Chapter 5: The Divorce Was a Lie
I read my father's final sentence until the words blurred.
Someone had paid Vanessa to leave me.
Four years ago.
When my company was nearly bankrupt.
When I was working sixteen-hour days and wondering whether I'd have to sell my father's original construction equipment to pay employees.
I looked at Emily.
"Find the divorce records.""
"Your divorce records?""
"Everything. Financial settlements, bank transfers, correspondence. I want every document.""
Emily immediately took out her phone.
I turned another page in my father's notebook.
There were handwritten figures, dates, and names.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Arthur Bennett.
Our former CFO.
Beside several entries was the same notation.
*VB — $750,000.*
I pointed to it.
"Emily, do you know what VB stands for?""
She studied the page.
"Possibly Vanessa Bennett?""
I shook my head.
"Vanessa Reed.""
I turned another page.
There it was.
A transfer recorded two weeks before my divorce.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
The payment had been made through a private investment company.
I checked the account number.
It matched the first destination account listed in the current audit.
The same financial network was still active.
"She was paid before she left me," I said.
Emily looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Reed, perhaps we should wait for the investigators.""
"I am waiting. But I'm not going to ignore what my father left me.""
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Marcus Reed.""
A woman's voice came through.
"Marcus, it's Vanessa.""
I looked at Emily.
"How did you get this number?""
"Daniel gave it to me.""
"Daniel shouldn't have done that.""
"Please. We need to talk.""
"About what?""
There was a pause.
"Your father.""
My grip tightened.
"What do you know about my father?""
"I know things you don't.""
"Then start talking.""
"Not over the phone.""
"Why?""
"Because Jonathan is watching me.""
I glanced at Emily.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Then stay there.""
"Marcus, please. I made a mistake years ago.""
I almost laughed.
"Which one? Leaving me? Taking the money? Throwing cash at my feet this morning?""
She began crying.
"I didn't know what they were planning.""
"Who is they?""
"Arthur and Jonathan.""
I looked at the notebook.
"Did they pay you to divorce me?""
Silence.
That was answer enough.
"Vanessa?""
"Yes.""
The word was barely audible.
I closed my eyes.
"How much?""
"Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.""
I stared at the wall.
The same amount.
The same payment.
"Why?""
"Arthur told me your company was going to collapse. He said your father had hidden assets that would eventually belong to you. He said if I stayed married to you, I would become responsible for debts and legal problems.""
"And you believed him?""
"He showed me financial statements.""
"So you took the money and left.""
"I thought I was protecting myself.""
"No, Vanessa. You were protecting the people who were stealing from me.""
She sobbed.
"Marcus, please listen. There was another agreement.""
"What agreement?""
"He promised that after your father died, I would receive control of the trust.""
I looked at the letter.
My father had appointed her as temporary trustee.
But why?
"What did you have to do?""
Her voice dropped.
"Keep Jonathan informed.""
I stood so quickly that my chair rolled backward.
"About what?""
"Your father's assets. The company. The accounts.""
I took a breath.
"Did you know about the $2.6 million?""
"No.""
"Did you know Jonathan received six hundred thousand dollars?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
"Where did that money go?""
"I don't know.""
"Vanessa, I'm running out of patience.""
"Jonathan said it was for the final transfer.""
"Final transfer of what?""
She whispered something.
I couldn't hear her.
"Say that again.""
"The trust.""
I looked at Emily.
"He's trying to take control of my father's trust.""
Vanessa continued.
"But Marcus, there's something you need to understand. Jonathan doesn't want the money for himself.""
"Then who does he want it for?""
She hesitated.
"Arthur.""
I felt a chill move through me.
Arthur Bennett had disappeared from our company five years ago.
We'd believed he was living quietly in Florida.
But according to the documents, he'd been working behind the scenes.
"Where is Arthur now?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not! Jonathan said he was coming back tonight.""
"To Atlanta?""
"Yes.""
I looked at Emily.
She was already typing.
"Why tonight?""
Vanessa began breathing rapidly.
"Because tomorrow morning, there's supposed to be a meeting with the trust attorney.""
"What attorney?""
"Mr. Harrison.""
My father's longtime estate lawyer.
I knew him well.
He'd handled my father's will, business succession documents, and the transfer of several properties.
"Did Mr. Harrison approve this?""
"No. Jonathan said he was going to replace him.""
I gripped the phone.
"How?""
"With a document showing that your father changed the trustee agreement before he died.""
I looked at the letter again.
Something was wrong.
My father had specifically written that Vanessa's appointment was conditional.
But the agreement she described could override everything if it was genuine.
"Vanessa, do you have a copy?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"In my house.""
"Don't touch it. Don't call Jonathan.""
She suddenly shouted.
"Marcus, I think he's outside!""
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
"Emily, call the police.""
She was already reaching for her phone.
Then another message arrived.
It was from Vanessa.
A photograph of a document.
At the bottom was my father's signature.
May you like
And beside it was a sentence that changed everything.
*Upon my death, all voting rights in Reed Meridian Development shall transfer to Jonathan Reed.*
