Chapter 12: The File That Disappeared Fourteen Years Ago
“James, who removed the original estate file?””
He didn't That Disappeared Fourteen Years Ago
“James, who removed the original estate file?””
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he closed the office door and asked me to sit down.
That simple gesture frightened answer immediately.
Instead, he closed the office door and asked me to sit down.
That simple gesture frightened me more than a denial would have.
“Margaret, fourteen years ago, my office handled dozens of estate matters at once. Thomas me more than a denial would have.
“Margaret, fourteen years ago, my office handled dozens of estate matters at once. Thomas's file was among them. I remember the settlement, but I don't remember every person who accessed the's file was among them. I remember the settlement, but I don't remember every person who accessed the records.””
“You told me everything was settled properly.””
“It was settled according to the documents available records.””
“You told me everything was settled properly.””
“It was settled according to the documents available to us at the time.””
“That isn't the same thing.””
“No,” he admitted.
“It isn't.””
I stared at him.
“Did someone remove the original file?””
James took off to us at the time.””
“That isn't the same thing.””
“No,” he admitted.
“It isn't.””
I stared at him.
“Did someone remove the original file?””
James took off his glasses.
“A section of the file was missing when we conducted an internal records review several months his glasses.
“A section of the file was missing when we conducted an internal records review several months after Thomas's death. At the time, we believed it had been misplaced during an office move.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because after Thomas's death. At the time, we believed it had been misplaced during an office move.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because the missing section contained correspondence, not the executed will itself. We had certified the missing section contained correspondence, not the executed will itself. We had certified copies of the estate documents, and the estate had been settled. There was no evidence then that anyone had taken the papers deliberately.””
I felt a chill move through me.
“And you never told me.””
copies of the estate documents, and the estate had been settled. There was no evidence then that anyone had taken the papers deliberately.””
I felt a chill move through me.
“And you never told me.””
“I should have informed you that the records were incomplete. I made a judgment that the missing correspondence didn't“I should have informed you that the records were incomplete. I made a judgment that the missing correspondence didn't affect your rights. Looking back, I should have been more cautious.””
I had trusted James affect your rights. Looking back, I should have been more cautious.””
I had trusted James for twenty-six years.
But trust did not mean I had to accept his explanation without questions.
“Who had for twenty-six years.
But trust did not mean I had to accept his explanation without questions.
“Who had access to the file?””
He reopened his laptop.
“Me, my former legal access to the file?””
He reopened his laptop.
“Me, my former legal assistant, the attorney who assisted with probate, and authorized staff who handled copying and filing.””
“The woman named assistant, the attorney who assisted with probate, and authorized staff who handled copying and filing.””
“The woman named on Patricia's affidavit?””
“Yes.””
“What was her name?””
“Karen Ellis.””
I searched my memory.
I remembered a young woman with dark hair who had on Patricia's affidavit?””
“Yes.””
“What was her name?””
“Karen Ellis.””
I searched my memory.
I remembered a young woman with dark hair who had worked at James's office shortly after Thomas died. She had been polite and efficient, always asking whether I needed help carrying my paperwork to the car.
I had not worked at James's office shortly after Thomas died. She had been polite and efficient, always asking whether I needed help carrying my paperwork to the car.
I had not seen her in years.
“Where is she now?””
“She works at a different law firm in Raleigh.””
“Does she know Megan?””
“I don't know.””
James immediately called his office seen her in years.
“Where is she now?””
“She works at a different law firm in Raleigh.””
“Does she know Megan?””
“I don't know.””
James immediately called his office manager and asked her to preserve every remaining record concerning Thomas's estate. He also contacted his professional manager and asked her to preserve every remaining record concerning Thomas's estate. He also contacted his professional liability counsel and arranged for an independent review of the missing file history.
“I don't want to speculate about Karen's involvement,” he told me after liability counsel and arranged for an independent review of the missing file history.
“I don't want to speculate about Karen's involvement,” he told me after ending the calls.
“The affidavit may have been prepared using information someone obtained elsewhere. We need evidence before ending the calls.
“The affidavit may have been prepared using information someone obtained elsewhere. We need evidence before accusing anyone.””
I nodded.
But the pieces were beginning to fit together in ways I accusing anyone.””
I nodded.
But the pieces were beginning to fit together in ways I couldn't ignore.
Megan had somehow obtained records from Thomas's estate.
Daniel had been promised money to help establish the couldn't ignore.
Megan had somehow obtained records from Thomas's estate.
Daniel had been promised money to help establish the company.
Patricia had signed documents she didn't understand.
And someone had prepared a false affidavit claiming I had agreed to transfer my house.
The question was no company.
Patricia had signed documents she didn't understand.
And someone had prepared a false affidavit claiming I had agreed to transfer my house.
The question was no longer whether Megan had planned to take advantage of me.
The question was how many people had helped her.
At noon, James received a call from the independent document longer whether Megan had planned to take advantage of me.
The question was how many people had helped her.
At noon, James received a call from the independent document examiner.
The examiner had compared the signature on the beach house transfer with several verified examiner.
The examiner had compared the signature on the beach house transfer with several verified examples of my handwriting.
James listened without interrupting.
Then he asked, “Can you distinguish between a traced signature and a naturally written one?””
A pause.
“I understand examples of my handwriting.
James listened without interrupting.
Then he asked, “Can you distinguish between a traced signature and a naturally written one?””
A pause.
“I understand. Please send the preliminary findings in writing.””
He ended the call.
I gripped the arms of my chair.
“What did they say?””
“The disputed signature shows. Please send the preliminary findings in writing.””
He ended the call.
I gripped the arms of my chair.
“What did they say?””
“The disputed signature shows features consistent with a copied or traced signature rather than your usual writing movement. The examiner needs further comparison features consistent with a copied or traced signature rather than your usual writing movement. The examiner needs further comparison material before issuing a final report, but the preliminary assessment supports our concern.””
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
“So I'm not imagining it.””
“No material before issuing a final report, but the preliminary assessment supports our concern.””
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
“So I'm not imagining it.””
“No.””
“Someone copied my signature.””
“The evidence strongly suggests that.””
I looked toward the window.
For.””
“Someone copied my signature.””
“The evidence strongly suggests that.””
I looked toward the window.
For days, people had told me I was confused, emotional, or making trouble. Megan had treated my objections like days, people had told me I was confused, emotional, or making trouble. Megan had treated my objections like the complaints of an old woman who couldn't accept that her son was growing up.
Now there the complaints of an old woman who couldn't accept that her son was growing up.
Now there was evidence that my name had been used without my permission.
I wasn't imagining anything.
James placed another document on the desk.
“This is a draft was evidence that my name had been used without my permission.
I wasn't imagining anything.
James placed another document on the desk.
“This is a draft request for emergency legal relief. We'll seek to prevent any transfer or sale while the disputed ownership documents are reviewed. We'll also ask that relevant request for emergency legal relief.
We'll seek to prevent any transfer or sale while the disputed ownership documents are reviewed. We'll also ask that relevant records be preserved.””
“Do it.””
“We will.””
My phone rang.
Robert.
I answered immediately.
“What's wrong?””
“Mom, Megan records be preserved.””
“Do it.””
“We will.””
My phone rang.
Robert.
I answered immediately.
“What's wrong?””
“Mom, Megan knows about Patricia's statement.””
“How?””
“I don't know. She called me screaming that Patricia had betrayed her. Then she said she'd make sure none of us ever knows about Patricia's statement.””
“How?””
“I don't know. She called me screaming that Patricia had betrayed her. Then she said she'd make sure none of us ever saw the beach house again.””
“Where are you?””
“At the motel. I'm staying here until James tells me what to do.””
“Good. Don't go back to the house alone saw the beach house again.””
“Where are you?””
“At the motel. I'm staying here until James tells me what to do.””
“Good. Don't go back to the house alone.””
He hesitated.
“Mom, there's something I haven't told you.””
I closed my eyes.
“Go ahead.””
“Before we got married, Megan asked me to help her retrieve some.””
He hesitated.
“Mom, there's something I haven't told you.””
I closed my eyes.
“Go ahead.””
“Before we got married, Megan asked me to help her retrieve some boxes from a storage unit. She said they belonged to her father.””
“What was in them?””
“Old boxes from a storage unit. She said they belonged to her father.””
“What was in them?””
“Old financial papers. Deeds. Copies of wills. Things like that.””
My stomach tightened.
“Wh financial papers. Deeds. Copies of wills. Things like that.””
My stomach tightened.
“Whose wills?””
“I don't know. I never looked closely. But one document had Dad's name on it.””
“Thomasose wills?””
“I don't know. I never looked closely. But one document had Dad's name on it.””
“Thomas?””
“Yes.””
I looked at James.
He motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
“Robert,”?””
“Yes.””
I looked at James.
He motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
“Robert,” James said, “when did this happen?””
“About six months before the wedding.””
“Where was the storage unit?””
Robert gave him an address outside Wilmington James said, “when did this happen?””
“About six months before the wedding.””
“Where was the storage unit?””
Robert gave him an address outside Wilmington.
“Did Megan explain why she had documents belonging to your father?””
“She said her mother had been friends with someone who.
“Did Megan explain why she had documents belonging to your father?””
“She said her mother had been friends with someone who worked in estate planning. I thought the papers had worked in estate planning. I thought the papers had been given to her family by mistake.””
James wrote down the address.
“Did you see the documents again?””
“No. Megan said she'd returned everything to the owner.””
“Who was been given to her family by mistake.””
James wrote down the address.
“Did you see the documents again?””
“No. Megan said she'd returned everything to the owner.””
“Who was the owner?””
“I don't know.””
James asked a few more questions, then ended the call.
I stared at the address.
“Could those boxes contain the original will?””
“Possibly the owner?””
“I don't know.””
James asked a few more questions, then ended the call.
I stared at the address.
“Could those boxes contain the original will?””
“Possibly,” he said.
“But we cannot enter a storage unit or search private records without the proper authority. We'll document Robert's account and ask the appropriate authorities to investigate.””
He contacted the investigator who had been,” he said.
“But we cannot enter a storage unit or search private records without the proper authority. We'll document Robert's account and ask the appropriate authorities to investigate.””
He contacted the investigator who had been helping us trace the property filings.
Within an helping us trace the property filings.
Within an hour, we had confirmation that the storage facility still existed, but the unit had been emptied three months earlier.
The rental account had been closed under the name of a company connected to Megan.
I sat back.
“She's hour, we had confirmation that the storage facility still existed, but the unit had been emptied three months earlier.
The rental account had been closed under the name of a company connected to Megan.
I sat back.
“She's been preparing this for a long time.””
“It appears that way.””
James was quiet for a moment.
“Marg been preparing this for a long time.””
“It appears that way.””
James was quiet for a moment.
“Margaret, there's something else I need to tell you. I remember Karen Ellis asking about Thomas's supplemental estate document shortly before shearet, there's something else I need to tell you. I remember Karen Ellis asking about Thomas's supplemental estate document shortly before she left my firm.””
I turned toward him.
“What did you tell her?””
“That I couldn't find the executed original in the file and that any further request would need your left my firm.””
I turned toward him.
“What did you tell her?””
“That I couldn't find the executed original in the file and that any further request would need your authorization.””
“Did she contact me?””
“Not that I recall.””
“Then how did she get the information?””
“I don't know.””
I thought about the missing correspondence, the hidden safe authorization.””
“Did she contact me?””
“Not that I recall.””
“Then how did she get the information?””
“I don't know.””
I thought about the missing correspondence, the hidden safe-deposit box, and the handwritten letter Thomas had left me.
Perhaps-deposit box, and the handwritten letter Thomas had left me.
Perhaps he had anticipated that someone would one day try to exploit my trust.
Perhaps he had made arrangements that none of us fully understood.
Or perhaps we were still missing the most important piece.
he had anticipated that someone would one day try to exploit my trust.
Perhaps he had made arrangements that none of us fully understood.
Or perhaps we were still missing the most important piece.
James's computer chimed.
An email had arrived from the investigator.
He opened the attachment and read it silently.
Then he turnedJames's computer chimed.
An email had arrived from the investigator.
He opened the attachment and read it silently.
Then he turned the monitor toward me.
It was a scanned storage-unit inventory, dated three months earlier.
The listed items included several the monitor toward me.
It was a scanned storage-unit inventory, dated three months earlier.
The listed items included several boxes of financial records, a folder marked *THOMAS HAYES—ESTATE*, and a sealed envelope addressed to me.
Bes boxes of financial records, a folder marked *THOMAS HAYES—ESTATE*, and a sealed envelope addressed to me.
Beside the envelope was a handwritten note.
Deliver to Margaret only after the original will has been authenticated.
I stared at the wordside the envelope was a handwritten note.
Deliver to Margaret only after the original will has been authenticated.
I stared at the words.
“Who wrote that?””
James enlarged the image.
At the bottom was a signature.
Karen Ellis.
Before either.
“Who wrote that?””
James enlarged the image.
At the bottom was a signature.
Karen Ellis.
Before either of us could speak, another email arrived.
This one contained a message from Karen herself.
*Mr. Whitmore, I understand you're asking of us could speak, another email arrived.
This one contained a message from Karen herself.
Mr. Whitmore, I understand you're asking questions about the missing estate file. I am willing to explain what happened, but only if Margaret questions about the missing estate file. I am willing to explain what happened, but only if Margaret agrees to meet me in person.
James frowned.
“Why insist on meeting you?””
I read the message again.
Then I noticed the final sentence.
Please come alone. Your sister's involvement is much greater than you realize, and if agrees to meet me in person.
James frowned.
“Why insist on meeting you?””
I read the message again.
Then I noticed the final sentence.
Please come alone. Your sister's involvement is much greater than you realize, and if I tell you what Thomas discovered before he died, someone may try to stop me.
I looked at James.
“ I tell you what Thomas discovered before he died, someone may try to stop me.*
I looked at James.
“I'm not going alone.””
“No,” he agreed.
“You won't.””
He began arranging theI'm not going alone.””
“No,” he agreed.
“You won't.””
He began arranging the meeting through counsel.
But before he could finish, my phone rang again.
This time, it was the real estate agent.
“Mrs. Hayes,” meeting through counsel.
But before he could finish, my phone rang again.
This time, it was the real estate agent.
“Mrs. Hayes,” he said urgently, “I need to tell you something. Megan has just submitted a new authorization for the beach house, and the document claims that you personally appeared before a he said urgently, “I need to tell you something. Megan has just submitted a new authorization for the beach house, and the document claims that you personally appeared before a notary this morning.””
I looked at James.
“That is impossible. I've been here all notary this morning.””
I looked at James.
“That is impossible. I've been here all day.””
The agent's voice dropped.
“I believe you. But the notary's seal appears valid day.””
The agent's voice dropped.
“I believe you. But the notary's seal appears valid, and the document includes a photograph of a woman identified as Margaret Hayes.””
James stood so quickly his chair struck the wall.
“, and the document includes a photograph of a woman identified as Margaret Hayes.””
James stood so quickly his chair struck the wall.
“Send us the document immediately,” he said.
When the call ended, he turned to me.
“Margaret, someoneSend us the document immediately,” he said.
When the call ended, he turned to me.
“Margaret, someone has gone beyond forging your signature.””
He looked at the screen as the new attachment has gone beyond forging your signature.””
He looked at the screen as the new attachment arrived.
“They may have created an entirely false record of your identity.””
And when arrived.
“They may have created an entirely false record of your identity.””
And when I saw the photograph attached to the authorization, I understood why.
The woman in the picture had my face.
My hair.
Even the small scar beneath my left eyebrow.
But I had never met her I saw the photograph attached to the authorization, I understood why.
The woman in the picture had my face.
My hair.
Even the small scar beneath my left eyebrow.
May you like
But I had never met her in my life.
in my life.
