Chapter 9: The Letter That Never Existed
Derrick stood perfectly still as Patricia's words settled over him.
“A letter from Angela?””
“Yes,” Patricia replied.
“It claims Angela wanted Mia to live outside the family if certain conditions were met.””
“That letter is a lie.””
“I believe you. But I haven't examined the original document yet, and I won't make assumptions until I have.””
Derrick looked at the sealed envelope in his hand.
“I'm holding Angela's real letter right now. She specifically warned me about documents claiming she wanted Mia removed from the family.””
“Then keep that letter safe. Don't hand it to anyone except me or another authorized professional.””
Derrick lowered his voice.
“Patricia, who filed the petition?””
“Vanessa.””
“And who supplied the supposed letter?””
“I can't confirm that yet.””
He glanced toward Vanessa's passport and the folded travel confirmation, still inside the van.
“Her flight is tomorrow.””
“I know.””
“She's trying to get Mia away from me.””
Patricia paused.
“I understand why it looks that way. But we need evidence, not conclusions. I'll arrange an urgent review and document everything you've found. In the meantime, keep Mia with trusted family, and don't let anyone pressure you into signing anything.””
Derrick ended the call.
Rochelle stood beside him, pale and silent.
Marcus had moved closer to the window, watching Mia talk to the receptionist.
Denise gathered her papers into the leather folder.
“What are you going to do?”” she asked.
Derrick looked at the three of them.
“I'm going to find out who created that letter.””
He called the resort manager and requested a private meeting room where the family could gather without disturbing other guests. The manager led them to a bright conference room overlooking the palm-lined driveway.
Derrick placed the documents on the table.
He arranged them carefully: Angela's original letter, the disputed travel confirmation, the alleged consent form, and the copy of Vanessa's petition.
Mia sat beside Rochelle with a coloring book and a glass of water. Derrick had promised that nobody would discuss frightening matters in front of her, and he intended to keep that promise.
Marcus stood near the window.
“There's something I haven't told you,” he said.
Derrick didn't look up.
“I'm listening.””
“Vanessa contacted me because she said she could help me rebuild my relationship with Mia.””
Derrick set down his pen.
“How?””
“She said you were planning to move away. She told me that if I didn't act quickly, I'd lose any chance of seeing my daughter.””
“Did you believe her?””
Marcus hesitated.
“I wanted to.””
The admission was painful in its honesty.
“I thought maybe this was my chance to make things right. I thought if I showed up, Mia might understand that I'd never stopped loving her.””
Derrick's anger softened by a fraction, but it didn't disappear.
“Loving a child isn't the same as showing up for one.””
“I know that now.””
Marcus pulled a folded paper from his briefcase.
“Vanessa asked me to sign this.””
Derrick read the heading.
It was a declaration of parental involvement, written in formal language. It stated that Marcus intended to resume an active role in Mia's upbringing and requested that any future decisions about her care include him.
“That doesn't sound unreasonable by itself,” Derrick said.
“No. But look at the last paragraph.””
Derrick scanned the page.
The declaration also authorized a representative to coordinate temporary travel arrangements for Mia while the adults resolved their disagreements.
His expression hardened.
“Did you sign it?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
Marcus looked toward Mia.
“Because Vanessa wouldn't tell me where Mia was supposed to go. She kept saying the details would be handled after I arrived.””
Derrick turned to Denise.
“Could that be why Camille was involved?””
“Possibly,” Denise said.
“But we need to ask Camille directly.””
Derrick photographed the declaration and sent it to Patricia.
Then he called Camille.
She answered on the second ring.
“Mr. Mitchell?””
“I need to ask you about the arrangement Vanessa proposed. Did she tell you that Mia's father had agreed to resume custody?””
Camille hesitated.
“She told me he would be participating in the process.””
“Did she provide a signed document?””
“No. She said it would be available before the departure.””
Derrick closed his eyes briefly.
“Did she ever tell you where Mia was supposed to go?””
Camille's voice became quieter.
“She mentioned a temporary residence outside the country.””
“Where?””
“I don't know the destination. She said the details were confidential until the paperwork was complete.””
“Did she tell you why Mia had to leave tomorrow?””
“No. She only said the timing was important.””
Derrick looked at the travel confirmation.
“Thank you. Please send every communication you have with Vanessa to my attorney.””
“I will.””
He ended the call.
For several seconds, the only sound in the conference room was the faint scratch of Mia's crayon moving across paper.
Then she looked up.
“Grandpa?””
He turned immediately.
“What's wrong, sweetheart?””
“Why is everybody talking about where I live?””
Derrick walked over and knelt beside her chair.
“Because grown-ups have made some confusing decisions, and we're trying to understand them.””
“Am I going somewhere?””
He took her little hand.
“Not today. And nobody gets to make you feel like you've done something wrong.””
Mia studied his face.
“Can I stay with you tonight?””
“Of course.””
“Even if Mommy isn't here?””
Derrick's eyes burned.
“Especially then.””
She climbed into his arms, and he held her until her breathing slowed.
Across the room, Rochelle wiped her cheeks.
Marcus looked away.
Denise quietly closed the folder.
For one brief moment, Derrick allowed himself to believe the worst was over.
Then his phone vibrated.
Patricia had sent a message.
I've examined the petition. The attached letter contains language that doesn't appear in Angela's original documents. There's also a reference to an appointment tomorrow morning. We need to determine who arranged it.
Derrick typed back.
What appointment?
The reply came almost immediately.
A meeting with a representative claiming authority to transfer Mia's temporary care.
Derrick stood.
“Someone arranged a meeting for tomorrow morning.””
Rochelle looked up.
“Who?””
“I don't know yet.””
Marcus moved toward the table.
“Then we need to find out.””
Derrick shook his head.
“No. We need to stop treating this like a family disagreement. Everything goes through Patricia now.””
He gathered the documents and placed them inside a secure folder.
Then he looked at Denise.
“Can you tell me where Vanessa got the disputed letter?””
Denise hesitated.
“I have a suspicion.””
“Tell me.””
“Angela once mentioned that she'd left a sealed copy of her care instructions with someone she trusted. Someone who knew both the family and the legal process.””
Derrick frowned.
“Who?””
Denise looked toward the door.
Before she could answer, the resort manager knocked and entered the room.
“Mr. Mitchell, I'm sorry to interrupt. There's someone downstairs asking for you. She says she's here regarding the arrangements for Mia.””
Derrick rose slowly.
“What's her name?””
The manager checked his phone.
“Vanessa Mitchell.””
Rochelle stared at the door.
“But Vanessa is outside.””
Derrick turned toward the window.
Across the driveway, the woman in the beige resort outfit stood beside the family van, speaking to a security guard.
He looked back at the manager.
“Are you certain?””
The manager nodded.
“The woman downstairs says she has documents that must be signed before tomorrow morning. She also says she is Mia's legal guardian.””
Derrick felt a chill run down his spine.
He took Angela's letter from the folder and checked the signature one more time.
It was real.
The letter downstairs, if there was another one, could not be.
“Keep Mia here with Rochelle,” he said.
“Nobody leaves this room with her.””
He stepped into the corridor and headed toward the lobby.
The woman waiting beside the reception desk turned when she heard his footsteps.
She was Black, dressed in a beige resort outfit, with Vanessa's face.
But her hair was shorter.
Her features were sharper.
And when she smiled, Derrick recognized the expression from a photograph he'd seen years earlier.
The woman lifted a document.
“Mr. Mitchell,” she said.
“I'm Vanessa's sister.””
Derrick stopped.
“Vanessa told me you might be difficult.””
He stared at her.
“Who are you?””
She extended her hand.
“Veronica Mitchell.””
Then she leaned closer and lowered her voice.
“And before you ask, yes. I'm the person who arranged tomorrow's appointment.””
Derrick looked at the document she was holding.
At the top was Mia's full legal name.
Below it was a line marked *TRANSFER OF TEMPORARY CARE*.
And at the bottom, in the signature box, was Derrick's name.
His stomach dropped.
The signature looked exactly like his.
May you like
Veronica smiled without warmth.
“Now,” she said, “shall we discuss why your granddaughter needs to leave with me tomorrow?””
