Chapter 5: The Lawyer Who Disappeared
The man entered the restaurant without looking at anyone.
He was tall, perhaps in his late sixties, with silver hair and a dark overcoat.
He approached our table.
"Evelyn.""
She stood abruptly.
"Martin?""
The man nodded.
"Good morning.""
I looked between them.
"Who is he?""
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"Martin Cole. He was Richard's personal attorney.""
Martin placed his leather folder on the table.
"I believe you have something that belongs to me.""
Evelyn frowned.
"Richard's letter?""
"Among other things.""
He turned toward me.
"And you must be Maya Bennett.""
I didn't offer my hand.
"How do you know my name?""
"Because I've spent the last seven years trying to find you.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Your mother left instructions with Richard. He wanted the original partnership documents delivered to you if anything happened to him.""
"Why didn't you contact me?""
Martin looked down.
"Because after Richard died, Patricia took control of the company and its legal records. She accused me of mishandling confidential documents. My office was searched.
My files were confiscated. Eventually, I was forced to resign.""
Evelyn leaned forward.
"You told me Richard had died without leaving anything.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
Martin opened his folder.
Inside were several documents, photographs, and a small USB drive.
He placed the drive between us.
"Richard made a digital copy of the missing agreement pages before his death.""
I looked at it.
"What's on there?""
"The complete contract, correspondence with Eleanor, and records of royalty payments that were never made.""
My heart pounded.
"How much money?""
Martin hesitated.
"Based on the company's sales over the last twenty-eight years, the unpaid royalties could exceed twelve million dollars.""
I nearly dropped my coffee.
Twelve million.
My mother had spent years repairing torn jeans and shortening trousers for customers who paid her in cash.
She had lived in a small apartment.
She had worn the same winter coat for nearly a decade.
And the family that had taken her designs had potentially earned millions.
"Why didn't you give this to her?"" I asked.
Martin's expression softened.
"Because I never found her. By the time I located her address, she had already passed away.""
I looked down.
For a moment, the restaurant noise seemed to disappear.
My mother had died believing she had failed.
She had never known that the truth still existed.
"Can I see the documents?"" I asked.
Martin nodded.
He opened the folder and showed me the contract.
The final page contained an additional clause.
If the Hawthorne company used any Bennett House design without proper authorization, all commercial rights granted under the partnership would automatically terminate.
A second provision was even more important.
Upon Eleanor Bennett's death, all ownership rights would pass to her sole legal heir.
Me.
I read the paragraph twice.
"Does that mean I own the collection?""
"Potentially, yes. But the documents must be authenticated, and the company's use of the designs must be established.""
"Then we have to stop the launch.""
Martin nodded.
"Which brings us to the wedding.""
Evelyn looked uncomfortable.
"Martin, please.""
He ignored her.
"Vanessa's wedding is not simply a wedding. Patricia plans to announce a new luxury fashion company. The launch will include the entire historical collection, including the blue floral gown.""
"Why would she do that if she knows about the agreement?""
"Because she believes the original documents were destroyed.""
I glanced at the USB drive.
"And she doesn't know you have this?""
"Not yet.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Laura.
Where are you? I just received a call from someone claiming to represent the Hawthorne family. They are threatening legal action if you continue investigating their archive.
I showed Martin.
He read the message.
"Patricia is moving faster than I expected.""
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?""
His face changed.
"What do you mean?""
He listened.
Then he slowly lowered the phone.
"What happened?"" Evelyn asked.
Martin closed the folder.
"The east library has been cleared.""
I frowned.
"Cleared?""
"Every document, every cabinet, every photograph. Someone removed the entire archive last night.""
"Who?""
Martin looked at Evelyn.
"Patricia.""
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"She must have found Richard's notes.""
I stood.
"Then we need to get to the estate before she destroys everything else.""
Martin shook his head.
"That would be a mistake. The estate has private security. Patricia has already told them you're not permitted on the property.""
I stared at him.
"I don't care.""
"You should.""
He leaned closer.
"Patricia is not simply trying to protect the family name. She is trying to protect herself.""
"What do you mean?""
Martin took a photograph from the folder.
It showed Richard standing outside a hospital room.
Beside him was a young woman holding a baby.
I recognized Patricia immediately.
But the baby wasn't Vanessa.
There was a handwritten note on the back.
The night Patricia learned Richard intended to return the Bennett collection.
I looked at Martin.
"What does this photograph have to do with anything?""
"Richard discovered something shortly before he died. Something that changed the way he viewed his marriage.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"Martin, not here.""
He ignored her again.
"Richard had discovered that Patricia had been transferring company assets into private accounts. She was preparing to sell several of the family's properties without informing the other shareholders.""
"Was she stealing money?""
"That's what Richard suspected. He was preparing to expose her.""
I thought about the lawyer's earlier warning.
Then I remembered Patricia's words in my studio.
Your mother should have destroyed those patterns when she had the chance.
"Did Patricia have anything to do with Richard's death?""
Martin looked directly at me.
"I cannot make that accusation without evidence.""
"But you suspect something.""
He closed the folder.
"I suspect that Richard's death was not investigated as thoroughly as it should have been.""
The restaurant door opened.
A woman entered carrying a bouquet of white roses.
She looked around until her eyes found our table.
Evelyn went pale.
"Oh, no.""
The woman approached.
"Hello, Aunt Evelyn.""
She was young, elegant, and dressed in a cream-colored suit.
Vanessa.
She placed the flowers on the table.
"Mom asked me to bring these.""
Her eyes moved toward me.
"Well, Maya. Fancy meeting you here.""
I didn't answer.
Vanessa pulled out a chair and sat down.
"I hope you're enjoying your little investigation.""
Martin closed his folder.
"Miss Hawthorne, this conversation is private.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Not anymore.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a photograph.
She placed it in front of me.
It showed my studio.
The photograph had been taken through the front window.
My mother's wooden box was visible on the shelf.
My blood turned cold.
Vanessa leaned closer.
"Mom says you have something that belongs to our family.""
I stared at her.
"Your family has taken enough from mine.""
Her smile disappeared.
"Then perhaps you should ask your mother why she never told you what really happened in 1998.""
I froze.
"What are you talking about?""
Vanessa stood.
"Ask Helen Carter.""
Then she leaned down and whispered:
"Because she wasn't just your mother's friend, Maya. She was the person who signed the agreement that destroyed her.""
And with that, Vanessa walked out.
I turned toward Evelyn.
Her expression had changed.
She looked as though she had just heard a confession.
"Is it true?"" I asked.
Evelyn didn't answer.
Martin slowly closed his folder.
May you like
Then he said something that made the room feel unbearably cold.
"Before you trust another person connected to your mother's past, Maya, you need to find out who actually signed the final agreement.""
