Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Secret Grandma Took to Her: The Secret Grandma Took to Her Grave
I read my mother's message three times Grave
I read my mother's message three times.
**It's about what Grandma really did before she died.
*It's about what Grandma really did before she died.*
For the first time since discovering the stolen inheritance, I wondered whether there was something I hadn't been told about.**
For the first time since discovering the stolen inheritance, I wondered whether there was something I hadn't been told about Grandma herself.
Had she made a mistake?
Had she changed her will?
Or had my parents found something Grandma herself.
Had she made a mistake?
Had she changed her will?
Or had my parents found something they could use to make me doubt everything?
I called James Carter.
He answered immediately.
"Claire, I hope you're not calling to tell me you're reconsidering tomorrow.""
"My mother says there's something important about Grandma's final days.""
James was silent.
they could use to make me doubt everything?
I called James Carter.
He answered immediately.
"Claire, I hope you're not calling to tell me you're reconsidering tomorrow.""
"My mother says there's something important about Grandma's final days.""
James was silent.
"What exactly did she say?""
I read him the message.
He ex"What exactly did she say?""
I read him the message.
He exhaled slowly.
"Don't meet your parents alone.""
"Do you know what she's talking abouthaled slowly.
"Don't meet your parents alone.""
"Do you know what she's talking about?""
"I know your grandmother made several changes to her estate documents during her final months. But every change was properly witnessed?""
"I know your grandmother made several changes to her estate documents during her final months. But every change was properly witnessed and recorded.""
"Could Dad have found another will?""
"Possibly. But that doesn't mean it's and recorded.""
"Could Dad have found another will?""
"Possibly. But that doesn't mean it's legitimate.""
I looked toward my bedroom door.
"James, what if Grandma really legitimate.""
I looked toward my bedroom door.
"James, what if Grandma really did change her mind?""
"Then we'll examine the documents. Claire did change her mind?""
"Then we'll examine the documents. Claire, don't let anyone frighten you into signing something.""
After we, don't let anyone frighten you into signing something.""
After we hung up, I replied to Mom.
*I'll listen, but I'm not signing anything.*
Her response came almost immediately.
*Come to the house at 9 tomorrow morning. Just you and me.*
I didn't tell her I was already planning to meet James at ten.
Instead, I forwarded hung up, I replied to Mom.
*I'll listen, but I'm not signing anything.*
Her response came almost immediately.
*Come to the house at 9 tomorrow morning. Just you and me.*
I didn't tell her I was already planning to meet James at ten.
Instead, I forwarded the message to him.
The following morning, I arrived downstairs at 8:15.
Dad was in the the message to him.
The following morning, I arrived downstairs at 8:15.
Dad was in the kitchen, wearing a freshly pressed shirt. A leather briefcase sat beside his chair.
Mom stood near the counter kitchen, wearing a freshly pressed shirt. A leather briefcase sat beside his chair.
Mom stood near the counter.
Ethan was nowhere to be seen.
Dad looked up.
"Where are you going?""
"Out.
Ethan was nowhere to be seen.
Dad looked up.
"Where are you going?""
"Out.""
"With whom?""
"That's none of your business.""
His jaw tightened.
"Claire,.""
"With whom?""
"That's none of your business.""
His jaw tightened.
"Claire, we need to resolve this.""
"I agree.""
I picked up my car keys.
Dad moved between we need to resolve this.""
"I agree.""
I picked up my car keys.
Dad moved between me and the door.
"Your mother has something to show you.""
I looked at Mom.
She me and the door.
"Your mother has something to show you.""
I looked at Mom.
She nodded nervously.
"Please, sweetheart. Just give us a few minutes.""
I checked the time nodded nervously.
"Please, sweetheart. Just give us a few minutes.""
I checked the time.
8:18.
I could spare ten minutes.
"Fine.""
Dad placed a.
8:18.
I could spare ten minutes.
"Fine.""
Dad placed a thick envelope on the kitchen table.
"Your grandmother's final will.""
I didn't touch it.
" thick envelope on the kitchen table.
"Your grandmother's final will.""
I didn't touch it.
"James has a copy of Grandma's estate documents.""
"James doesn't haveJames has a copy of Grandma's estate documents.""
"James doesn't have everything.""
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a document dated four days before Grandma died.
It stated that Margaret everything.""
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a document dated four days before Grandma died.
It stated that Margaret Miller Miller had amended her will, transferring her estate to Richard Miller.
My name was nowhere on the first page.
Dad tapped the document.
"She changed her mind. She realized I was the one who needed the money.""
had amended her will, transferring her estate to Richard Miller.
My name was nowhere on the first page.
Dad tapped the document.
"She changed her mind. She realized I was the one who needed the money.""
I stared at the signature.
It looked like Grandma's.
But something about it bothered me.
"Why didn't you showI stared at the signature.
It looked like Grandma's.
But something about it bothered me.
"Why didn't you show me this earlier?""
"Because you weren't supposed to be involved in the estate administration.""
"Then why did you me this earlier?""
"Because you weren't supposed to be involved in the estate administration.""
"Then why did you tell everyone she left you the house?""
"Because she did.""
Mom moved closer.
"Claire tell everyone she left you the house?""
"Because she did.""
Mom moved closer.
"Claire, your grandmother was very sick. She didn't want you worrying about money while you, your grandmother was very sick. She didn't want you worrying about money while you were studying.""
I looked at her.
"Did you witness this?""
Mom hesitated.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did you sign it?""
"I were studying.""
I looked at her.
"Did you witness this?""
Mom hesitated.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did you sign it?""
"I did.""
"And who else?""
Dad answered quickly.
"That's not important.""
"It did.""
"And who else?""
Dad answered quickly.
"That's not important.""
"It is if this document is real.""
His expression hardened.
"You're not a is if this document is real.""
His expression hardened.
"You're not a lawyer.""
"No. But I know one.""
I took a photograph of every page.
Dad snatched the envelope away.
"Give me your phone.""
"No.""
He stepped closer.
"Claire, you are making lawyer.""
"No. But I know one.""
I took a photograph of every page.
Dad snatched the envelope away.
"Give me your phone.""
"No.""
He stepped closer.
"Claire, you are making this impossible.""
"Then let me ask one question. Why does this document say Grandma was in Ohio this impossible.""
"Then let me ask one question. Why does this document say Grandma was in Ohio when she signed it?""
Mom's face went pale.
I pointed at the date.
Grandma had been admitted to St. Mary's when she signed it?""
Mom's face went pale.
I pointed at the date.
Grandma had been admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in our town two weeks before she died.
She hadn't traveled anywhere.
Dad glanced at the page.
"That was the attorney's office address.""
"Then Hospital in our town two weeks before she died.
She hadn't traveled anywhere.
Dad glanced at the page.
"That was the attorney's office address.""
"Then why does the document say she personally appeared before the notary in Ohio?""
Nobody answered.
I picked why does the document say she personally appeared before the notary in Ohio?""
Nobody answered.
I picked up my bag.
"James will want to see this.""
Dad grabbed the envelope.
"You're up my bag.
"James will want to see this.""
Dad grabbed the envelope.
"You're not taking anything.""
"I already have photographs.""
His expression changed.
For a moment, he looked as if he might grab not taking anything.""
"I already have photographs.""
His expression changed.
For a moment, he looked as if he might grab my phone.
Then Mom spoke.
"Richard, stop.""
He turned toward her.
She looked terrified.
I my phone.
Then Mom spoke.
"Richard, stop.""
He turned toward her.
She looked terrified.
I walked out.
At 8:47, I entered James Carter's office.
He was waiting with walked out.
At 8:47, I entered James Carter's office.
He was waiting with two cups of coffee and a large file open on his desk.
I two cups of coffee and a large file open on his desk.
I showed him the photographs.
He studied the first page.
Then the second.
By the third, his expression had become showed him the photographs.
He studied the first page.
Then the second.
By the third, his expression had become serious.
"Claire, where did you get this?""
"My father.""
He removed serious.
"Claire, where did you get this?""
"My father.""
He removed his glasses.
"This is interesting.""
"Is it real?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pulled another his glasses.
"This is interesting.""
"Is it real?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pulled another document from his file.
It was a copy of Grandma's original medical records.
"Your grandmother was hospitalized on the date this will document from his file.
It was a copy of Grandma's original medical records.
"Your grandmother was hospitalized on the date this will was supposedly signed.""
"I know.""
James compared the documents.
Then he shook his head.
"The notary listed here was based was supposedly signed.""
"I know.""
James compared the documents.
Then he shook his head.
"The notary listed here was based in Ohio. But the signature was supposedly witnessed in person in our state.""
"Can that in Ohio. But the signature was supposedly witnessed in person in our state.""
"Can that happen?""
"Not under the circumstances described here.""
He turned to his computer happen?""
"Not under the circumstances described here.""
He turned to his computer.
After several minutes, he looked up.
"There's another problem.""
"What?""
"The notary's commission.
After several minutes, he looked up.
"There's another problem.""
"What?""
"The notary's commission had expired six months before this document was prepared.""
I stared at him.
"So the will is fake?""
had expired six months before this document was prepared.""
I stared at him.
"So the will is fake?""
"I can't make that conclusion without a forensic examination. But there are serious irregularities.""
He printed"I can't make that conclusion without a forensic examination. But there are serious irregularities.""
He printed a copy.
Then he placed it beside another document.
"Your grandmother signed this one three a copy.
Then he placed it beside another document.
"Your grandmother signed this one three months earlier. It names you as the sole beneficiary.""
The signatures looked different months earlier. It names you as the sole beneficiary.""
The signatures looked different.
Not just slightly.
The new document had a strange hesitation in the final letters.
Not just slightly.
The new document had a strange hesitation in the final letters of her name.
James tapped the older will.
"This is the document I witnessed of her name.
James tapped the older will.
"This is the document I witnessed. Your grandmother was alert, understood what she was signing, and specifically explained why she wanted you to receive the property.""
"Why. Your grandmother was alert, understood what she was signing, and specifically explained why she wanted you to receive the property.""
"Why me?""
He opened the black folder.
"Because she had discovered me?""
He opened the black folder.
"Because she had discovered that your father had already withdrawn money from an account she intended to leave you.""
My throat that your father had already withdrawn money from an account she intended to leave you.""
My throat tightened.
"How much?""
"Forty-two thousand dollars.""
I stared at him.
"Before tightened.
"How much?""
"Forty-two thousand dollars.""
I stared at him.
"Before she died?""
He nodded.
"She confronted him about it.""
I thought about the recording she died?""
He nodded.
"She confronted him about it.""
I thought about the recording.
The argument.
The warning.
James continued.
"Your grandmother also made a separate recording explaining that she feared your father might.
The argument.
The warning.
James continued.
"Your grandmother also made a separate recording explaining that she feared your father might attempt to change the will after her death.""
"Did she leave anything else?""
He looked at me carefully.
"Yes. A attempt to change the will after her death.""
"Did she leave anything else?""
He looked at me carefully.
"Yes. A document she asked me not to reveal unless someone presented a competing document she asked me not to reveal unless someone presented a competing will.""
He unlocked a cabinet and removed a sealed envelope.
The front read:
**TO BE OPENED ONLY will.""
He unlocked a cabinet and removed a sealed envelope.
The front read:
*TO BE OPENED ONLY IF MY FINAL WILL IS CHALLENGED.*
James handed it to me.
I opened it.
Inside was a single sheet IF MY FINAL WILL IS CHALLENGED.**
James handed it to me.
I opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
At the top was a bank account number.
Beneath it was a sentence written in Grandma's handwriting of paper.
At the top was a bank account number.
Beneath it was a sentence written in Grandma's handwriting.
*If Richard claims I left him everything, ask him where the original.
If Richard claims I left him everything, ask him where the original blue ledger is.
I frowned.
"What blue ledger?""
James leaned forward.
"I was blue ledger is.*
I frowned.
"What blue ledger?""
James leaned forward.
"I was hoping you would know.""
I shook my head.
"I've never heard of it.""
He examined the paper again.
hoping you would know.""
I shook my head.
"I've never heard of it.""
He examined the paper again.
"Your grandmother mentioned it once. She said it contained a record of every payment your"Your grandmother mentioned it once. She said it contained a record of every payment your father had requested from her over the years.""
"Does it still exist?""
"I don't know.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Ethan father had requested from her over the years.""
"Does it still exist?""
"I don't know.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Ethan.
*Claire, please call me. It's important.*
I stepped into the hallway and.
*Claire, please call me. It's important.*
I stepped into the hallway and called him.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?""
"With James.""
He sw called him.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?""
"With James.""
He swore under his breath.
"Listen, you need to come home.""
"Why?""
"Mom found something inore under his breath.
"Listen, you need to come home.""
"Why?""
"Mom found something in Grandma's old storage room.""
"What?""
His voice dropped.
"The blue ledger.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where is it Grandma's old storage room.""
"What?""
His voice dropped.
"The blue ledger.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where is it?""
"At home. Dad has it.""
"Then why are you calling me?""
Ethan was silent for several seconds.
Then he whispered:
?""
"At home. Dad has it.""
"Then why are you calling me?""
Ethan was silent for several seconds.
Then he whispered:
May you like
"Because I saw my name in it.""
"Because I saw my name in it.""
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