Chapter 11: What My Son Had Been Hiding
"Daniel, what is that photograph?""
My son couldn't look at me.
He held the picture between his fingers, staring at the young man standing behind his father.
James moved closer.
"That's definitely Daniel.""
I nodded.
"I know what my own son looks like.""
Daniel swallowed.
"Mom, I was there.""
I stared at him.
"Where?""
"At the hospital. Three days before Dad died.""
My stomach tightened.
"You told me you were at college.""
"I know.""
"Why did you lie?""
He looked toward Eleanor.
She folded her arms.
"Perhaps it's time you told her everything.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"After Dad's heart attack, he asked me to come to the hospital alone. He said there were things he needed to tell me about the business.""
I remembered that week.
Thomas had been admitted on a Tuesday. His condition had improved briefly, and the doctors had allowed visitors.
Daniel had told me he couldn't come because he had an important examination.
I had been disappointed, but I understood.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Dad made me promise.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"What did he tell you?""
Daniel looked down.
"He said Uncle Richard was trying to steal the company. He also said Robert Whitaker was involved.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
She didn't appear surprised.
Daniel continued.
"Dad showed me some documents. He said if anything happened to him, I needed to protect you and make sure nobody transferred the estate without your approval.""
"Then why did you keep quiet?""
"Because he told me Richard had threatened to hurt you.""
My hands began trembling.
"He threatened me?""
Daniel nodded.
"He said he knew where you lived. He knew your routines. Dad was terrified.""
I remembered Thomas becoming unusually protective during those final weeks.
He insisted on driving me everywhere. He checked the locks every night. He even asked our neighbor to keep an eye on the house.
I had thought he was simply worried about his health.
Daniel continued.
"After Dad died, Richard contacted me. He said he had evidence that could make it look like Mom had helped transfer company money.""
I stared at him.
"And you believed him?""
"I was twenty-six, Mom. I was scared. I didn't know what to do.""
"So you said nothing for six years?""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"I thought if I stayed away from the business, they'd leave you alone.""
I took a step backward.
"Daniel, you let me sell that land.""
He began crying.
"I didn't know they were going to use it.""
"You knew Richard was dangerous.""
"I thought he had disappeared!""
"And when Tiffany slapped me?""
He looked at me.
"I know.""
"No, Daniel. You don't know. You watched your wife humiliate me in front of hundreds of people. You asked me to pay for her champagne because you were afraid of upsetting her.""
He lowered his head.
"I was wrong.""
I turned away.
For the first time, I understood that my son had not simply been weak at the wedding.
He had been carrying a secret for six years.
And that secret had allowed people to take advantage of both of us.
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Margaret, there's something else Daniel hasn't told you.""
He immediately turned toward her.
"Don't.""
Eleanor ignored him.
"Thomas made him sign an agreement.""
I looked at my son.
"What agreement?""
Daniel reached into his jacket and removed a folded sheet of paper.
He handed it to me.
It was a handwritten declaration dated six years earlier.
The document stated that Daniel would not participate in the management of Bennett Construction until the investigation into Richard and Robert was complete.
At the bottom was his signature.
But beneath it was another name.
Richard Bennett.
"Why does your uncle have a copy of this?""
Daniel looked exhausted.
"Because he made me sign it.""
Eleanor nodded.
"And Richard used that agreement to convince the independent trustee that Daniel had voluntarily surrendered his rights.""
I looked at her.
"Then why did you submit the release request yesterday?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because Richard told me Thomas had authorized it before he died.""
"How could you believe that?""
"He showed me a letter.""
James interrupted.
"What letter?""
Eleanor opened her handbag and produced a photocopy.
It was dated six years earlier.
Thomas's signature appeared at the bottom.
The letter instructed Eleanor to release the estate once Daniel married.
I examined it.
Something was wrong.
Thomas always wrote the date in full. This document used numbers.
And the signature looked too perfect.
"James," I said, "look at this.""
He studied it for several seconds.
Then he pulled out his notebook.
"This is a reproduction.""
Eleanor frowned.
"What?""
James pointed to the signature.
"The ink pattern is identical to another document. Someone copied Thomas's signature from an existing record.""
Eleanor slowly sat on the nearest bench.
"I didn't know.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Who gave you the letter?""
She hesitated.
"Richard.""
James closed his notebook.
"Then you were used.""
Eleanor began crying.
"I trusted him. He said he was protecting the company.""
I looked at her.
"Did you receive money?""
She didn't answer.
That silence told me enough.
Daniel turned away.
"How much?""
Eleanor whispered, "Thirty thousand dollars.""
I felt a wave of anger.
"You accepted thirty thousand dollars while I was selling my husband's land to pay for a wedding?""
"I thought the transfer was legitimate!""
"And you never thought to call me?""
She covered her face.
"I'm sorry.""
Before I could respond, James's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
"What do you mean the office has been entered?""
He ended the call.
"Someone broke into the construction office.""
Daniel immediately stood.
"The ledger!""
James opened his bag.
The blue ledger was still there.
But he looked toward me.
"They didn't come for the ledger.""
"Then what did they take?""
James answered slowly.
"The original trust agreement.""
I felt my blood run cold.
Helen had told us to bring the original agreement.
But we had left it in my study.
And there was only one person who knew exactly where it was.
Tiffany.
Daniel pulled out his phone.
He called her.
No answer.
He called again.
This time, the call connected.
A man's voice answered.
"Hello, Daniel.""
Richard.
Daniel's face hardened.
"Where is my wife?""
Richard laughed.
"She's perfectly safe.""
"Give her the phone.""
"Not yet.""
Daniel gripped the phone.
"What do you want?""
Richard's voice became cold.
"I want the blue ledger.""
Daniel looked at James.
Then at me.
Richard continued.
May you like
"And I suggest you bring it tonight. Because if you don't, your mother will learn what really happened to your father.""
The call ended.
