Chapter 11: The Safe-Deposit Box
By noon, Margaret had filed an emergency notice with the trust administrator and contacted the bank regarding the attempted access.
But the most important discovery came from Jason.
He remembered something our mother had said during a phone call the previous evening.
The safe-deposit box wasn't registered solely in her name.
It was jointly registered under Linda Morgan and Michael Morgan.
That meant the bank might still require additional documentation before allowing anyone to access it.
Margaret made the necessary arrangements.
We arrived at First National Bank shortly after two.
The manager, a woman named Carol, led us into a private office.
She checked our identification and examined the estate documents.
“I'm sorry,” she said.
“We need to verify the current authority over the box.””
Margaret handed her the trust paperwork.
Carol read through it carefully.
“Mr. Morgan's death was recorded eleven years ago. Mrs. Morgan remains listed as a joint holder.””
I leaned forward.
“Can we access it?””
“Not without Mrs. Morgan's authorization or an appropriate court order.””
Jason looked frustrated.
“She's the one hiding what's inside.””
Margaret raised a hand.
“That's why we need to proceed properly.””
Carol returned the documents.
“However, I can confirm that the box has been accessed twice in the last three months.””
My heart began pounding.
“By whom?””
She checked the log.
“Mrs. Linda Morgan.””
“Only her?””
Carol nodded.
“The most recent visit was last month.””
I exchanged a look with Jason.
Mom had said she'd listened to the recording recently.
She had been inside the box.
Margaret asked whether the bank could preserve the access records.
Carol agreed.
We left with a copy of the access history and a promise that the box would remain untouched pending further legal instructions.
Outside, Jason pulled out his phone.
“I'm calling Mom.””
“Don't,” I said.
He looked at me.
“Why?””
“Because she'll know we're investigating the box. If Thomas hasn't already taken whatever he wants, he'll try.””
Jason stared at the bank entrance.
“Then what do we do?””
Margaret answered.
“We wait for the court authorization. Meanwhile, I want both of you to avoid discussing the contents with anyone.””
We returned to her office.
She had received another document from the trust administrator.
It showed that Thomas had attempted to register a new company as the beneficiary of the rental income.
The request had been rejected because my birthday was approaching and the trust's control provisions were about to change.
Margaret placed the document in front of me.
“Emily, your father was very specific. Once you turn thirty-five, you have the right to demand a full accounting of every trust transaction.””
“Can I recover the money?””
“Potentially. But first we need to establish what was stolen, where it went, and who authorized the transfers.””
Jason looked down.
“What about the money in my name?””
“We'll investigate that separately.””
He nodded.
For the first time, I saw him looking genuinely ashamed.
“I'm sorry, Emily.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“For letting Mom convince me that silence was protecting the family.””
I took a breath.
“You should have told me.””
“I know.””
He looked toward the window.
“I remember Dad taking us to that little lake when we were kids. He told me that when people do something wrong, the worst thing they can do is keep hiding it.””
I remembered that day.
Dad had brought sandwiches and a football.
Jason had fallen into the water trying to retrieve a ball.
Dad had laughed so hard that he'd nearly dropped the picnic basket.
For a moment, I could almost hear his voice.
Then my phone rang.
Linda.
I answered.
“Hello?””
“Emily, where are you?””
“At work.””
“Don't lie to me.””
I looked at Margaret.
“Why?””
“Thomas says you've been asking questions about the bank.””
I said nothing.
My mother lowered her voice.
“Did you go there?””
“That's none of your business.””
“It is my business. That box belongs to your father and me.””
“Then you shouldn't have hidden it.””
She began crying.
“Emily, please. You don't understand what you're doing.””
“Then explain it.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Thomas has been helping me. He says everything can still be fixed.””
“By transferring Dad's properties into his company?””
“He promised he'd protect us.””
“Mom, he's using you.””
“You don't know him.””
“I know he borrowed money in my name.””
She went silent.
Then she whispered:
“Your father borrowed money in your name first.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What?””
“Before he died, he opened an account using your information.””
I looked at Margaret.
She immediately started writing.
“Why would Dad do that?””
“Because he wanted to protect the company.””
“That's not an answer.””
“He said it was temporary. He said he'd explain everything when you were older.””
I gripped the phone.
“Did he tell you about it?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you let me believe I had never signed anything?””
My mother started crying again.
“Because I didn't know which accounts were legitimate anymore.””
I closed my eyes.
“Mom, I need the truth.””
She was quiet for several seconds.
Then she said:
“Your father created a separate account for you. It was supposed to hold the rental income from two properties. Thomas discovered it and tried to access it.””
“Did he succeed?””
“I don't know.””
I looked at Margaret.
She shook her head, signaling me not to agree to anything.
“Where is the account now?””
Linda whispered:
“Your father put the information in the safe-deposit box.””
My heart began racing.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Thomas threatened me.””
“With what?””
She hesitated.
Then she said:
“He has a copy of the recording.””
I stood.
“Jason told me about it.””
My mother began sobbing.
“There's more, Emily. Your father said something on that recording that I never wanted you to hear.””
“What?””
She lowered her voice.
“He said the money in your account wasn't the only thing he had discovered.””
“What else?””
“He said someone had been taking money from your education fund since you were a child.””
I felt cold all over.
My father had established education funds for both children.
I remembered being told that mine had been exhausted by medical expenses after his death.
But I had never received any money from it.
“How much?””
“I don't know.””
“Mom!””
She whispered a number.
“Almost two hundred thousand dollars.””
I couldn't speak.
My college tuition had been paid through scholarships and student loans.
I'd worked evenings to cover rent.
I had graduated with debt while believing my family couldn't afford to help me.
Yet there had been a fund in my name.
My mother had let me struggle.
I felt tears running down my face.
“Who took it?””
She didn't answer.
“Was it Thomas?””
A long silence.
Then she said:
“Thomas didn't take that money.””
I stared at the wall.
“Who did?””
My mother whispered:
“Your brother.””
I turned toward Jason.
He was watching me.
He had heard enough to understand.
“What did she say?”” he asked.
I couldn't answer immediately.
Then Linda spoke again.
“Jason was young. Thomas told him the money was his. He said your father had intended it to be divided between the two of you.””
Jason stood.
“That's a lie.””
I looked at him.
“Did you take my education money?””
His face went pale.
“No.””
My mother continued.
“He used it to buy the apartment.””
Jason looked horrified.
“Mom, stop!””
I stared at my brother.
“What apartment?””
Jason shook his head.
“Emily, I swear I didn't know.””
My phone was still connected.
Linda whispered:
“Ask him about the property he bought three years after Dad died.””
Jason grabbed his phone.
“Mom, you're lying!””
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Jason sat down.
His face had lost all color.
I looked at him.
“Tell me she's lying.””
He swallowed.
“I bought an apartment.””
“With what money?””
He stared at the floor.
“Thomas said it was an inheritance from Dad.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“How much?””
“About one hundred and eighty thousand.””
I stepped away.
“Jason, that was my education fund.””
He began shaking his head.
“I didn't know.””
“You never wondered why Dad's money appeared out of nowhere?””
“He told me Mom had arranged it.””
I looked at Margaret.
She had already written down the details.
“Emily,” she said quietly, “we need to establish whether Jason received the money knowingly or unknowingly.””
Jason covered his face.
“I didn't steal from you.””
I looked at my brother.
For the first time, I couldn't tell whether I believed him.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Linda.
*I have the original recording. Thomas doesn't know I kept it. Come alone tomorrow if you want to know what really happened to your father.*
May you like
A second message followed.
*And Emily, don't tell Jason. The recording is about him too.*
