Chapter 7: The Accountant Who Knew Too Much
"Daniel Price was in my husband's hospital room?""
I read the visitor log again, hoping I'd somehow misunderstood the handwriting.
Robert picked up the document.
"According to this, he arrived at 9:42 p.m. and left at 10:18 p.m.""
Helen nodded.
"Your husband specifically asked me to document his visit.""
I looked at her.
"Did George tell you why?""
Helen hesitated.
"He said Daniel had brought something that didn't belong to him.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did he bring?""
"A folder. Your husband asked me to make sure it left the room with him.""
Robert leaned forward.
"Did you see the contents?""
Helen shook her head.
"No. But I heard them arguing.""
I looked at her.
"Arguing about what?""
She glanced at the windows before answering.
"Mr. Price said something about the three million dollars. Your husband told him the money belonged to you and that he had no authority to touch it.""
I closed my eyes.
Another person.
Another betrayal.
For years, Daniel had been part of our lives. He had prepared George's business taxes, helped us organize retirement accounts, and attended family barbecues.
I'd trusted him.
When George died, Daniel had even helped me organize the paperwork for the estate.
And when I won the lottery, he'd recommended Robert.
I turned toward my attorney.
"Could Daniel have known about my winnings?""
Robert nodded.
"He may have. We need to establish when he accessed your financial information.""
Helen pushed the brown envelope toward me.
"There was something else your husband wanted you to have.""
Inside was a small brass key.
A handwritten label was attached.
Mesa House — Garage Cabinet.
I stared at it.
"That's from our old house.""
Helen nodded.
"Your husband gave it to me shortly before he died. He said you would understand.""
I held the key tightly.
Robert immediately stood.
"We need to go to that property.""
I shook my head.
"I sold it three years ago. The new owners renovated the garage.""
"Then we'll contact them.""
Within an hour, Robert had reached the current owner, a retired architect named Michael Grant.
He was surprisingly cooperative.
When Robert explained that the key belonged to a cabinet left by the previous owner, Michael agreed to let us inspect the property.
We arrived in Mesa shortly after noon.
The house looked different.
The yellow kitchen George and I had loved was now painted white. The old rose bushes were gone, replaced by decorative gravel.
I stood in the driveway for a moment.
"George planted those roses himself," I whispered.
Robert touched my shoulder.
"Are you ready?""
I nodded.
Michael led us into the garage.
"I found an old cabinet behind the water heater when we moved in," he explained.
"I never opened it. It looked like somebody had built it into the wall.""
The cabinet was narrow, made of dark oak, and covered with dust.
The brass key fit perfectly.
Inside was a metal box.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
There were bank statements, property contracts, photographs, and a small digital recorder.
Robert examined the papers.
"Judith, these are records of the original investment partnership.""
He turned several pages.
"Your husband wasn't exaggerating. Richard transferred substantial sums into accounts that weren't listed in the partnership records.""
I picked up one photograph.
It showed George, Richard, Todd, and Daniel sitting around a conference table.
On the back, George had written:
The day I discovered the missing money.
I looked at Robert.
"Why was Todd there?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he connected the recorder to his laptop.
A familiar voice filled the garage.
George.
"If you're listening to this, I wasn't able to resolve the situation.""
There was a pause.
Then another voice.
Richard.
"You're making a mistake, George. Todd deserves a chance to build something.""
George replied firmly.
"Todd deserves nothing that isn't his.""
I covered my mouth.
The recording continued.
Richard spoke again.
"He's your son.""
"Exactly. That's why I'm giving him one last chance to tell Judith the truth.""
Then Todd's voice appeared.
"Come on, Dad. You're acting like we're stealing from you.""
George sounded exhausted.
"You forged your mother's signature on the partnership documents.""
My knees nearly buckled.
Todd answered quickly.
"Richard said it was temporary.""
"Your mother doesn't know anything about this.""
"Then don't tell her.""
Silence.
Then George spoke.
"Get out of my house.""
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
I stared at the recorder.
My own son had known.
He had known about the missing money before his father died.
Robert carefully placed the device into an evidence bag.
"Judith, this recording could be extremely important.""
I nodded slowly.
"There's more in the box.""
At the bottom was a sealed envelope addressed to me.
I opened it.
Inside was a single page.
Judy,
I know you will be hurt when you discover what Todd has done. But please remember that the boy I raised and the man he has become are not necessarily the same person.
Don't let anyone convince you that loving your child means allowing him to destroy you.
There is one final document. Daniel has it.
If he refuses to return it, ask him about the beneficiary change.
I read the last sentence twice.
"Beneficiary change?""
Robert looked up.
"On what account?""
I turned the page over.
There was a number written at the bottom.
It belonged to George's life insurance policy.
I looked at Robert.
"Find out who the beneficiary was.""
He nodded.
Then his phone rang.
He answered, listened, and slowly turned toward me.
"What happened?"" I asked.
Robert covered the microphone.
"Daniel Price just contacted my office.""
My heart began racing.
"What did he say?""
Robert looked at me.
"He wants to meet you tonight.""
"Why?""
He listened again.
May you like
Then he said quietly:
"Because he claims Richard has been threatening him, and he has something that could put your son in prison.""
