Chapter 9: The Uncle Who Knew Everything
Thomas Reed had been part of our family for nearly twenty years.
He was Sarah's older brother.
He had helped us move into our first house, attended Emily's birthday parties, and delivered the eulogy at Sarah's funeral.
After her death, he'd called me every Sunday for almost a year.
He'd told me I was doing a wonderful job raising Emily.
He'd even helped me choose the school she attended.
Now his name was connected to a $150,000 payment made before I'd married Vanessa.
I looked at Karen.
"Are you certain?""
She examined the document again.
"This company lists Thomas Reed as its registered director. We need the underlying banking records to confirm who controlled the account and who received the funds.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"You knew Thomas was involved?""
She shook her head.
"Not until Derek sent me this.""
"Why would Sarah's own brother help you?""
"I don't know.""
"You're telling me you arranged an entire financial scheme with her ex-husband, and you don't know why her brother was paid?""
Vanessa began crying.
"I didn't know what the company was for. Derek handled the money.""
Karen interrupted.
"Mrs. Carter, did you personally receive any portion of this $150,000?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"No.""
"Did you authorize the payment?""
"I signed some paperwork.""
I stared at her.
"More paperwork?""
She looked down.
"I didn't understand all of it.""
"That's becoming a very familiar excuse.""
Karen closed the folder.
"We should obtain the corporate and financial records before drawing conclusions. Michael, do you have Thomas's number?""
I did.
I had spoken to him two weeks earlier.
He'd asked how Emily was doing in school.
I'd told him she was working hard and thinking about college.
He'd replied that Sarah would be proud.
I felt sick remembering it.
I called him.
He answered on the second ring.
"Mike! How are you, brother?""
The casual warmth in his voice nearly made me lose control.
"Thomas, I need to see you.""
"Everything okay?""
"No.""
There was a pause.
"What's happened?""
"Something involving Sarah's estate and a company registered in your name.""
Silence.
Then he cleared his throat.
"I think you should come over.""
"Why?""
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you.""
I ended the call.
Karen immediately shook her head.
"Don't go there alone.""
"I won't.""
We agreed to meet Thomas at his office that afternoon.
Before leaving, Karen contacted the relevant financial institutions and prepared a formal request for records connected to the disputed transfers.
I also called Emily.
"Sweetheart, I'm going to meet your uncle Thomas with Karen.""
There was a pause.
"Uncle Tommy?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
I looked through the office window.
"Because there are some things about your mother's money that we need to understand.""
Emily became quiet.
Then she said something that made my heart hurt.
"Daddy, Uncle Tommy gave me something after Mom died.""
"What?""
"A little wooden box.""
I frowned.
"What was inside?""
"Mom's wedding ring and some photographs. He told me to keep them safe.""
"Do you still have it?""
"Yes. It's in my closet.""
"Could you bring it downstairs?""
"Okay.""
Before hanging up, she whispered:
"Daddy, do you think Uncle Tommy knew what Vanessa was doing?""
I didn't know how to answer.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
When we arrived at Thomas's office, he was waiting near the conference room.
He looked older than I remembered.
His gray hair had grown longer, and his eyes seemed tired.
"Mike.""
He extended his hand.
I didn't take it.
"Explain the company.""
Thomas glanced at Karen.
"Can we speak privately?""
"No," I answered.
"Not anymore.""
He sat down.
For several seconds, he stared at the table.
Then he spoke.
"I received money from Derek seven years ago.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Why?""
"Because he said it was repayment for a debt.""
"What debt?""
Thomas rubbed his face.
"He told me Sarah had borrowed money from him.""
I stared at him.
"Sarah never borrowed money from Derek.""
"I know that now.""
"What did you know then?""
Thomas looked at me.
"Not enough.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you help him forge my signature?""
"No.""
"Did you help Vanessa access Emily's account?""
"No.""
"Then why did you receive $150,000?""
Thomas swallowed.
"Because I was supposed to keep quiet.""
The room went silent.
Karen placed her pen on the table.
"Keep quiet about what, Mr. Reed?""
Thomas looked at me.
"Sarah discovered that someone had taken out a life insurance policy on Michael before he married Vanessa.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
Thomas nodded.
"The policy was submitted through a company connected to Derek. It listed Vanessa as the proposed beneficiary.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"How much?""
"Five hundred thousand dollars.""
I stared at him.
"When was it submitted?""
"About two months before the wedding.""
Karen leaned forward.
"Was the policy issued?""
Thomas shook his head.
"Sarah found it before everything was finalized. She contacted the company and raised concerns about the application.""
I remembered the hospital photograph.
The visitor log.
Someone had entered Sarah's room using my name.
"Thomas, why didn't you tell me?""
He looked away.
"Because Derek said Sarah had exaggerated everything. He told me the policy was canceled and nobody would ever be hurt.""
"That's why you accepted the money?""
He nodded.
"I needed it.""
I stood.
"You sold your sister's concerns for $150,000?""
Thomas's voice broke.
"I thought she was just trying to stop your marriage because she didn't trust Vanessa.""
I stared at him.
"Sarah knew something was wrong, and you chose money.""
He closed his eyes.
"I've regretted it every day.""
I turned toward Karen.
"Can we leave?""
Thomas suddenly stood.
"Mike, wait. There's one more thing.""
I stopped.
He opened a drawer and removed a brown folder.
"Sarah came to me the day before she died.""
I turned slowly.
"What?""
"She gave me something. She said if she couldn't reach you, I had to make sure Emily received it when she turned eighteen.""
"Why didn't you give it to her?""
Thomas began trembling.
"Because Derek came to see me the next morning.""
Karen stood.
"What did he do?""
"He showed me documents. He told me that if I gave Sarah's evidence to you, I'd be implicated in everything.""
I stared at him.
"So you kept it?""
Thomas nodded.
"For seven years.""
He opened the folder.
Inside was a sealed envelope, a small photograph, and a document bearing Sarah's signature.
Thomas pushed the envelope toward me.
"I never opened it.""
I recognized Sarah's handwriting immediately.
*For Michael and Emily.*
I broke the seal.
There was a letter inside.
Mike,
If Thomas finally gives you this, then I was right to be afraid.
I know about the forged documents. I know about the insurance policy. And I know someone has been watching our family.
I stopped reading.
The next paragraph was underlined three times.
But there is something more important than money.
Michael, the person who arranged all of this is not Derek.
I looked up.
Thomas was crying.
Karen moved closer.
I continued.
Derek is only the messenger. The person behind the arrangement has known our family for years.
He has access to information that no stranger could obtain.
And I believe he is someone you trust.
My hands began to shake.
At the bottom was one final sentence.
*Check the date on Emily's birth certificate. Then find the original hospital records.*
I looked at Thomas.
"Why would Sarah mention Emily's birth certificate?""
Thomas's face had gone completely white.
Then he whispered:
"Because Sarah discovered something about Brianna.""
I stared at him.
"What does Brianna have to do with this?""
Thomas looked toward Karen.
Then back at me.
"Michael, Vanessa wasn't the only person who had been keeping secrets.""
He swallowed.
"Seven years ago, Derek told Sarah that Brianna's biological father wasn't who Vanessa had always claimed.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Brianna.
It contained a photograph of an old hospital document.
May you like
And beneath it were six words:
*Michael, I think he's talking about me.*
