Chapter 9: The Woman Who Knew Everything
I didn't sleep that night.
Daniel spent the evening in the guest room, and I remained in the study with my mother's letter spread across the desk.
At 2:15 a.m., I called Evelyn.
She answered immediately.
“I was expecting you to call.””
“Can Daniel legally transfer the contents of my mother's safety deposit box?””
“No. He's not an authorized party.””
“Then why did the bank accept his request?””
“They didn't. It was rejected.””
I looked at the brass key.
“Can we find out what he was trying to do?””
“I've requested the submission records. We'll have them in the morning.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Evelyn, I need to know something.””
“Go ahead.””
“Could my mother have known Patricia would try to access the box?””
There was a pause.
“Possibly. The letter suggests she was concerned about Patricia's involvement.””
“Then why didn't she report what happened?””
“Maybe she was protecting you. Maybe she didn't have enough evidence. We shouldn't assume.””
I looked at the photograph of my mother and Richard.
There was something about the picture that bothered me.
Richard was standing beside her, holding a folder.
My mother was smiling.
But Patricia wasn't in the photograph.
She was the one who had witnessed the original agreement.
She was the one who had prepared the financial attachment.
And now she was trying to access the box.
“Evelyn?””
“Yes?””
“I want to meet Patricia tomorrow.””
“Absolutely not alone.””
“I won't.””
At eleven the following morning, we arrived at Patricia's house.
She opened the door wearing a cream silk blouse and pearl earrings.
Her expression changed immediately when she saw Evelyn.
“Why is she here?””
“Because I have questions about the original agreement between my mother and Richard.””
Patricia stepped aside.
“I already told you. I don't have anything to discuss.””
“Then this should be quick.””
We entered the living room.
Patricia sat on the sofa.
Daniel was already there.
He looked exhausted.
I chose the chair opposite him.
Evelyn placed a folder on the coffee table.
“Mrs. Carter, we have reason to believe the original settlement agreement was altered after execution.””
Patricia gave a dismissive laugh.
“That's absurd.””
“Do you possess the original document?””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Mom.””
She ignored him.
Evelyn opened the folder.
“This is a copy of the settlement agreement obtained from Ms. Carter's safety deposit box.””
Patricia glanced at it.
Then her eyes moved to the final page.
For a fraction of a second, her expression changed.
I noticed.
So did Evelyn.
“Have you seen this document before?”” Evelyn asked.
“No.””
“Your signature appears as a witness on the original agreement.””
“I witnessed hundreds of documents over the years.””
“Did you witness this one?””
Patricia leaned back.
“Possibly.””
“Was the document complete when you signed it?””
Her lips tightened.
“I don't remember.””
Evelyn placed another page beside it.
“This is a preliminary forensic report indicating that the signature page may have been substituted.””
Patricia stood abruptly.
“This is harassment!””
I remained seated.
“Then help us understand what happened.””
She turned toward me.
“You're doing exactly what your mother did. She thought everyone was trying to take something from her.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“What did my mother do?””
“She made promises and broke them.””
“What promises?””
Patricia's eyes narrowed.
“Richard invested money in that company. Your mother became successful, and suddenly she didn't want to honor the agreement.””
“Show me the agreement.””
“I don't have to show you anything.””
Daniel stood.
“Mom, please.””
She turned on him.
“Don't start.””
He stepped closer.
“You told me Dad had a permanent claim.””
“He did.””
“Then why does the original agreement say otherwise?””
Patricia's expression hardened.
“Because Margaret changed it.””
“Do you have proof?””
She didn't answer.
Daniel looked devastated.
“Mom, you told me there was a document.””
“There is!””
“Where?””
Patricia pointed toward the hallway.
“In the study.””
Evelyn immediately stood.
“Mrs. Carter, we should preserve any relevant documents without disturbing them.””
Patricia glared at her.
“This is my house!””
I looked at Daniel.
“Do you know where the document is?””
He nodded slowly.
“Dad's old office.””
We walked down the hallway.
Patricia followed, repeatedly telling us we had no right to be there.
The study smelled of leather and old tobacco.
A large wooden desk stood beside a bookshelf filled with business books.
Daniel opened a cabinet.
Inside were several folders, old photographs, and a locked metal drawer.
“It's probably in here,” he said.
Patricia folded her arms.
“Don't touch that.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because those are your father's private papers.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“We're not removing anything without proper authorization. But if you have a document relevant to a potential ownership dispute, we need to preserve it.””
Patricia's voice rose.
“You people are acting like criminals!””
I looked at her.
“Then why are you so afraid of us looking?””
She went silent.
Daniel found a key inside the desk drawer.
He opened the metal cabinet.
There were several envelopes inside.
One had Richard Carter's name written across it.
Another had my mother's name.
And the third was addressed to Daniel.
He opened it.
A single sheet of paper fell onto the desk.
Daniel picked it up.
His expression changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He didn't answer.
I took a step closer.
The letter was dated seven years earlier.
It was from Richard.
Daniel,
If you are reading this, I am no longer able to resolve the dispute with Margaret myself.
There is something I never told you.
The Carter family does not own a permanent interest in her company.
I attempted to secure one through an amended agreement, but the arrangement was never legally completed.
Patricia knows what happened.
She was involved in the preparation of the replacement documents.
Do not trust her version of events.
Daniel's hand began to shake.
He read the final lines aloud.
I made a mistake by allowing my family to believe we were entitled to something that was never ours.
Do not let my mistake become yours.
Father.
The room fell silent.
I looked at Patricia.
She stood near the doorway, her face drained of color.
“Is this real?”” Daniel asked.
Patricia's lips trembled.
“Your father was confused toward the end.””
“He wrote this seven years ago.””
“He was sick!””
“He knew what he was talking about!””
Patricia suddenly raised her voice.
“Your father was trying to protect you!””
“From what?””
She looked at me.
Then at the letter.
Finally, she whispered:
“From the truth.””
Evelyn carefully took photographs of the document.
“Mrs. Carter, we need to know whether you possess the replacement agreement.””
Patricia didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Did you alter the settlement?””
She looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before.
Not arrogance.
Not contempt.
Fear.
“Your mother knew,” she whispered.
My heart began pounding.
“Knew what?””
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
“Richard wanted to fix the agreement. He believed your mother would eventually accept it.””
“But she didn't.””
“No.””
“So you changed it?””
Patricia looked down.
“I only changed one page.””
Daniel staggered backward.
“Mom…”
She started crying.
“I was protecting your father's legacy!””
“You forged a legal document?”” Daniel asked.
“I did what I had to do!””
Evelyn immediately intervened.
“Mrs. Carter, I strongly advise you not to make further statements without legal counsel.””
But Patricia seemed unable to stop.
“Margaret discovered the alteration. She threatened to expose everything. Richard begged her not to destroy our family.””
I stared at her.
“What did my mother do?””
Patricia wiped her cheeks.
“She gave Richard a choice.””
“What choice?””
“She said he could confess and withdraw the false claim, or she would take everything to court.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“And what did Richard choose?””
Patricia looked toward Daniel.
“He agreed to withdraw the claim.””
“Then why did you keep the document?””
She didn't answer.
Evelyn closed her folder.
“We'll be requesting all original records through the appropriate legal process.””
Patricia suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Please, Nia.””
I looked down at her hand.
“Let go.””
She released me.
“Your mother promised she wouldn't tell anyone.””
I stared at her.
“My mother kept your secret?””
Patricia nodded.
“She didn't want Daniel to grow up knowing his father had done something wrong.””
I pulled my arm away.
“And you repaid her by trying to take her company?””
Patricia's face crumpled.
“I was trying to protect my family.””
I looked at Daniel.
He was still holding his father's letter.
For the first time, he seemed to understand that the story he'd been told his entire life was built on a lie.
Then Evelyn's phone rang.
She stepped into the hallway to answer.
When she returned, her expression was grave.
“Nia, we've received the bank's submission records.””
“What did they find?””
“Daniel's application wasn't the only disputed transaction.””
She handed me a printed document.
At the bottom was a transfer authorization dated three days before Patricia's birthday dinner.
The recipient was Northbridge Ventures.
The amount was $1.8 million.
And the authorization bore my electronic signature.
I stared at it.
“I never approved this.””
Evelyn nodded.
“We know. But there's something more concerning.””
She pointed to the digital authorization log.
The transaction had been approved using a security credential registered to my office.
A credential assigned to only one person.
*Ethan Cole.*
I looked at Daniel.
He slowly lifted his head.
Then Patricia whispered something that made the room go silent.
“Ethan wasn't working for Daniel.””
She swallowed.
“He was working for Richard's old business partner.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Who?””
Patricia looked directly at me.
“His name is Victor Hale.””
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Then she added:
“And he was the man your mother spent the last six months of her life trying to keep away from you.””
