecca or Lily.””
Marcus looked furious.
“So the woman in the photograph isn't necessarily Catherine. She could be someone using that identity to claim the inheritance.””
“Correct.””
Arthur stood abruptly.
“And Daniel Whitmore helped establish this company?””
She could be someone using that identity to claim the inheritance.””
“Correct.””
Arthur stood abruptly.
“And Daniel Whitmore helped establish this company?””
“His office prepared one of its earliest filings,” Evelyn said.
“That“His office prepared one of its earliest filings,” Evelyn said.
“That doesn't prove he knew its ultimate purpose. We need to question him.””
Marcus reached for his coat.
“ doesn't prove he knew its ultimate purpose. We need to question him.””
Marcus reached for his coat.
“Then let's find him.””
Evelyn stopped him.
“The investigators are already arranging a formal interview. WeThen let's find him.””
Evelyn stopped him.
“The investigators are already arranging a formal interview. We will not confront him privately.””
For once, Marcus accepted the instruction without argument.
That afternoon, we returned will not confront him privately.””
For once, Marcus accepted the instruction without argument.
That afternoon, we returned to the house where the BLUEBIRD box had been found. Arthur wanted to search to the house where the BLUEBIRD box had been found. Arthur wanted to search the remaining estate records for any reference to the company.
Lily came the remaining estate records for any reference to the company.
Lily came with us, holding Rebecca's old photograph.
She disappeared into the upstairs hallway while we worked with us, holding Rebecca's old photograph.
She disappeared into the upstairs hallway while we worked.
A few minutes later, she called out.
“Nia? Dad? Come here!””
We found.
A few minutes later, she called out.
“Nia? Dad? Come here!””
We found her standing beside the closet in Rebecca's old room. She was holding a folded piece her standing beside the closet in Rebecca's old room. She was holding a folded piece of paper she'd discovered behind a loose panel in the back of a drawer.
The handwriting was Rebecca of paper she'd discovered behind a loose panel in the back of a drawer.
The handwriting was Rebecca's.
Marcus took it carefully.
*If you're reading this, you've found the records Diane's.
Marcus took it carefully.
*If you're reading this, you've found the records Diane couldn't destroy. The person using the name Evelyn Catherine Carter is not my mother. But she couldn't destroy.
The person using the name Evelyn Catherine Carter is not my mother. But she knows where my mother is.*
Below that was an address.
And a warning knows where my mother is.*
Below that was an address.
And a warning.
*Do not go there unless Daniel Whitmore is with you. He is the only person who.
Do not go there unless Daniel Whitmore is with you. He is the only person who knows what happened the night Catherine disappeared.
Marcus looked up.
“Why would Rebecca trust Whitmore after knows what happened the night Catherine disappeared.*
Marcus looked up.
“Why would Rebecca trust Whitmore after everything we've found?””
I studied the note.
“Maybe she didn't trust him. Maybe she knew he was everything we've found?””
I studied the note.
“Maybe she didn't trust him. Maybe she knew he was the only one who could explain what he had done.””
Arthur reached for his phone.
“We the only one who could explain what he had done.””
Arthur reached for his phone.
“We need to give this to Evelyn.””
Before he could dial, a car pulled into the driveway.
A need to give this to Evelyn.””
Before he could dial, a car pulled into the driveway.
A man stepped out, carrying no umbrella despite the rain.
Daniel Whitmore.
He looked toward the upstairs man stepped out, carrying no umbrella despite the rain.
Daniel Whitmore.
He looked toward the upstairs window, and when he saw us, he raised one hand.
Then his phone rang.
He answered it.
We window, and when he saw us, he raised one hand.
Then his phone rang.
He answered it.
We watched him listen, his face tightening.
He lowered the phone and looked directly at Marcus watched him listen, his face tightening.
He lowered the phone and looked directly at Marcus.
A moment later, Marcus's own phone rang.
The caller was Evelyn.
“.
A moment later, Marcus's own phone rang.
The caller was Evelyn.
“Do not let Whitmore leave,” she said urgently.
“The investigators have just found a documentDo not let Whitmore leave,” she said urgently.
“The investigators have just found a document connecting him to Catherine's disappearance.””
Marcus looked down at the address in Rebecca's handwriting.
“What connecting him to Catherine's disappearance.””
Marcus looked down at the address in Rebecca's handwriting.
“What document?””
Evelyn's answer was almost a whisper.
“A signed statement document?””
Evelyn's answer was almost a whisper.
“A signed statement claiming Catherine was dead.””
“Who signed it?””
There was a pause.
“Daniel claiming Catherine was dead.””
“Who signed it?””
There was a pause.
“Daniel Whitmore.””
Outside, Whitmore reached the front steps.
Then he knocked.
And before anyone could open the door, he Whitmore.””
Outside, Whitmore reached the front steps.
Then he knocked.
And before anyone could open the door, he shouted through it.
“I know you found Rebecca's letter. If you want to shouted through it.
May you like
“I know you found Rebecca's letter. If you want to know who was really buried six months ago, you need to let me inside know who was really buried six months ago, you need to let me inside.””
.””
