Chapter 14: The Dead Man Who Came Back
The next morning, Helen received confirmation from the financial institution.
The account belonging to Robert Collins was active.
Not frozen.
Not closed.
Active.
And someone had deposited money into it three weeks earlier.
I sat across from Helen, holding Walter's letter.
"How can someone be declared dead and still have an active bank account?""
Helen answered carefully.
"An account can remain active under certain circumstances, but we need official records before drawing conclusions. The financial institution is cooperating with the investigation.""
Thomas paced beside the window.
"Robert disappeared after the accident. I always thought Patricia knew more than she admitted.""
Emily placed a photograph on the table.
It showed a man entering a private office building.
His face was older, his hair thinner, but there was no mistaking him.
I looked at the photograph.
"Is that Robert?""
Emily nodded.
"My father hired a private investigator to locate him. This photograph was taken two months ago.""
Helen studied it.
"Where was it taken?""
"Near Savannah.""
I leaned forward.
"Why would he be there?""
Emily answered.
"Because someone has been using him to support fraudulent property claims.""
Helen immediately contacted the investigator.
By noon, we had an address.
Robert was staying in a small rented house outside Savannah.
Helen insisted on arranging a formal meeting.
Thomas wanted to go immediately.
I wanted answers.
We drove down that afternoon.
The house was modest, with peeling white paint and an overgrown garden.
Helen knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again.
A curtain moved.
Then a man's voice called from inside.
"Who's there?""
Helen identified herself.
"We're here regarding the Bennett property agreement.""
Silence.
Then the door opened.
An older man stood before us.
His face was deeply lined, and he leaned heavily on a walking stick.
Thomas took one look at him.
"Robert.""
The man stared.
"Thomas Bennett.""
They stood facing each other.
Then Robert looked at me.
"You're Walter's wife.""
"Yes.""
He stepped aside.
"Come in.""
Inside, the house smelled of old coffee and cigarette smoke.
Robert sat in an armchair.
Helen introduced herself and explained why we had come.
Robert listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he looked at Thomas.
"Did Walter keep the original agreement?""
Thomas nodded.
"We found it yesterday.""
Robert closed his eyes.
"Then Patricia has nothing.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Why did you let her use your name?""
He looked at me.
"Because she paid me.""
"To do what?""
"To sign a statement claiming Walter never completed the purchase.""
Helen leaned forward.
"When?""
"Three weeks ago.""
I stared at him.
"Three weeks ago? You knew my property was being targeted?""
Robert nodded.
"I didn't know the entire plan. Patricia told me she needed a document to settle an old family disagreement.""
"She paid you seventy-five thousand dollars.""
He looked down.
"I have debts.""
I felt sick.
"You were willing to help someone take a widow's home because you needed money?""
Robert flinched.
"I didn't know it had gone this far.""
Thomas slammed his hand against the armrest.
"You've been doing this for sixteen years!""
Robert looked at him.
"Do you think I wanted to disappear? I was drowning in debt. Patricia offered to help me leave the country. She arranged the accident story and promised to keep creditors away.""
Helen immediately interrupted.
"Mr. Collins, that's an extremely serious allegation. Do you have evidence?""
Robert nodded.
He reached beneath a cushion and removed a small envelope.
Inside were bank transfer receipts, letters, and a handwritten agreement.
"Patricia kept copies of everything. She told me that if I ever came forward, she'd expose the arrangement.""
I examined one of the letters.
It was signed by Patricia.
The date was sixteen years earlier.
The letter explained how Robert would disappear and how certain business debts would be settled using money transferred through several accounts.
I looked at Helen.
"This is enough to prove the property agreement was false?""
"It may help establish the fraud, but we'll need to authenticate the documents and verify the financial trail.""
Robert suddenly leaned forward.
"There's something else.""
Everyone looked at him.
"Patricia didn't just pay me to disappear. She told me Walter knew what happened.""
Thomas shook his head.
"Walter knew nothing about the staged accident.""
Robert looked at him.
"He knew about the money.""
I frowned.
"What money?""
Robert hesitated.
Then he spoke.
"Before I disappeared, Patricia and I transferred money from our joint company into a private account. Walter discovered it. He threatened to report us.""
Thomas stared.
"How much?""
"Two hundred and ten thousand dollars.""
Helen immediately wrote it down.
Robert continued.
"Patricia returned some of it to Walter. The rest was supposed to be repaid over time.""
I felt a chill.
"Was it?""
Robert shook his head.
"No.""
He reached for another paper.
"Patricia kept the money. And when Walter died, she decided she could use Daniel to get the property.""
I looked at the documents.
Everything was connected.
The old company.
The missing money.
The forged agreements.
The wedding.
But one question remained.
"Why did Patricia think she could get away with this?""
Robert looked directly at me.
"Because she believed Walter had destroyed the original records.""
Thomas opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
I realized something.
Walter hadn't destroyed them.
He'd hidden them.
And now we had found them.
Robert handed Helen the final envelope.
"There's a recording in here.""
Helen opened it carefully.
"Of what?""
"Patricia explaining the entire arrangement.""
I stared at him.
"Why would she record herself?""
Robert gave a bitter laugh.
"Because she wanted proof that I had agreed to stay silent.""
Helen removed a small memory card.
Before she could say anything, my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
"Hello?""
His voice was shaking.
"Mom, I know where Tiffany is.""
"Why should I care?""
"Because she has the original wedding payment records.""
I frowned.
"What records?""
"She paid someone to create the fake power of attorney. And she has the name of the notary.""
I looked at Helen.
"Who?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Patricia.""
He paused.
"And Mom, there's something you need to know about the $2,000 champagne.""
I closed my eyes.
"What about it?""
"It wasn't just champagne.""
May you like
He swallowed.
"That payment was supposed to be the final transfer.""
