Chapter 4: My Father Had Been Dead for Eleven Months
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The brown envelope lay open on the dining table.
Caleb stood beside me, his backpack hanging from one shoulder. Noah was behind him, staring at his mother with an expression I couldn't quite read.
Vanessa looked at the documents.
Then she looked at me.
“Marcus, give me the envelope.””
I placed my hand over it.
“No.””
“Those are private family documents.””
“My father's will is private?””
“You don't understand what you're looking at.””
“Then explain it.””
She glanced at Patricia.
Her sister immediately stepped forward.
“Marcus, you're making a serious mistake. These documents were prepared to protect the children's interests.””
“Which children?””
Patricia's jaw tightened.
“All of them.””
I picked up the amendment and read the date again.
My father had died on February 14.
The amendment was supposedly signed on January 26 of the following year.
Eleven months after his funeral.
I looked at Caleb.
“Where did you get this envelope?””
“Mom's bedroom drawer,” he answered.
“She told me to put it in my backpack before we came home.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Caleb, I told you not to touch those papers.””
“You told me Dad needed to see them,” he protested.
“I told you to bring them, not to discuss them!””
Caleb looked down.
I felt a strange mixture of anger and sadness.
The boy had no idea what he had been carrying.
I turned to my wife.
“Did you create this document?””
“No.””
“Did my father sign it?””
“He wanted the children protected.””
“My father never met you until three months before he died.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“He knew about our relationship.””
“He knew I was dating someone. He never approved any changes to Lily's inheritance.””
Patricia interrupted.
“Robert was very old-fashioned. He didn't understand blended families.””
I turned toward her.
“Stop speaking for a dead man.””
Her mouth snapped shut.
I took photographs of every page and sent them to my attorney.
Then I carefully returned the documents to the envelope.
“From this moment forward, nobody touches these papers.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You're acting like we're criminals.””
I looked at the forged date.
“I'm acting like someone who has discovered that his father's signature may have been forged.””
Noah suddenly spoke.
“Mom said Grandpa wanted us to have the money.””
Vanessa softened immediately.
“Sweetheart, go upstairs.””
“But you said—”
“Upstairs. Now.””
Noah looked at Caleb.
Neither boy moved.
I crouched slightly so I could speak to them without making them feel trapped.
“Listen, neither of you is in trouble. Whatever your mother told you, I want you to understand something. Lily's grandfather left that money for her. That doesn't mean I don't love you.””
Caleb looked at me.
“Are you sending us away?””
The question hit harder than I expected.
“No. You haven't done anything wrong.””
Vanessa grabbed Caleb's shoulder.
“Come on.””
But before she could lead them away, Caleb said something else.
“Mom said if Lily got the money, we might lose our house.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Why would you tell them that?””
She didn't answer.
Patricia grabbed her handbag.
“We're leaving.””
“Not yet,” I said.
“I have one more question.””
I opened the folder containing the bank's transaction history.
“Vantage Educational Consulting received thirty-eight thousand dollars from Lily's trust. Patricia owns that company. Where did the money go?””
Patricia looked toward the door.
“That's none of your business.””
“Then why did it come from my daughter's trust?””
“Because Vanessa needed help.””
“With what?””
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
“Stop interrogating my sister!””
I held up another page.
“Was this payment made to cover the deposit on your lake house?””
Patricia went completely still.
I had found the property transaction earlier that afternoon. A vacation property purchased through a limited liability company registered in Patricia's name.
The closing date matched the $38,000 transfer.
Patricia's face turned red.
“That property is mine.””
“Then why did Lily pay for it?””
Vanessa whispered, “Marcus, please.””
I looked at her.
“Did you use my daughter's inheritance to buy your sister a house?””
Patricia finally lost her composure.
“She deserved something after everything she's done for Vanessa!””
I stared at her.
“And what did Lily deserve?””
Neither woman answered.
Then my phone rang.
It was my attorney.
I stepped into the hallway.
“Marcus,” he said, “I've reviewed the photographs. There's a significant problem with that amendment.””
“What problem?””
“The notary listed on the document retired before the date shown. I contacted his office. They confirmed that he died six months before the amendment was supposedly notarized.””
I closed my eyes.
“Can you establish whether the document is fraudulent?””
“We'll need an independent examination, but the circumstances are extremely suspicious. Also, there's something else.””
“What?””
“The document references an account number that doesn't appear in the original trust records.””
I frowned.
“What account?””
“I believe it's a separate custodial account. I'm trying to trace it.””
My heart began racing.
“Keep looking.””
After the call ended, I returned to the dining room.
Vanessa and Patricia were whispering.
When they saw me, they stopped.
I picked up the envelope.
“You two need to leave tonight.””
Vanessa stared at me.
“This is my house.””
“Our house,” I corrected.
“But Lily is staying here, and I won't have her listening to another conversation about how she doesn't belong.””
“You can't throw me out.””
“I'm not discussing property tonight. I'm asking you to leave the room and stop approaching Lily about this.””
Patricia pulled Vanessa toward the hallway.
As they disappeared upstairs, I heard Vanessa whisper:
“You promised me he'd never find that account.””
I froze.
That account.
I looked at the envelope in my hand.
Then I remembered the first receipt Lily had found.
There had been a transfer confirmation.
A partial account number.
And a dark smear of ink covering the amount.
I pulled out my phone and called Denise at the bank.
“It's Marcus Carter. I need you to investigate another account number connected to my daughter's trust.””
I read the numbers aloud.
There was a pause.
Then Denise's voice changed.
“Mr. Carter, that account is not registered under your daughter's name.””
“Whose name is it under?””
May you like
She took a breath.
“Vanessa Whitmore.””
