Chapter 10: Patricia's Third Child
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Charles Whitmore sat across from us, holding the photograph of Patricia with a newborn baby.
I looked at the picture again.
Patricia was much younger, perhaps in her early thirties. She wore a hospital gown and held a tiny baby wrapped in a white blanket.
On the back, someone had written:
*The third child.*
I looked at Charles.
"Who is the baby?""
He lowered the photograph.
"Her name is Rebecca.""
Michael opened his notebook.
"Is Rebecca Daniel's sister?""
Charles shook his head.
"No. She's Patricia's daughter from another relationship. She was born before Vanessa.""
I felt a headache developing.
"How many children does Patricia have?""
"Three. Daniel, Vanessa, and Rebecca.""
Emily leaned forward.
"Where is Rebecca now?""
Charles stared through the window.
"That's complicated.""
He explained that Patricia had given Rebecca up for adoption shortly after birth. The arrangement had been made privately through a family connected to Charles's property business.
Patricia had received money.
A considerable amount.
"Why would she do that?"" I asked.
Charles looked at the birth certificate.
"Because she was afraid the existence of another child would complicate her financial arrangements with Daniel's legal father.""
Michael interrupted.
"How does this connect to the trust?""
Charles opened another folder.
"Rebecca's biological father was a man named James Whitmore. My younger brother.""
I looked at him.
"So Rebecca is your niece?""
"Yes.""
He placed a second document on the table.
"My brother died without children of his own. His estate was supposed to pass to his surviving relatives. But shortly before his death, he discovered Patricia had given birth to his daughter.""
Emily frowned.
"Then Rebecca inherited something?""
"She was entitled to a portion of his estate. But Patricia concealed her existence, and the inheritance was placed into a restricted account until her identity could be established.""
Michael studied the paperwork.
"How much?""
Charles hesitated.
"Approximately $3.2 million today.""
I stared at him.
Three million dollars.
Another hidden inheritance.
And Patricia had apparently spent decades concealing the people who could claim it.
"Why would she need my father's trust?"" I asked.
Charles folded his hands.
"Because your grandfather and my family had a separate investment agreement. A portion of James's estate was tied to properties managed through the Thompson family trust.""
Michael examined the agreement.
"That explains the connection. But Patricia still has no legal authority over these assets.""
"Correct," Charles replied.
"That's why she wanted Daniel to marry Sarah.""
I felt sick.
Charles continued.
"Patricia believed that if Daniel gained control of Sarah's assets, he could influence the trust administrator and redirect the investment income. She planned to use that money to settle the old estate dispute and obtain control over Rebecca's inheritance.""
Emily shook her head.
"She was willing to destroy three families for money?""
Charles gave a bitter laugh.
"Patricia has always believed money is the only form of security that matters.""
Michael turned another page.
"Mr. Whitmore, why didn't you report this years ago?""
Charles looked down.
"Because I was afraid. Patricia threatened to reveal information about my brother's estate that could have damaged several innocent people. I kept paying her to maintain the silence.""
I stared at him.
"You helped her.""
He nodded.
"Yes. And I regret it.""
For a moment, I hated him.
Then I remembered my father.
He had known about Patricia's behavior and had tried to protect us all.
"Does Rebecca know?"" I asked.
"Not yet. I've been trying to locate her.""
Michael looked up.
"Do you have her adoption records?""
Charles handed him a sealed envelope.
Inside was a copy of a court document.
A name appeared.
*Rebecca Collins.*
My heart skipped.
I looked at Michael.
"Collins?""
He slowly nodded.
"Sarah, that's my firm's former senior associate.""
I stared at him.
"Your associate?""
"She left the firm four years ago. I haven't spoken to her recently.""
Michael immediately called his office.
After several minutes, he put the phone down.
"Rebecca Collins is currently working as an independent estate attorney in Dallas.""
I couldn't believe it.
The woman who might have been entitled to millions had been working in the same legal community as the people investigating Patricia.
Then Charles said something else.
"There's another reason I wanted you both here.""
He removed a small envelope.
"Patricia contacted me last week. She said Daniel had obtained the original trust certificate.""
My stomach tightened.
"How did she know?""
"She wanted me to confirm whether the certificate was authentic. She said Daniel planned to use it to secure a loan.""
Michael immediately asked, "Did you confirm it?""
"No. I told her I wouldn't participate.""
Charles looked at me.
"Then she threatened to make Daniel believe I had stolen his inheritance.""
I felt cold.
"Does Daniel know you're his biological father?""
"Not officially.""
"Then what does he believe?""
Charles looked toward the door.
"He believes his legal father left him a large inheritance. Patricia has spent years feeding that fantasy.""
Michael closed the folder.
"We need to contact Rebecca and notify the appropriate authorities about the suspected fraud.""
But before anyone could move, Charles's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed immediately.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
"Charles, it's Patricia.""
He froze.
"How did you get this number?""
She laughed.
"Please. You should know by now that I always find out what people are doing.""
Charles put the call on speaker.
Patricia continued.
"I understand you've been talking to Sarah.""
Nobody spoke.
"That's unfortunate. I was hoping we could settle this privately.""
Michael leaned toward the phone.
"Mrs. Thompson, this is attorney Michael Reeves.""
Her tone became icy.
"I know who you are.""
"Then you know that any further attempt to transfer property using fraudulent documents will be reported.""
Patricia laughed again.
"You think you understand the situation?""
"Explain it.""
She paused.
Then she said:
"Sarah has no idea what her father did to my family.""
I stepped forward.
"What did he do, Patricia?""
Her voice softened.
"Ask him about the original agreement. Ask him why your grandfather took my inheritance.""
Charles stood.
"That's enough.""
Patricia's voice suddenly sharpened.
"And Charles? You should tell Daniel the truth before someone else does.""
The call ended.
I looked at Charles.
"What truth?""
He slowly put his phone down.
Then he said:
"Daniel's biological father isn't the only thing Patricia lied about.""
He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a final document.
May you like
It was a letter from my grandfather.
And it contained a name none of us expected.
