Chapter 5: Someone Was Waiting at My House
I stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
My house.
My front porch.
The little wooden rocking chair beside the entrance.
And a black car parked across the street.
"That's my home," I whispered.
Michael leaned over the laptop.
"Rachel, can you identify the time?""
"Three minutes ago.""
Tyler grabbed his phone.
"Mom, what have you done?""
He called again.
Voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
Then he slammed his phone against his palm.
"She's not answering!""
I looked down at Piper and Poppy.
They were both awake now.
Poppy had begun sucking on her tiny fingers.
I kissed her forehead.
"Nobody is taking my babies.""
Michael nodded.
"Nobody is.""
He turned toward Rachel.
"Contact the appropriate authorities. We need someone to check Emily's residence.""
Rachel picked up her phone.
Tyler moved closer to me.
"Emily, let's go somewhere safe. I'll take you and the girls to a hotel.""
I looked at him.
"You don't get to decide where we go.""
"I'm trying to protect you.""
"Where were you when I needed protecting?""
He flinched.
I continued.
"Where were you when I was bleeding in a hospital bed? Where were you when I couldn't sleep because one baby was crying and the other wouldn't take a bottle? Where were you when I called you twelve times?""
Tyler's eyes filled.
"Emily, I'm sorry.""
I looked away.
An apology wasn't going to make those months disappear.
Michael stepped between us.
"There's something else you need to understand.""
He opened the folder again.
"The inheritance Margaret mentioned isn't an ordinary family trust.""
Rachel explained.
"Tyler's late father established a substantial investment trust before his death. The original beneficiary was Tyler.""
Tyler nodded slowly.
"I know about that. Dad always said it would be mine when I turned thirty-five.""
"How much?"" I asked.
Michael answered.
"Approximately eighteen million dollars, depending on the current valuation.""
I nearly dropped Poppy's blanket.
"Eighteen million?""
Tyler rubbed his forehead.
"But Mom manages the trust.""
Rachel nodded.
"She is the current trustee. However, there is a condition attached to the inheritance.""
She placed a document in front of us.
"If Tyler dies before the final distribution date, the money passes to his biological children.""
I stared at her.
"His children?""
"Yes. All legally recognized biological children.""
Tyler looked confused.
"But Piper and Poppy are my daughters.""
"Exactly.""
Michael pointed to the document.
"Which means the twins would become beneficiaries.""
I felt a chill move down my spine.
"Then why would Margaret need to take them out of the country?""
Rachel hesitated.
"Because the trust contains an additional clause. If both parents are declared unavailable, the trustee may petition for temporary guardianship of the minor beneficiaries.""
I looked at Tyler.
"Your mother could become their guardian?""
"Only under certain legal conditions," Rachel replied.
Michael leaned forward.
"And if the twins were outside the United States under her control, managing that process could become significantly more complicated.""
Tyler stood abruptly.
"You're saying my mother wants me dead so she can control my daughters and the money?""
Michael didn't answer.
Rachel did.
"We're saying the financial records raise serious questions that must be investigated.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from my neighbor, Mrs. Peterson.
Emily, are you coming home soon? There's a woman outside your house asking when you'll return. She says she's your husband's mother.
I showed Michael.
He immediately called the local police.
A few seconds later, another message arrived.
She just went inside your house.
My heart pounded.
"How?""
I knew the answer before anyone spoke.
Margaret had a spare key.
I'd given it to her six months earlier when I was still pregnant.
She'd promised to water my plants and collect deliveries.
I suddenly remembered something else.
The silver picture frame she'd sent for the twins.
The little blankets.
And the family trust paperwork.
I had placed everything in the nursery closet.
Including the original documents.
"Michael," I said slowly, "there's something at my house.""
He turned toward me.
"What?""
"The package Margaret sent. I never signed anything, but she gave me a folder. It might contain something important.""
Rachel looked alarmed.
"Do you still have it?""
"Yes.""
Michael immediately stood.
"Then we need to secure it.""
Tyler reached for his car keys.
"I'm coming.""
Michael shook his head.
"You're not going anywhere alone.""
"That's my house!""
"And you're currently a person of interest in an active financial investigation. We need to be careful.""
Tyler stared at him.
"I'm not a criminal.""
Michael's voice remained calm.
"Then help us establish that.""
A uniformed officer approached the group.
"Mr. Bennett? We've received your call. Officers are checking the residence.""
Michael nodded.
"Thank you.""
The officer glanced at my daughters.
"Are these the children involved?""
I nodded.
He lowered his voice.
"There's one more issue. The woman at your residence claims she has legal authorization to take temporary custody of both babies.""
My mouth fell open.
"What?""
He showed me a photograph on his phone.
It was a document with an official-looking seal.
And at the bottom was my signature.
May you like
Only it wasn't my handwriting.
Someone had forged my name.
