Chapter 14: The Family Chapter 14: The Family Reunion From Hell
I stared Reunion From Hell
I stared at the photograph until the edges began at the photograph until the edges began to blur.
My grandfather, William Hale, had to blur.
My grandfather, William Hale, had supposedly died twenty years earlier from complications supposedly died twenty years earlier from complications following a stroke.
I following a stroke.
I remembered his funeral.
I remembered my father standing beside the coffin.
I remembered my mother wearing black and telling me that Grandpa had gone somewhere peaceful.
But the remembered his funeral.
I remembered my father standing beside the coffin.
I remembered my mother wearing black and telling me that Grandpa had gone somewhere peaceful.
But the man in Danielle's photograph was unmistakably William.
Older man in Danielle's photograph was unmistakably William.
Older, thinner, and leaning heavily on a walking, thinner, and leaning heavily on a walking stick.
Alive.
“Where stick.
Alive.
“Where did you get this?”” I asked.
Danielle looked at Thomas.
“He sent it to me two weeks ago.””
Thomas nodded.
“Robert contacted did you get this?”” I asked.
Danielle looked at Thomas.
“He sent it to me two weeks ago.””
Thomas nodded.
“Robert contacted me. He wanted me to arrange a meeting with his father.””
I stared at him.
“You knew me. He wanted me to arrange a meeting with his father.””
I stared at him.
“You knew Grandpa was alive?””
“I suspected. Grandpa was alive?””
“I suspected. I didn't have proof until that photograph arrived I didn't have proof until that photograph arrived.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know whether Robert was trying to lure you into another trap know whether Robert was trying to lure you into another trap.””
Officer Collins took the photograph.
“We're.””
Officer Collins took the photograph.
“We're going to need to understand exactly who is going to need to understand exactly who is involved before anyone goes anywhere.””
I looked at Danielle.
“Why would Grandpa fake his death?””
She hes involved before anyone goes anywhere.””
I looked at Danielle.
“Why would Grandpa fake his death?””
She hesitated.
“Because he discovered whatitated.
“Because he discovered what Evelyn was doing long before your father did.””
Thomas opened Evelyn was doing long before your father did.””
Thomas opened his folder.
“William Hale owned the original family trust. He knew Evelyn had been stealing his folder.
“William Hale owned the original family trust. He knew Evelyn had been stealing from the company. When he confronted her, she threatened to expose from the company. When he confronted her, she threatened to expose his previous financial dealings.””
“What his previous financial dealings.””
“What dealings?””
Danielle answered.
“Your dealings?””
Danielle answered.
“Your grandfather had secretly financed several businesses through offshore grandfather had secretly financed several businesses through offshore accounts. Some were legitimate. Others weren't. Evelyn found evidence accounts.
Some were legitimate. Others weren't. Evelyn found evidence that could destroy him.””
“So that could destroy him.””
“So she blackmailed him?””
“Yes. And he disappeared she blackmailed him?””
“Yes. And he disappeared rather than face prosecution.””
I rubbed rather than face prosecution.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Everyone in this family has been hiding from my forehead.
“Everyone in this family has been hiding from everyone else.””
Lily approached and wrapped her arms everyone else.””
Lily approached and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“Dad, are we going to see Great-Grandpa?””
I crou around my waist.
“Dad, are we going to see Great-Grandpa?””
I crouched.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
“Is he a bad man?””
I looked at Danielle.
She gentlyched.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
“Is he a bad man?””
I looked at Danielle.
She gently touched Lily's cheek.
“ touched Lily's cheek.
“Sometimes grown-ups make very bad choices, darling. But that doesn't mean children haveSometimes grown-ups make very bad choices, darling. But that doesn't mean children have to carry their mistakes.””
Lily nodded.
Then she asked, “Will Mommy come home with us?””
Dan to carry their mistakes.””
Lily nodded.
Then she asked, “Will Mommy come home with us?””
Danielle smiled through her tears.
“Yes, baby. If your daddy willielle smiled through her tears.
“Yes, baby. If your daddy will have me.””
I took Danielle's hand.
have me.””
I took Danielle's hand.
“There's nowhere else I'd rather you be.””
For the first time in years, she“There's nowhere else I'd rather you be.””
For the first time in years, she smiled.
But the moment smiled.
But the moment didn't last.
Officer Collins received a message.
His didn't last.
Officer Collins received a message.
His expression changed.
“What happened?”” I asked.
“ expression changed.
“What happened?”” I asked.
“Ethan is conscious. He wants to speak withEthan is conscious. He wants to speak with you.””
We entered the hospital room you.””
We entered the hospital room twenty minutes later.
My brother looked terrible twenty minutes later.
My brother looked terrible. His face was bruised, and his left arm was wrapped in a bandage.
But he was awake. His face was bruised, and his left arm was wrapped in a bandage.
But he was awake.
When he saw me, he attempted.
When he saw me, he attempted a smile.
“Looks like we finally met.””
I pulled a chair beside his bed.
“I'm sorry it took so a smile.
“Looks like we finally met.””
I pulled a chair beside his bed.
“I'm sorry it took so long.””
He shook his head.
“You didn't know I long.””
He shook his head.
“You didn't know I existed.””
I showed him the photograph.
He existed.””
I showed him the photograph.
He stared at it.
“Grandpa.””
“You knew?””
“I met him once. About six months ago.””
stared at it.
“Grandpa.””
“You knew?””
“I met him once. About six months ago.””
“What did he tell you?””
Ethan looked toward Danielle.
“That Robert had been planning to reveal“What did he tell you?””
Ethan looked toward Danielle.
“That Robert had been planning to reveal the truth about Evelyn. But Grandpa wanted the truth about Evelyn. But Grandpa wanted something in return.””
“What something in return.””
“What?””
“The original trust documents.””
I frowned.
“?””
“The original trust documents.””
I frowned.
“Why would he need them?””
“Because he wanted his position as trustee restored. He believed RobertWhy would he need them?””
“Because he wanted his position as trustee restored. He believed Robert had no right to change the arrangements without his permission.””
Thomas shook had no right to change the arrangements without his permission.””
Thomas shook his head.
“William was removed his head.
“William was removed as trustee after the investigation into the company accounts as trustee after the investigation into the company accounts.””
Ethan nodded.
“Exactly. But.””
Ethan nodded.
“Exactly. But he believes the original trust gives him he believes the original trust gives him control over everything.””
I looked at the documents control over everything.””
I looked at the documents.
My father had told me the company belonged to a.
My father had told me the company belonged to a family trust.
My grandfather had created that trust.
And now family trust.
My grandfather had created that trust.
And now both men wanted control of it.
“Who attacked both men wanted control of it.
“Who attacked you?”” I asked.
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
“I'm not sure.””
“Did you see the driver?””
He nodded you?”” I asked.
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
“I'm not sure.””
“Did you see the driver?””
He nodded.
“It was a woman.””
“Van.
“It was a woman.””
“Vanessa?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Itessa?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“It was your aunt.””
I froze.
“My aunt?””
“ was your aunt.””
I froze.
“My aunt?””
“Your father's younger sister. Margaret.””
Your father's younger sister. Margaret.””
I remembered her.
She had leftI remembered her.
She had left the family when I was a child. My the family when I was a child. My mother always said she was unstable and wanted mother always said she was unstable and wanted nothing to do with us.
“Where is she?””
E nothing to do with us.
“Where is she?””
Ethan swallowed.
“Working for Grandpathan swallowed.
“Working for Grandpa.””
Thomas stood.
“That explains the.””
Thomas stood.
“That explains the vehicle.””
Officer Collins immediately made another call.
vehicle.””
Officer Collins immediately made another call.
Then Ethan reached beneath his hospital blanket and pulled out a smallThen Ethan reached beneath his hospital blanket and pulled out a small envelope.
“I managed to grab this before the car hit me.””
Inside was a photograph of a document.
It was envelope.
“I managed to grab this before the car hit me.””
Inside was a photograph of a document.
It was a trust amendment dated two weeks earlier.
The document transferred controlling authority to a new trustee.
The signature a trust amendment dated two weeks earlier.
The document transferred controlling authority to a new trustee.
The signature at the bottom belonged to at the bottom belonged to Robert Hale.
But there was something wrong.
I recognized my father's signature.
This one was almost identical.
Almost.
“It's forged Robert Hale.
But there was something wrong.
I recognized my father's signature.
This one was almost identical.
Almost.
“It's forged,” I said.
Ethan nodded.
“Your father,” I said.
Ethan nodded.
“Your father didn't sign it.””
“Then who did?””
He looked at Danielle.
“ didn't sign it.””
“Then who did?””
He looked at Danielle.
“Vanessa.””
My jaw tightened.
“Why?””
“Because the original trust gives the trustee control over the estate. Whoever holds that position can freeze the inheritanceVanessa.””
My jaw tightened.
“Why?””
“Because the original trust gives the trustee control over the estate. Whoever holds that position can freeze the inheritance and redirect and redirect the company funds.””
Thomas leaned over the document.
“There's a clause here.””
He pointed to a paragraph near the bottom.
“If the original the company funds.””
Thomas leaned over the document.
“There's a clause here.””
He pointed to a paragraph near the bottom.
“If the original beneficiaries cannot beneficiaries cannot be located or confirmed within thirty days, the estate transfers to the acting trustee.””
I looked at the date.
be located or confirmed within thirty days, the estate transfers to the acting trustee.””
I looked at the date.
The deadline was tomorrow.
Evelyn hadn'tThe deadline was tomorrow.
Evelyn hadn't been trying to control the company forever been trying to control the company forever.
She had been trying to take control before the beneficiaries could claim what belonged to them.
And Vanessa had been helping her.
I stood.
She had been trying to take control before the beneficiaries could claim what belonged to them.
And Vanessa had been helping her.
I stood.
“We need to stop them.””
.
“We need to stop them.””
Officer Collins nodded.
“We will. But we're doing it legally.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
Officer Collins nodded.
“We will. But we're doing it legally.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
Robert is waiting.
Another followedRobert is waiting.
Another followed.
*Bring the original death certificate to the estate. Midnight.
Bring the original death certificate to the estate. Midnight.
Then a third.
.
Then a third.
If you want to know why your father fIf you want to know why your father faked his death, ask him about the woman buriedaked his death, ask him about the woman buried under his name.
I looked at Danielle.
She read under his name.*
I looked at Danielle.
She read the message over my shoulder.
Her face turned white the message over my shoulder.
Her face turned white.
“Marcus…”
“What?””
She took a.
“Marcus…”
“What?””
She took a shaky breath.
“There was a woman in the car shaky breath.
“There was a woman in the car the night Robert disappeared.””
“Who?””
Danielle the night Robert disappeared.””
“Who?””
Danielle looked at the photograph of my grandfather.
“ looked at the photograph of my grandfather.
“Your grandmother.””
I stared at her.
“My grandmother diedYour grandmother.””
I stared at her.
“My grandmother died before I was born.””
Danielle shook her head.
“No. before I was born.””
Danielle shook her head.
“No. Evelyn told everyone she died Evelyn told everyone she died. But Robert told me she was still alive.””
I. But Robert told me she was still alive.””
I felt my entire body go cold.
“ felt my entire body go cold.
“Then whose grave did I visit with my fatherThen whose grave did I visit with my father?””
Danielle's voice broke.
“I don't know.””
Officer Collins took?””
Danielle's voice broke.
“I don't know.””
Officer Collins took the phone.
“We're not going to the estate the phone.
“We're not going to the estate without a plan.””
He looked at Thomas.
“ without a plan.””
He looked at Thomas.
“Do you know the property?””
Thomas nodded.
“IDo you know the property?””
Thomas nodded.
“I built the security system.””
Collins studied him.
“ built the security system.””
Collins studied him.
“Can you help us enter withoutCan you help us enter without alerting anyone?””
Thomas gave a grim alerting anyone?””
Thomas gave a grim smile.
“I can.””
I looked at Danielle.
She was holding Lily smile.
“I can.””
I looked at Danielle.
She was holding Lily's hand.
I wanted to tell her everything would's hand.
I wanted to tell her everything would be fine.
But I had made that promise too many be fine.
But I had made that promise too many times.
Instead, I kissed her forehead.
“Tomorrow times.
Instead, I kissed her forehead.
“Tomorrow, we end this.””
She, we end this.””
She squeezed my hand.
“Not just for squeezed my hand.
“Not just for us, Marcus.””
I looked at the us, Marcus.””
I looked at the girls.
“For them.””
At 11: girls.
“For them.””
At 11:42 p.m., we left the hospital.
The42 p.m., we left the hospital.
The estate stood on a hill overlooking the lake, its estate stood on a hill overlooking the lake, its windows glowing against the darkness.
The police windows glowing against the darkness.
The police surrounded the property.
Thomas guided the tactical surrounded the property.
Thomas guided the tactical team toward a service entrance.
I team toward a service entrance.
I remained in the vehicle with Danielle.
Then the main doors opened.
An remained in the vehicle with Danielle.
Then the main doors opened.
An elderly man stepped onto the porch.
He held a walking stick.
Bes elderly man stepped onto the porch.
He held a walking stick.
Beside him stood Vanessa.
And behind them, a womanide him stood Vanessa.
And behind them, a woman in a black coat slowly raised her face.
Danielle gasped.
“That's her.””
I looked at the woman.
Her eyes were identical to my father's.
She smiled.
Then she spoke through the estate's outdoor speakers.
“Welcome in a black coat slowly raised her face.
Danielle gasped.
“That's her.””
I looked at the woman.
Her eyes were identical to my father's.
She smiled.
Then she spoke through the estate's outdoor speakers.
“Welcome home, Marcus.””
It was my home, Marcus.””
It was my grandmother.
And she was holding a photograph grandmother.
And she was holding a photograph of my mother.
May you like
**Evelyn was not the only woman in my family who had f of my mother.
*Evelyn was not the only woman in my family who had faked a death.*
