Chapter 4: The Woman Who Knew Everything
Malcolm stared at the photograph for almost a full minute.
Then he stood so abruptly that his chair scraped across the kitchen floor.
"I'm calling the police.""
I reached for his arm.
"Wait.""
"Renee, someone is threatening us. They have a photograph of Tasha outside a bank, holding Danielle's envelope. What exactly are we supposed to do?""
"First, we find out whether Tasha still has that envelope.""
Malcolm shook his head.
"She told me she didn't have it.""
"She lied about the money. She lied about the withdrawals. Why would we believe anything else she says?""
He looked toward the staircase.
"I trusted my sister.""
"I know.""
"She was the person I called when Danielle was dying. She helped me arrange the funeral. She promised she'd look after Isaiah if anything happened to me.""
His voice broke.
"And all this time, she was taking his money.""
I sat beside him.
"Malcolm, we need to focus on Isaiah now.""
He nodded.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
"Who is this?""
A woman's voice came through.
"Malcolm, it's Patricia.""
His expression changed.
"Where have you been?""
"Somewhere I could speak without being overheard.""
"Did you send me that message?""
"No. But I know who did.""
Malcolm switched on speakerphone.
"Patricia, this is Renee.""
There was a brief silence.
Then she said, "I know who you are, Renee. Danielle spoke about you before she died.""
I leaned closer.
"What did she say?""
"She said you were the kind of woman who would recognize when a child was being treated unfairly, even if everyone around you insisted it was normal.""
I swallowed.
"Then you know why we're calling. Isaiah's inheritance has nearly disappeared.""
"I know.""
Malcolm gripped the phone.
"You knew?""
"I've been trying to investigate the account for months. Every time I requested information, someone submitted documents claiming to have your authorization.""
"I never authorized those withdrawals.""
"I suspected that.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because the person signing those documents was using information that only someone close to you could have obtained.""
Malcolm looked toward the staircase.
"Tasha.""
Patricia didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
I asked the question that had been bothering me.
"Why did Danielle leave me named in the trust?""
Patricia sighed.
"Because Danielle understood something about families that most people refuse to acknowledge. Loving a child and protecting a child's future aren't always the same thing.""
"What does that mean?""
"She wanted Isaiah to have an adult who wasn't financially dependent on the inheritance, someone who would challenge the family if necessary.""
I looked at Malcolm.
He seemed wounded by those words.
Patricia continued.
"Danielle didn't distrust you, Malcolm. She knew you loved your son. But she also knew you avoided confrontation with your sister.""
Malcolm lowered his head.
"She wasn't wrong.""
"She also knew Tasha had been asking questions about the trust before Danielle died.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What kind of questions?""
"She wanted to know whether the money could be accessed early. She asked who would control it if Malcolm remarried. And she wanted to know whether Isaiah could ever be removed as the sole beneficiary.""
I felt sick.
"Why would she want that?""
"Because she believed she deserved compensation for helping Malcolm raise his son.""
Malcolm shook his head.
"That's insane.""
"She told Danielle she had sacrificed opportunities because of the family.""
Patricia paused.
"Danielle refused to change the trust.""
Then came the sentence that changed everything.
"Three days before she died, Danielle discovered that someone had already attempted to transfer part of Isaiah's inheritance.""
Malcolm stood.
"What?""
"That's why she created the additional protections.""
"Who attempted it?""
"I can't tell you everything over the phone. I have the original records. Meet me tomorrow morning at my office.""
Malcolm agreed.
Before she hung up, Patricia said, "And Malcolm?""
"Yes?""
"Do not let Tasha know we're meeting.""
The call ended.
We sat in silence.
Then I heard footsteps behind us.
Tasha stood at the bottom of the staircase.
Her arms were folded.
"Patricia called, didn't she?""
Malcolm turned slowly.
"How did you know?""
She gave a humorless laugh.
"Because she's been trying to destroy this family for years.""
I stepped forward.
"You were listening?""
"I heard enough.""
Malcolm walked toward her.
"Where is the envelope, Tasha?""
She looked at him.
"I don't have it.""
"Then explain the photograph.""
Her expression hardened.
"People take pictures of me all the time. That doesn't prove anything.""
"Who was the person you were talking to on the phone yesterday?""
She laughed.
"You've been spying on me now?""
"No. You've been stealing from my son.""
Tasha's face turned red.
"After everything I've done for you!""
"What have you done for Isaiah?""
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Malcolm continued.
"Where is his money?""
Tasha suddenly pointed at me.
"This is because of her. You were never like this before she came into the family.""
I stood my ground.
"No, Tasha. He was always Isaiah's father. You just got used to nobody questioning you.""
She stepped closer.
"You have no idea what happened before you arrived.""
"Then tell us.""
She stared at me.
For a moment, I thought she might finally explain.
Instead, she said, "Ask Malcolm why Danielle wanted someone else raising her son.""
Malcolm's face changed.
"Tasha, don't.""
She smiled bitterly.
"Tell her.""
I turned toward my husband.
"Tell me what?""
He didn't speak.
Tasha walked past us and headed toward the kitchen.
But before disappearing around the corner, she looked back.
"Tomorrow, when you meet Patricia, ask her what happened to Danielle's first will.""
Then she was gone.
I turned to Malcolm.
"First will?""
He sank into a chair.
"I don't know what she's talking about.""
But his expression suggested otherwise.
At 6:30 the next morning, I found Isaiah sitting on the floor outside our bedroom.
He was holding a small photograph.
It showed him as a toddler sitting on Danielle's lap.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?""
He looked up.
"Can I ask you something?""
"Anything.""
"Did my mommy leave because she didn't want me?""
My heart broke.
I sat on the floor beside him.
"Why would you think that?""
He rubbed the corner of the photograph.
"Aunt Tasha said Mommy knew she was going to die, and she still didn't make sure I would have a real mother.""
I pulled him into my arms.
"Your mother loved you more than anything.""
"Then why did she leave?""
"She didn't choose to leave, Isaiah. She was sick. And she fought very hard to stay with you.""
He began crying.
I held him until his breathing slowed.
Then he whispered, "Would Mommy have wanted me to have the empty backpack?""
I closed my eyes.
"No, baby.""
"Would she have wanted me to feel like I didn't belong?""
"Never.""
He rested his head against my chest.
Then he handed me the photograph.
On the back, in faded handwriting, were six words.
My brave boy. Always know your worth.
And beneath them was a date.
The date Danielle had written her final will.
I looked at it twice.
Because it was not the date listed on the document Malcolm had shown me.
May you like
Someone had changed the paperwork.
And suddenly, Patricia's meeting couldn't come soon enough.
