Chapter 11: The $23 Million War
Thomas took the phone from me and placed it on speaker.
"Mr. Price, this is attorney Thomas Reed. What exactly has been submitted?""
Samuel sounded nervous.
"A preliminary commercial rights application. It claims that Bennett Legacy Holdings has authority to negotiate access to the groundwater beneath the Bennett property.""
"Who signed it?""
"Daniel Bennett and Richard Cole.""
I looked at my son.
His face had turned completely white.
"Daniel," I whispered, "what did you sign?""
He shook his head.
"I never signed anything about water rights.""
Thomas interrupted.
"Mr. Price, please send us a complete copy of the application. Do not recognize the claim as valid until you've received formal legal notice.""
"Understood. But I need to warn you. The competing company has requested an emergency meeting with our investment committee tomorrow.""
"What happens if they accept the application?""
"They could delay the original negotiations for months. Potentially longer.""
Thomas thanked him and ended the call.
I looked at William.
"How could Richard submit a claim without the original agreement?""
William's expression darkened.
"Because he doesn't need the original if he has a forged authorization.""
Thomas nodded.
"He's attempting to establish enough apparent authority to interfere with the negotiations.""
Daniel stood.
"I'll call Richard.""
"No," Thomas said immediately.
"I need to know what he's doing.""
"You need to stop communicating with him until we establish the facts.""
Daniel looked frustrated.
"He's my business partner!""
"He's also potentially involved in forged documents and financial misconduct.""
Daniel sat down.
I looked at him.
"Did you give Richard any documents your father left behind?""
"No.""
"Think carefully.""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"After Dad died, Vanessa asked me to help organize his office. She said she wanted to preserve family memories.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"When?""
"About a month after the funeral.""
"Did she take anything?""
Daniel stared at the floor.
"She took a blue folder.""
William suddenly stood.
"What?""
Daniel looked at him.
"A blue folder. She said it contained old business correspondence.""
William turned toward Thomas.
"That could be the Blue Creek document.""
I felt my heart pound.
"Where is it now?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know. Vanessa handled everything.""
Thomas closed the folder.
"We need to locate that document before tomorrow's meeting.""
William looked furious.
"That agreement contains the original restrictions Robert negotiated with the county. Without it, Richard could make the water rights appear transferable.""
I stared at Daniel.
"Your wife stole your father's documents?""
Daniel didn't answer.
His phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
Vanessa.
*We need to talk. Alone. Tonight.*
Daniel showed me.
Thomas immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
But Daniel stood.
"I have to hear what she says.""
"Daniel, this is not a private marital disagreement anymore.""
"I know. But I need to understand why she did this.""
I looked at my son.
"Then let her come here. With your attorney present.""
He hesitated.
Finally, he nodded.
Two hours later, Vanessa arrived.
She wore a cream-colored coat and carried a designer handbag. Her wedding ring was still on her finger.
She entered the conference room without greeting me.
"Daniel, we need to leave.""
He remained seated.
"I'm not going anywhere.""
Vanessa looked at Thomas.
"Why is he here?""
"Because he's my attorney.""
She laughed.
"Your attorney? Since when?""
Daniel looked directly at her.
"Since I found out you were being paid to marry me.""
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely uncomfortable.
She turned toward me.
"Margaret, you have no idea what you've done.""
I folded my hands.
"Please explain.""
Vanessa placed her handbag on the desk.
"Richard built a legitimate business. Your husband refused to cooperate. Daniel was trying to create a future for us.""
"By forging my signature?""
"That was Richard's decision.""
"By trying to take my husband's land?""
She rolled her eyes.
"Your husband was sitting on millions of dollars and refusing to do anything with it.""
I stared at her.
"It wasn't yours.""
Vanessa leaned forward.
"Do you know how exhausting it is to live around people who are afraid of money? Robert could have made everyone wealthy, but he wanted to play farmer on twelve acres.""
William stood.
"Watch your mouth.""
Vanessa looked at him.
"You're the brother who disappeared. Nobody asked you to come.""
William took a step forward.
"Your father threatened my brother when he was dying. I have every reason to be here.""
Vanessa turned back to Daniel.
"Look, we can still fix this. Richard has investors ready. We just need the Blue Creek agreement.""
Daniel stared at her.
"Where is it?""
She hesitated.
"Safe.""
"Where?""
"With Dad.""
Thomas leaned forward.
"Has the document been submitted to any third party?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Daniel's voice became louder.
"Did you forge my father's signature?""
She looked at him.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Did you?""
Her expression hardened.
"Your father made things difficult. Richard had to keep the project moving.""
Daniel stood so quickly his chair scraped backward.
"You used me!""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Don't pretend you were innocent. You wanted the money as much as anyone.""
Daniel's face collapsed.
She continued.
"You signed the documents. You gave us access. You wanted the lifestyle.
You wanted the wedding. You wanted everything.""
I watched my son absorb every word.
Then he asked the question I had been waiting to hear.
"Did you ever love me?""
Vanessa stared at him.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she picked up her handbag.
"Love doesn't pay bills, Daniel.""
She walked toward the door.
Thomas stopped her.
"One moment, Miss Cole. We need to discuss the original Blue Creek agreement.""
She smiled.
"Good luck finding it.""
Then she left.
Daniel remained standing.
His eyes were wet.
I approached him.
"Son...""
He shook his head.
"Please don't.""
He sat down and buried his face in his hands.
William looked toward the door.
"She's lying about something.""
Thomas nodded.
"Probably.""
I looked at him.
"How do you know?""
Thomas opened the email Samuel Price had sent.
Attached was a scanned copy of the competing application.
At the bottom was a witness declaration.
The signature belonged to someone named Evelyn Brooks.
I recognized the name.
She had been Robert's personal assistant for twenty-seven years.
She had attended his funeral.
And she had called me three months afterward, crying and apologizing for something she refused to explain.
I picked up my phone.
"Thomas, I need to speak to Evelyn.""
He looked at the document.
"Why?""
I pointed to her signature.
"Because if Evelyn witnessed this application, she may know where the original Blue Creek agreement is.""
Then I remembered something.
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Evelyn had once told me that Robert kept one spare office key with her.
And she had never returned it.
