Chapter 8: My Father's Last Letter
Richard Cole arrived at eleven the following morning.
He was seventy-four, walked with a polished wooden cane, and carried a small leather case.
Mom greeted him at the front door.
For several seconds, neither said anything.
Then he looked at her.
"Evelyn, you look exactly the same.""
Mom gave him a tired smile.
"That's not true, Richard.""
He glanced toward the hallway.
"No. I suppose not.""
We gathered in the study.
Rebecca sat beside Mom. Brielle took the chair nearest the window. I sat opposite Richard.
He placed the leather case on the desk.
"Before I show you the letter, I need to explain something about Daniel's estate.""
Mom folded her hands.
"Go ahead.""
"Your husband was extremely careful with his investments. He had concerns about certain family members becoming involved in the management of his assets.""
"Thomas," Mom said.
Richard nodded.
"Among others.""
I leaned forward.
"What happened between Dad and Uncle Thomas?""
Richard opened the case.
"Your father and his brother were once business partners. They owned several commercial properties together. But shortly before Daniel became ill, he discovered that Thomas had been transferring money from their shared accounts.""
Mom's eyes widened.
"He never told me.""
"He didn't want to involve you until he had evidence.""
Richard removed an old photograph.
It showed my father standing beside Thomas in front of a brick building.
I recognized the building.
It was the first hotel my father had ever purchased.
Richard placed the photograph on the desk.
"Daniel eventually bought Thomas out of the partnership. But he never trusted him again.""
Brielle looked at the photograph.
"So Dad knew Uncle Thomas could steal from the family?""
"He knew Thomas was capable of making dangerous financial decisions.""
"Then why did he make him a trustee?"" I asked.
Richard sighed.
"Because Daniel believed his brother might change. He also wanted the trust to be managed by someone who understood the original business.""
Mom shook her head.
"Daniel should have told me.""
"He wanted to protect you.""
Richard opened a separate compartment in the leather case.
Inside was a yellowed envelope.
My father's handwriting was on the front.
*For my daughters. Only if someone tries to take what belongs to them.*
My throat tightened.
I hadn't seen his handwriting in years.
Richard placed the envelope between Brielle and me.
"Both of you must be present.""
Brielle looked at me.
I nodded.
She carefully opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter and a small brass key.
I unfolded the letter.
The first line made my eyes burn.
My beautiful girls,
If you are reading this, someone has attempted to take control of the future I worked so hard to protect for you.
I stopped.
My mother reached for my hand.
I continued.
I hope I am wrong about the people I worry about. I hope your uncle has become a better man. I hope you have both grown into women who trust their hearts but never ignore the truth.
There is something I never told your mother.
Mom looked up.
Richard lowered his eyes.
I kept reading.
Before I became ill, I discovered that Thomas had been using our family properties to secure loans without my permission. I confronted him. He promised to repay everything.
I believed him once.
I will not make that mistake again.
Brielle wiped her eyes.
I continued.
The trust contains more than money. It contains the controlling interest in three properties that Thomas has always wanted.
Richard leaned forward.
"The three properties are the original Carter commercial portfolio.""
Mom nodded slowly.
My father had mentioned those properties when I was a child.
He used to call them the foundation of everything he had built.
The letter continued.
If anyone tries to access the trust using my name after my death, do not assume the signature is the only thing that has been stolen.
I paused.
"Mom?""
She looked at me.
I read the next paragraph.
The real danger is the original deed registry. Whoever controls those documents can make it appear that the properties belong to someone else.
Rebecca immediately sat upright.
"Do you know where those deeds are?""
Mom shook her head.
"No. Daniel never told me.""
I looked at the brass key.
"What's this for?""
Richard answered.
"A safety deposit box.""
"At which bank?""
"First National. Downtown.""
Mom frowned.
"That bank closed its original branch years ago.""
"The boxes were transferred to another location. The account remains active.""
Rebecca looked at Richard.
"Why didn't you mention this earlier?""
"Because Daniel instructed me not to reveal the location unless both daughters were present.""
I turned the key over.
There was a tiny number engraved on it.
417.
"What's inside?""
Richard shook his head.
"I don't know. Daniel deposited it himself.""
Brielle leaned back.
"Could it contain the original trust documents?""
"Possibly.""
Mom looked at Richard.
"Did Thomas know about the box?""
Richard hesitated.
"He knew Daniel had a safety deposit box. I don't believe he knew where it was.""
I looked down at the letter again.
There was one final paragraph.
If someone has already taken money from the trust, do not waste your time trying to negotiate with them. Find the original records. Follow the money. And remember this: the person who appears to be helping you may be the one who opened the door.
I felt a chill.
My mother took the letter.
"That's enough for today.""
But Rebecca was already looking at the transaction record.
"Not quite.""
She pointed to the transfer date.
"The twelve-million-dollar payment was made using an authorization that appears to have originated from the original trust account.""
Richard leaned closer.
He read the details.
Then his face changed.
"That's not possible.""
"What?"" Rebecca asked.
Richard took off his glasses.
"The account number shown here belongs to the original Carter Legacy Trust. But this routing code...""
He stopped.
"What about it?"" Mom asked.
Richard looked directly at her.
"It was discontinued after Daniel's death.""
Rebecca pulled the paper closer.
"Are you certain?""
"Absolutely.""
He tapped the number.
"This is an internal code that was only used when the trust was administered by the original trustee.""
"Thomas," I whispered.
Richard nodded.
Then he looked at me.
"There's something else you should know. Daniel changed the trustee arrangement six months before he died.""
Mom stood.
"What?""
Richard reached into his case and removed another document.
"Thomas was removed. Daniel appointed a replacement.""
"Who?""
Richard turned the page around.
I read the name.
Then I read it again.
*EVELYN CARTER.*
My mother stared at the document.
"I never knew.""
Richard's voice softened.
"Daniel didn't want you involved until the girls were old enough. But he left instructions for the appointment to become effective automatically after his death.""
Rebecca examined the signature.
"Was this filed with the bank?""
"It should have been.""
Mom looked at the letter.
"Then Thomas had no authority to access the account.""
"Correct.""
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Then my phone rang.
The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A woman spoke in a hurried whisper.
"Miss Carter? My name is Laura. I work in the finance department at Whitmore Hospitality.""
I sat straighter.
"What do you want?""
"I think you need to know something about your husband.""
My stomach tightened.
"He's not my husband anymore.""
She paused.
"Then you need to know something about Marcus.""
"What?""
"I found a payment authorization this morning. It was signed by him, but the money wasn't sent to his father's company.""
"Where was it sent?""
Laura lowered her voice.
"To an offshore account.""
I looked at Rebecca.
"Whose account?""
The woman hesitated.
Then she said:
"Your sister's.""
I turned toward Brielle.
Her face had gone white.
May you like
And before I could ask another question, Laura added:
"There's something worse. The transfer wasn't made yesterday. It happened before your wedding.""
