Chapter 7: My Brother's Warning
I read Julian's message three times.
Then I called him.
It went straight to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Daniel stood behind my chair, staring at the email.
“Are you certain this came from your brother's account?””
“It's his company email.””
“That doesn't mean he sent it.””
I turned toward him.
“Someone used his account to warn me that my mother is coming for the original will. Who else would know about the safe?””
Daniel removed his glasses.
“Your father, me, Mrs. Bennett, and apparently whoever has been monitoring the house.””
I looked at the incorporation certificate again.
My mother owned fifty-one percent of Harbor Ridge Holdings.
That meant she wasn't some innocent spouse caught between two men. She had been a majority shareholder in the very company receiving money from my father's business.
“Daniel, I want the complete company records.””
“We'll request them through the appropriate channels.””
“I don't want to wait until Robert moves everything.””
He nodded.
“Then we need to secure your father's original will and the estate documents.””
I stood.
“Where are they?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Your father kept the original will in a fireproof cabinet at the house. I have a certified copy in my office.””
“Then we're going back.””
“Not without police assistance.””
I picked up my phone.
“Call Detective Reed.””
Twenty minutes later, we were standing in my father's driveway with Detective Reed and another officer.
The house looked peaceful.
The curtains were drawn. The garden lights were still on, although it was early afternoon. My father's American flag hung beside the front entrance.
Everything looked normal.
That was the unsettling part.
Detective Reed knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again.
Finally, the door opened.
My mother stood there.
She wore a cream-colored blouse and pearl earrings. Her hair was perfectly arranged, and her makeup looked untouched.
For a moment, she stared at the officers.
Then she looked at me.
“What is this?””
“Good afternoon, Eleanor,” Reed said.
“We need to ask you a few questions.””
“About what?””
“An incident involving the property and some potentially missing documents.””
My mother looked at me.
“You brought police into your father's house?””
“Someone locked me inside his garage yesterday.””
Her expression barely changed.
“Perhaps you shouldn't have been trespassing.””
I stared at her.
“It's my house too.””
“Not anymore, if you continue behaving this way.””
Detective Reed stepped forward.
“Ma'am, we'd like to speak with you inside.””
She reluctantly moved aside.
The dining room had been rearranged. The five folders from the previous meeting were gone, and my father's chair had been pushed against the wall.
Robert wasn't there.
“Where is your husband?”” I asked.
“Working.””
“Where?””
“That's none of your business.””
I walked toward the staircase.
My mother followed.
“Where do you think you're going?””
“To Dad's study.””
“You have no right to search my home.””
Detective Reed intervened.
“Miss Sterling is an executor and beneficiary under the estate documents. We're here to ensure that no relevant property is removed while the situation is being clarified.””
My mother gave him a cold smile.
“I'm sure you have more important things to do.””
I reached the study.
The fireproof cabinet stood beneath the window.
I entered the combination my father had taught me years earlier.
It opened.
Inside were several insurance documents, property deeds, and a folder containing the certified estate inventory.
But the original will was missing.
I stared at the empty space.
“Daniel?””
He entered behind me.
“What is it?””
“The will.””
He examined the cabinet.
“Was it here?””
“Yes.””
My mother appeared in the doorway.
“What are you looking for?””
I turned.
“Where is Dad's original will?””
She folded her arms.
“I don't know.””
“You had access to this room.””
“I live here.””
“You knew about the safe?””
Her expression hardened.
“Stop interrogating me.””
Detective Reed approached.
“Mrs. Sterling, did you remove any estate documents from this cabinet?””
“No.””
“Has anyone else had access?””
“Robert occasionally uses the study.””
I looked at her.
“Why would Robert need access to Dad's legal documents?””
“He was helping me organize the house.””
“Organize it into whose name?””
She stepped closer.
“You have no idea what your father put me through.””
I stared at her.
“What does that have to do with his will?””
Her voice rose.
“Everything! You think he was some perfect man? He controlled every decision. He made me feel like a guest in my own marriage.””
For a moment, I saw something real in her expression.
Anger.
Years of it.
But anger didn't explain four million dollars disappearing from a company.
“Did Dad know about Harbor Ridge?”” I asked.
She went silent.
That was answer enough.
Detective Reed noticed it too.
“Mrs. Sterling, what is Harbor Ridge Holdings?””
She looked at him.
“I have no idea.””
I almost laughed.
“Your name is on its incorporation certificate. You own fifty-one percent.””
Her face changed.
Only for a second.
Then she recovered.
“Robert handles investments. I don't concern myself with his business arrangements.””
“You're the majority shareholder.””
“I said I don't concern myself with them.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Eleanor, we need to discuss the missing will.””
She pointed toward him.
“You have been poisoning this family against me for years.””
“I represented Richard. Nothing more.””
“You encouraged him to leave everything to Sienna.””
“He made that decision himself.””
My mother turned toward me.
“You always wanted his approval. You couldn't stand that Julian was his son.””
I felt something inside me tighten.
“Dad loved us both.””
“Then why did he leave you the company?””
“Because he trusted me with it.””
She slapped the desk.
“Because you manipulated him!””
Detective Reed stepped between us.
“That's enough.””
My mother walked toward the window.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she turned back.
“Fine. You want to know where the will is? Robert took it.””
I froze.
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
“Why?””
“He said he wanted to have it reviewed.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“By whom?””
“I don't know.””
“Did he say where he was taking it?””
“No.””
I looked at her.
“You expect me to believe you handed him the original will without knowing why?””
Her eyes filled.
“I was trying to protect my marriage.””
I shook my head.
“You were protecting the wrong person.””
My mother looked away.
Detective Reed made a note.
“Mrs. Sterling, we'll need Mr. Sterling to contact us.””
She nodded without speaking.
As we prepared to leave, my phone vibrated.
A new message.
This time, it came from Julian's personal number.
**I'm sorry. I sent the email. Robert found out.
I'm at the old warehouse. Come alone if you want to know what really happened the night Dad died.**
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*And Sienna, Mom wasn't the one who called the ambulance because she was already gone before Dad collapsed.*
I looked up at Daniel.
He read my expression immediately.
“What happened?””
I handed him the phone.
His face went pale.
“Captain Sterling,” he said quietly, “I don't think your brother is telling us the whole truth.””
May you like
Before I could answer, a final message appeared.
*Robert knows I'm talking to you. He's coming here.*
