Chapter 5: The Money That Was Never Gone
"How much?"" I asked.
Rachel ended the call and turned toward me.
"Approximately $1.8 million.""
For a moment, the number didn't register.
Then I looked at Lily.
"That's supposed to be her money?""
Rachel nodded.
"According to the preliminary estate records, your father established an irrevocable trust for her. The balance was significantly higher than what Vanessa reported.""
I gripped the edge of the desk.
"She told me there was nothing left.""
"Apparently, that statement needs investigating.""
The estate representative stepped closer.
"Ms. Collins, the transfer request was submitted through the original trust administrator.""
Rachel frowned.
"Who authorized it?""
The man checked his tablet.
"Daniel Bennett.""
I laughed without humor.
"My brother is trying to take my daughter's money while we're standing in our father's office.""
Rachel immediately contacted the bank's legal department.
She requested that the suspicious transaction be flagged and that all relevant records be preserved pending court orders and independent review.
Then she called the estate attorney.
Robert Hayes answered on the second ring.
"Ms. Collins, I was just about to call you.""
"Did Daniel request a transfer of Lily's trust?""
Silence.
"Yes.""
"Did you approve it?""
"No.""
"Then why does the bank have an authorization bearing your firm's name?""
Robert exhaled.
"Someone used our office credentials.""
I stepped closer to the phone.
"Robert, who has access?""
"Three employees and myself.""
"Names.""
He hesitated.
Rachel interrupted.
"We need the access logs immediately.""
"I'll arrange it.""
"Don't arrange anything. Preserve everything. No documents are to be altered or removed.""
Robert agreed.
Then I heard him say quietly:
"Marcus, your father told me something about Daniel that I never believed.""
I closed my eyes.
"What?""
"He said Daniel had been asking questions about the trust long before the stroke.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Your father specifically asked me not to involve you until he could prove what was happening.""
I stared at the hidden compartment.
"And the second beneficiary?""
Robert went silent.
Rachel looked at me.
"Second beneficiary?"" she repeated.
I held up my father's note.
"That's what he wrote.""
Robert sighed.
"Your father created a provision that would protect Lily's inheritance if anything happened to her primary guardian.""
"Who was the second beneficiary?""
"I can't discuss the complete trust structure without the original documents. But it wasn't Vanessa.""
Before I could ask another question, Robert's line went dead.
Rachel checked her phone.
"No signal?""
I shook my head.
She stepped toward the window.
Outside, a black SUV was parked across the street.
Its headlights were off.
A man sat behind the steering wheel.
I recognized the shape of his face.
Daniel.
"That's my brother.""
Rachel immediately called the local police non-emergency line to report the suspicious presence and request assistance.
Daniel remained in the vehicle.
Then his phone lit up.
Mine vibrated.
A message appeared.
*Daniel: I know you're at Dad's house. We need to talk. Alone.*
Another message followed.
*Daniel: Whatever Vanessa told you, she isn't the one who planned this.*
I stared at the screen.
Rachel read over my shoulder.
"Don't respond.""
But a third message appeared.
*Daniel: Dad knew what happened. He was going to destroy both of us.*
My stomach tightened.
Both of us?
I had done nothing.
I typed a response before Rachel could stop me.
*Marcus: What happened to Dad?*
The reply came almost immediately.
*Daniel: Ask your wife what she gave him.*
I felt the room tilt.
Rachel took my phone.
"That's enough. We're not conducting an investigation through text messages.""
Outside, Daniel opened his SUV door.
A police cruiser turned onto the street.
He immediately got back inside and drove away.
The officers arrived a few minutes later, took our statements, and documented the vehicle's presence.
Rachel then returned to the desk.
"Marcus, we need to find that boat.""
"Daniel has it.""
"Then we need to find out how he got it.""
Lily had been unusually quiet.
She stood near the bookshelf, looking at an old photograph of my father holding her as a baby.
"Daddy?""
I turned.
"Yes?""
"Can I tell you something?""
"Of course.""
She looked toward Rachel, then back at me.
"Mommy made me take Grandpa's boat to Uncle Daniel's car.""
I froze.
"When?""
"After Grandpa died.""
"Why?""
"She said Uncle Daniel needed to keep it safe.""
My hands curled into fists.
"Did you see where he put it?""
Lily nodded.
"In his office.""
"Which office?""
"The big building where he works. The one with the glass doors.""
Daniel owned a financial consulting company downtown.
I knew the building.
Rachel immediately wrote down the address.
Then Lily continued.
"Mommy said there was something inside the boat that Grandpa didn't want Daddy to find.""
I crouched beside her.
"Did you ever see what it was?""
She shook her head.
"But Uncle Daniel opened it one day.""
"What happened?""
"He took out a little silver thing and a paper.""
My heart started pounding.
"A silver thing?""
"Like a tiny key.""
Rachel and I exchanged looks.
The brass key from the hidden compartment was still in my pocket.
I pulled it out.
"Was it like this?""
Lily shook her head.
"No. It was smaller. And Grandpa said it opened the place where he kept his special papers.""
Rachel stood.
"Marcus, I think your father left us more than one way to find the truth.""
I looked at the key.
Then at the photograph of my father.
For the first time since his death, I wondered whether he had known exactly how dangerous Daniel had become.
My phone rang.
It was Robert Hayes.
I answered immediately.
"Robert?""
His voice was trembling.
"Marcus, listen carefully. I found the second beneficiary document.""
"Who is it?""
"Your father named someone who would inherit control of the trust if you were ever declared legally incapable of protecting Lily's interests.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who?""
Robert swallowed.
"Daniel Bennett.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"Why would Dad do that?""
"Because the document was created before the final amendment. But there's something else.""
"What?""
"Your father revoked that provision six days before his stroke.""
I looked at Rachel.
She was listening.
Robert continued.
May you like
"And the person who witnessed that revocation was...""
The line suddenly went silent.
