Chapter 5: The Letter Hidden in George's Safe
I didn't sleep that night.
I sat in the guest bedroom at Todd's house, holding the photocopy of George's document.
The sentence kept repeating in my mind.
Judith must never be told about the second account.
Why would my husband hide money from me?
And why would Richard have known about it?
At seven the next morning, Robert called.
"Judith, I've located the original document. It was kept in a storage file connected to George's former accountant.""
"Does it mention the account?""
"Yes. But there's something else. George also referenced a private safe deposit box.""
I sat up.
"Where?""
"At a bank in Tempe. The account was opened under his name and Richard's.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Can we access it?""
"Not without establishing the estate's legal rights. I'm contacting the bank now.""
I dressed, went downstairs, and found Todd eating breakfast.
He was scrolling through his phone while Megan stood at the counter.
"Morning, Mom," he said without looking up.
"Good morning.""
Megan placed a mug in front of me.
"Coffee?""
"Thank you.""
She sat across from me.
"So, have you sorted out the situation with Robert?""
"I'm working on it.""
She exchanged a glance with Todd.
"Good. Because all this legal stuff is getting a little out of hand.""
Todd finally looked up.
"Mom, Richard says you're accusing him of stealing Dad's money.""
"I asked him where it went.""
"He was helping Dad.""
"Then he shouldn't have a problem showing me the records.""
Megan placed her spoon down.
"Judith, you need to be careful. Richard has always been good to this family.""
I looked at her.
"Has he?""
She frowned.
"Excuse me?""
"Nothing.""
Todd pushed his chair back.
"Mom, I need you to stop making things difficult. We have enough going on.""
I took a sip of coffee.
"Then perhaps you should stop applying for loans in my name.""
His face went pale.
Megan looked sharply at him.
"What loan?""
Todd stood up.
"Not here.""
I watched him leave the kitchen.
Megan followed him into the hallway.
Their voices were low, but the walls were thin.
"YOU SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW!"" Megan whispered.
"I thought she didn't!""
"Then why is she talking to Robert?""
I placed my coffee cup down.
A few seconds later, Todd returned.
"Mom, we need to have a conversation.""
"I agree.""
"Alone.""
"No. I'm quite comfortable talking here.""
His jaw tightened.
"Fine. I was trying to help the family.""
"By using my Social Security number?""
"Richard said it was temporary.""
"Did you forge my signature?""
Todd rubbed his face.
"Mom, you don't understand how these things work.""
I stood up.
"Then explain them to me.""
He stared at the floor.
Megan appeared behind him.
"Judith, perhaps you should focus on moving out. This financial situation is between you and Richard.""
I looked at her.
"Apparently, my identity is involved. So it concerns me.""
She folded her arms.
"You've become very difficult since you suddenly got interested in money.""
I studied her face.
There it was.
She knew about the lottery.
Or at least suspected something.
I didn't give her the satisfaction of asking.
Instead, I picked up my purse and left.
At the bank, Robert was already waiting.
A senior manager named Patricia escorted us into a private conference room.
She placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"Mrs. Calloway, your husband's safe deposit box was opened for a legal inventory. We found several financial documents and a letter addressed to you.""
My hands trembled.
"May I see it?""
Patricia nodded.
I opened the envelope.
George's familiar handwriting filled the page.
My dearest Judy,
If you're reading this, I wasn't able to explain everything myself.
Years ago, Richard persuaded me to invest in a commercial property partnership. The investment was successful, but Richard became increasingly interested in controlling the proceeds.
I discovered that he had been moving money between accounts without my permission.
I confronted him. He promised to return everything.
I didn't believe him.
I arranged for the remaining funds to be transferred into an account protected by an independent trustee. The money belongs to you.
I am sorry I kept this from you. I thought I could resolve it before you ever needed to know.
There is something else. Richard has always believed that Todd should inherit control of the family investments. I disagreed.
If Richard ever approaches you about signing financial documents, please speak to Robert Hayes first.
Don't let anyone pressure you.
I love you more than I ever managed to say.
George.
I lowered the letter.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Robert gently placed a tissue beside my hand.
"There's more," he said.
He opened another envelope.
Inside was a bank statement showing an account balance of $3,140,000.
The account was in my name.
I stared at it.
"George left this for me?""
"According to the trustee documentation, yes.""
"Then why did Richard say he was managing it?""
Robert examined the documents.
"Because the original arrangement gave him limited administrative access. But that authority ended when George died.""
I looked up.
"Can he still access it?""
"Not legally.""
Patricia cleared her throat.
"There is one additional item.""
She placed a small USB drive on the table.
"It was stored with the letter. The accompanying note says it contains a recording George wanted his wife to hear.""
My fingers went cold.
Robert connected the drive to his laptop.
A video appeared.
George was sitting in his favorite chair.
He looked thinner than I remembered, but his eyes were bright.
He smiled directly at the camera.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
I covered my mouth.
"Oh, George.""
He continued.
"If you've found this, then I suppose Richard didn't listen to me after all.""
Robert lowered the volume slightly, but I shook my head.
"No. Let him speak.""
George leaned closer to the camera.
"There's something I need you to know about Todd.""
My heart stopped.
George took a breath.
"Three months before I recorded this, I discovered that our son had been meeting Richard behind my back. They were discussing a plan to...""
The video suddenly froze.
Robert checked the screen.
Then an error message appeared.
He tried again.
Nothing.
"That's strange," he murmured.
I looked at him.
"Can you recover it?""
"I'll have a technician examine the file.""
I stared at George's frozen face.
Then I noticed something written on the envelope beneath the USB drive.
It was a date.
And underneath it, in George's handwriting, were five words:
The meeting at the old house.
I knew exactly which house he meant.
Our old home in Mesa.
May you like
The house I'd sold after George died.
And according to the date on the envelope, the meeting had happened just four days before his final hospitalization.
