Chapter 8: The Woman Who Held My Inheritance
By morning, our house no longer felt like a home.
Two police officers remained outside. Detective Mitchell had arranged for our financial records to be secured, and Dad had contacted an attorney specializing in financial fraud and estate litigation.
Vanessa was staying in the guest bedroom under instructions not to contact anyone involved in the investigation.
Mia hadn't spoken to her mother since the previous night.
And I hadn't slept.
At 8:30 a.m., Dad found me sitting at the kitchen table, staring at my mother's photograph.
He placed a mug of hot chocolate in front of me.
"Your mother used to make this when you couldn't sleep.""
I looked at him.
"Did she know Michael was going to come after me?""
Dad sat opposite me.
"I think she suspected he might.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
He sighed.
"Because I thought keeping you away from the truth would keep you safe.""
I stirred the hot chocolate.
"It didn't.""
"No," he admitted.
"It didn't.""
His phone rang.
It was his attorney, James Whitmore.
Dad put the call on speaker.
"James, what have you found?""
"Daniel, I've reviewed the trust records Robert sent. There's a serious problem with the transfer request.""
"What problem?""
"The request includes an authorization signed in Emily's name, but because she's a minor, that signature alone shouldn't be sufficient.""
Dad frowned.
"Then how did it pass?""
"Someone submitted a second document claiming to be the acting guardian and trustee.""
"Who?""
James paused.
"Vanessa.""
I looked toward the hallway.
Dad closed his eyes.
"She had no authority to do that.""
"I agree. But there's something else. The original trust contains a clause that requires Emily's personal confirmation once she turns sixteen.""
I leaned closer.
"Why?""
James explained.
"Your grandfather wanted to prevent anyone from controlling your inheritance without your knowledge. Once you reached sixteen, you gained the right to request an independent review and challenge suspicious transactions.""
Dad looked at me.
"That's what your mother was trying to protect.""
"Then why does Patricia need my signature?""
James answered.
"Because the original documents are still held by the appointed custodian. Patricia. She may be trying to get Emily to sign a new beneficiary agreement or a settlement releasing claims against the trust.""
My stomach tightened.
"Would that mean I lose the money?""
"Potentially, yes. That's why you must not sign anything she gives you.""
Dad's voice hardened.
"Emily isn't meeting her.""
James paused.
"Daniel, I strongly recommend that nobody meets Patricia without law enforcement involvement.""
Dad agreed.
After the call ended, I looked toward the staircase.
"Where's Mia?""
"Upstairs.""
"Can I talk to her?""
Dad hesitated.
"Of course.""
I found her sitting on the floor of her bedroom.
Her new MacBook was closed beside her.
She was holding an old photograph of herself as a toddler.
"Can I come in?"" I asked.
She nodded.
I sat beside her.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then Mia said, "I used to think my dad was dead.""
I looked at her.
"Did you miss him?""
"Sometimes. Mom told me he died before I was old enough to remember him.""
She rubbed the edge of the photograph.
"Now I don't know if I ever want to meet him.""
I understood.
"He's not the person you thought he was.""
"Neither is Mom.""
She looked at me.
"Emily, I know what I did. I knew you were upset about the money, and I still used the laptop.""
I didn't answer.
"I thought you were just being jealous. Mom always said you got everything because your father was rich.""
I looked at the laptop.
"I worked for ten months to buy the things I needed. I didn't have everything.""
Mia's eyes filled.
"I'm sorry.""
For the first time, she sounded sincere.
I nodded.
"I don't know if I can forgive you yet.""
"I understand.""
She looked down.
"Do you think Mom will go to jail?""
I didn't know what to say.
Before I could answer, Dad called us downstairs.
Detective Mitchell had returned with new information.
She placed a photograph on the table.
It showed a woman leaving a parking garage.
She was in her late forties, wearing a black coat and carrying a leather folder.
"Is this Patricia?"" Dad asked.
Detective Mitchell nodded.
"She was spotted this morning near the Dallas courthouse.""
"Why?""
"She attempted to access a sealed estate record.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Did she succeed?""
"We don't know yet.""
The detective placed another photograph beside the first.
This one showed Patricia standing beside Michael Reeves.
Both were looking directly at the camera.
The date stamp indicated the photograph had been taken three days earlier.
Dad stared at it.
"They're together.""
"Yes. And we've confirmed that Michael is alive.""
Vanessa appeared at the doorway.
When she saw the photographs, she covered her mouth.
Detective Mitchell looked at her.
"Mrs. Carter, we need to know whether Patricia contacted you directly.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Last week.""
"What did she say?""
Vanessa sat down.
"She said Michael wanted the trust documents. She said if I helped them, they'd give me enough money to start over somewhere else.""
Dad stared at her.
"You were planning to leave?""
Vanessa started crying.
"I was going to take Mia.""
Mia appeared behind her.
"Without telling me?""
Vanessa turned.
"Sweetheart, I thought I was protecting you.""
Mia shook her head.
"You keep saying that.""
Detective Mitchell opened her folder.
"Mrs. Carter, did Patricia tell you what she intended to do with Emily's signature?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She wanted Emily to sign a document transferring the trust's remaining rights to a private holding company.""
"And what would you receive?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"One hundred thousand dollars.""
Dad stood.
"One hundred thousand?""
She nodded.
I felt sick.
My stepmother had been willing to sell my inheritance for a hundred thousand dollars.
Dad looked at her with disbelief.
"You were going to sell Emily's future?""
Vanessa cried harder.
"I was desperate.""
"You weren't desperate when you bought Mia a MacBook with Emily's savings.""
Mia looked down.
Vanessa had no answer.
Detective Mitchell closed the folder.
"We have enough information to request warrants for the financial records and devices connected to this scheme.""
Then her phone rang.
She answered.
"Mitchell.""
She listened.
Her expression changed.
"Where?""
A pause.
"Are you certain?""
She ended the call.
Dad stood.
"What happened?""
Detective Mitchell looked at him.
"Patricia has been located.""
"Where?""
"At the old First National building.""
I looked at Dad.
"Does she have the original trust?""
The detective nodded.
"She does.""
Dad reached for his jacket.
"We're going.""
Detective Mitchell raised her hand.
"Mr. Carter, you aren't going anywhere without us.""
She turned toward me.
"Emily, Patricia has requested that you come.""
Dad immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
The detective looked uncomfortable.
"She claims she has evidence concerning your mother's death.""
My chest tightened.
"What evidence?""
Detective Mitchell opened a message on her phone.
It was a photograph of a sealed envelope.
On the front was my mother's handwriting.
And beneath it, a message from Patricia:
Tell Emily that her mother didn't die because of Michael. She died because Daniel made a deal with him.
I looked at my father.
He didn't deny it.
May you like
He simply closed his eyes.
And for the second time in two days, I wondered whether the person I trusted most had been hiding something terrible from me.
