Chapter 8: The $92,000 Was Only the Beginning
Thomas arrived the following morning.
He drove from Charlotte in an old silver Lexus, carrying a brown leather briefcase.
I was waiting at Helen's office when he walked through the door.
He looked older than I remembered.
His hair had turned almost completely white, and he walked with a slight limp.
But his eyes were unchanged.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he opened his arms.
"Margaret.""
I walked toward him.
He hugged me tightly.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
I started crying.
"Why didn't you keep trying?""
"I did.""
We sat together for several minutes before Helen joined us.
Daniel and Tiffany had been invited to attend, but neither had arrived.
Thomas placed his briefcase on the table.
"Before we discuss the trust, I want Margaret to read Walter's letter.""
He removed a sealed envelope.
My name was written across the front in Walter's unmistakable handwriting.
My hands trembled.
I opened it carefully.
My dearest Margaret,
If you're reading this, then something has happened that I desperately hoped would never happen.
I love Daniel. Nothing will ever change that. But loving someone doesn't mean ignoring what they are capable of doing.
Fifteen years ago, I discovered that Daniel had attempted to use company documents to transfer part of our property. I wanted to believe it was a foolish mistake. I wanted to believe he understood the seriousness of what he'd done.
Thomas wanted to report it. I begged him not to.
I thought I was protecting my son.
Perhaps I was only teaching him that there would always be someone willing to protect him from the consequences.
I stopped reading.
My vision blurred.
Thomas lowered his head.
I continued.
I have placed the property under an independent trust. You are its sole lifetime beneficiary. No one, including Daniel, can sell or borrow against it without the conditions established in the trust.
If anyone presents documents claiming otherwise, contact Thomas immediately.
There is one more thing.
I discovered that Daniel's financial problems were much larger than he admitted. I found evidence of money disappearing from the business account. I also found payments to someone I never expected him to involve.
Please don't blame yourself for what happens next.
You gave our son everything a mother could give.
But you cannot give him your future.
Forever yours,
Walter.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
Thomas reached across the table.
"Your husband loved you very much.""
I wiped my eyes.
"What happened to the business money?""
Thomas opened his briefcase.
He removed several bank statements and a folder of old financial records.
"Before Walter died, he asked me to examine the company accounts. We discovered approximately $140,000 in unexplained withdrawals over eighteen months.""
Helen leaned forward.
"Was Daniel responsible?""
Thomas nodded.
"Some transfers went directly into accounts he controlled. Others went through a company registered under a different name.""
I stared at the paperwork.
"Was Tiffany involved?""
Thomas hesitated.
"She wasn't married to him at the time.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Thomas placed another document on the table.
"Daniel was already involved with Tiffany when he started the second company. They were working together.""
Helen examined the dates.
"These transfers began before Walter's death.""
"Exactly," Thomas replied.
I felt a chill.
The wedding hadn't been the beginning of the scheme.
Neither had the loan.
This had been building for years.
Thomas opened another folder.
"There's a person you need to meet. His name is Michael Carter. He was Daniel's former business partner.""
Helen looked up.
"Do you know where he is?""
"Yes. He contacted me six months ago after discovering that Daniel had used his name in a financial transaction.""
I stared at Thomas.
"Why didn't he come forward?""
"He tried. Daniel threatened to blame him for the missing money.""
Helen closed the folder.
"Does Michael have evidence?""
Thomas nodded.
"Bank records, emails, and copies of signed agreements.""
Just then, Helen's assistant knocked.
"There's someone here asking for Margaret Bennett.""
Helen looked toward the door.
"Who?""
"A woman named Jessica Carter.""
Thomas went still.
I looked at him.
"Do you know her?""
He nodded slowly.
"Michael's daughter.""
The door opened.
A woman in her early thirties entered, carrying a large envelope.
She looked nervous.
"Mrs. Bennett?""
"Yes.""
She approached the table.
"My father asked me to give you this.""
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Daniel standing outside a bank with Tiffany.
They were shaking hands with a man I'd never seen before.
On the back, someone had written a date.
Four months before Walter died.
Jessica placed another document beside it.
"My father says your son wasn't just borrowing money. He was arranging to transfer assets before your husband passed away.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Then I noticed something.
The man shaking hands with Daniel wasn't a banker.
He was the funeral director who had handled Walter's arrangements.
Jessica leaned closer.
"Mrs. Bennett, my father believes that man helped Daniel obtain something from your husband's personal belongings.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"What could he have taken?""
Jessica opened her envelope again.
"A key.""
I looked at Thomas.
May you like
He slowly nodded.
"The key to Walter's private safety deposit box.""
