Chapter 13: The Father Who## Chapter 13: The Father Who Had Been Dead for Twenty Years
"Your granddaughter is not the person you should Had Been Dead for Twenty Years
"Your granddaughter is not the person you should fear.""
I read the message again.
Then I looked at the photograph of fear.""
I read the message again.
Then I looked at the photograph of Vanessa standing beside a man she had supposedly buried twenty years earlier.
Charles Whitmore.
Her Vanessa standing beside a man she had supposedly buried twenty years earlier.
Charles Whitmore.
Her father.
The man Frank had identified as Robert Bennett's original business partner.
Margaret took my phone and enlarged the father.
The man Frank had identified as Robert Bennett's original business partner.
Margaret took my phone and enlarged the photograph.
"Where was this taken?""
"There's a restaurant sign behind them," Daniel said.
"Looks photograph.
"Where was this taken?""
"There's a restaurant sign behind them," Daniel said.
"Looks like somewhere downtown.""
Margaret examined the image.
"Whoever sent this wants you to meet him like somewhere downtown.""
Margaret examined the image.
"Whoever sent this wants you to meet him. That doesn't mean we should trust him.""
I nodded.
"I won't go anywhere without you.""
Daniel was still staring at the. That doesn't mean we should trust him.""
I nodded.
"I won't go anywhere without you.""
Daniel was still staring at the photograph.
"Why would Vanessa lie about her father being dead?""
I looked at him.
"That's what we're going to find out.""
Margaret contacted photograph.
"Why would Vanessa lie about her father being dead?""
I looked at him.
"That's what we're going to find out.""
Margaret contacted an investigator she had worked with on previous property disputes. Within an hour, he confirmed that the photograph an investigator she had worked with on previous property disputes. Within an hour, he confirmed that the photograph had been taken outside an Atlanta restaurant three days earlier.
Charles Whitmore was alive.
And he had been living under his had been taken outside an Atlanta restaurant three days earlier.
Charles Whitmore was alive.
And he had been living under his own name.
There was something else.
He had recently filed a request to obtain historical corporate records connected own name.
There was something else.
He had recently filed a request to obtain historical corporate records connected to Whitmore Family Holdings.
"Why would he want those records?"" I asked.
Margaret closed her notebook.
"Possibly because he knows something about Bennett to Whitmore Family Holdings.
"Why would he want those records?"" I asked.
Margaret closed her notebook.
"Possibly because he knows something about Bennett's original fraud.""
"Or because he's involved in it.""
"Exactly.""
At 6:30 that's original fraud.""
"Or because he's involved in it.""
"Exactly.""
At 6:30 that evening, we arrived at the restaurant.
Margaret insisted on sitting at a nearby table. Daniel remained outside with the investigator.
I waited near evening, we arrived at the restaurant.
Margaret insisted on sitting at a nearby table. Daniel remained outside with the investigator.
I waited near the entrance.
A few minutes later, an older man walked in.
He had silver hair, a narrow face, and a slight the entrance.
A few minutes later, an older man walked in.
He had silver hair, a narrow face, and a slight limp.
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then he approached.
"Eleanor Whitmore?""
"Charles?""
He nodded.
"Thank limp.
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then he approached.
"Eleanor Whitmore?""
"Charles?""
He nodded.
"Thank you for coming.""
I didn't offer my hand.
"You have some explaining to do.""
He glanced you for coming.""
I didn't offer my hand.
"You have some explaining to do.""
He glanced toward Margaret.
"You're not alone.""
"No. And I wouldn't recommend that you expect me to be.""
He toward Margaret.
"You're not alone.""
"No. And I wouldn't recommend that you expect me to be.""
He pulled out a chair.
"Fair enough.""
I sat opposite him.
"Why did you tell Vanessa you were dead?""
Charles pulled out a chair.
"Fair enough.""
I sat opposite him.
"Why did you tell Vanessa you were dead?""
Charles looked down.
"Because she wanted nothing to do with me.""
"That's not an answer.""
He sighed.
"I was arrested twenty years looked down.
"Because she wanted nothing to do with me.""
"That's not an answer.""
He sighed.
"I was arrested twenty years ago for financial fraud. I served time. When I got out, I tried contacting her. She refused to see me.""
I studied ago for financial fraud. I served time. When I got out, I tried contacting her. She refused to see me.""
I studied his face.
"Did you work with Robert Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"Did you try to steal my husband's property?""
He lowered his his face.
"Did you work with Robert Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"Did you try to steal my husband's property?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
The honesty startled me.
"Why?""
"Because Bennett convinced me it was an easy transaction. He eyes.
"Yes.""
The honesty startled me.
"Why?""
"Because Bennett convinced me it was an easy transaction. He said your husband would never notice the changes in the paperwork.""
I felt anger rise.
"Frank noticed.""
"Yes. He did said your husband would never notice the changes in the paperwork.""
I felt anger rise.
"Frank noticed.""
"Yes. He did.""
Charles folded his hands.
"Frank was smarter than both of us.""
"Then why are you here?""
"Because.""
Charles folded his hands.
"Frank was smarter than both of us.""
"Then why are you here?""
"Because Bennett is doing it again.""
I leaned forward.
"Tell me everything.""
Charles explained that Bennett had spent decades finding elderly property owners with Bennett is doing it again.""
I leaned forward.
"Tell me everything.""
Charles explained that Bennett had spent decades finding elderly property owners with valuable assets and complicated family arrangements.
He would identify a relative willing to act as a financial representative.
Then he would arrange questionable valuable assets and complicated family arrangements.
He would identify a relative willing to act as a financial representative.
Then he would arrange questionable loans, create disputed ownership documents, and use legal proceedings to establish control over the property.
Vanessa had been introduced to Bennett several years earlier.
"She contacted me after I got out of prison," loans, create disputed ownership documents, and use legal proceedings to establish control over the property.
Vanessa had been introduced to Bennett several years earlier.
"She contacted me after I got out of prison," Charles said.
"Why?""
"She wanted to know what I remembered about the old Whitmore properties.""
My Charles said.
"Why?""
"She wanted to know what I remembered about the old Whitmore properties.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did you tell her?""
"That Frank had protected the ownership records in a separate holding company.""
"Did she stomach tightened.
"What did you tell her?""
"That Frank had protected the ownership records in a separate holding company.""
"Did she know where?""
"No. But she knew the company existed.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did she marry my son?""
Charles looked uncomfortable.
know where?""
"No. But she knew the company existed.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did she marry my son?""
Charles looked uncomfortable.
"She told me she had met someone who could help her access the properties.""
"Daniel?""
He nodded.
I felt sick.
"Was their marriage planned?""
"I can't prove that.""
"Did"She told me she had met someone who could help her access the properties.""
"Daniel?""
He nodded.
I felt sick.
"Was their marriage planned?""
"I can't prove that.""
"Did you know she was going to marry him?""
"Yes.""
I stared at him.
He continued.
"She asked me whether Daniel had access to your business documents. She also asked about your estate plan.""
My you know she was going to marry him?""
"Yes.""
I stared at him.
He continued.
"She asked me whether Daniel had access to your business documents. She also asked about your estate plan.""
My fingers tightened around my handbag.
"How long ago?""
"Before the wedding.""
I couldn't speak.
Fifteen years.
F fingers tightened around my handbag.
"How long ago?""
"Before the wedding.""
I couldn't speak.
Fifteen years.
Fifteen years of family dinners, birthdays, holidays, and Christmas mornings.
Had Vanessa been studying my family all that time?
Charles reachedifteen years of family dinners, birthdays, holidays, and Christmas mornings.
Had Vanessa been studying my family all that time?
Charles reached into his coat and removed a sealed envelope.
"This is why I contacted you.""
Inside were copies of emails between into his coat and removed a sealed envelope.
"This is why I contacted you.""
Inside were copies of emails between Vanessa and Robert Bennett.
The earliest was dated eleven years ago.
One message caught my attention.
*Daniel is getting Vanessa and Robert Bennett.
The earliest was dated eleven years ago.
One message caught my attention.
Daniel is getting closer to having access to the accounts. Once Eleanor updates her estate plan, we'll know exactly which documents we need.
I closer to having access to the accounts. Once Eleanor updates her estate plan, we'll know exactly which documents we need.*
I looked up.
"She was planning this eleven years ago?""
Charles nodded.
"She believed Frank's looked up.
"She was planning this eleven years ago?""
Charles nodded.
"She believed Frank's death would make everything easier.""
I continued reading.
Another email mentioned a payment.
Then another.
And another.
Van death would make everything easier.""
I continued reading.
Another email mentioned a payment.
Then another.
And another.
Vanessa had been receiving money from Bennett's company for years.
Some payments were labeled consulting fees.
Others were listed as property research.
Then Iessa had been receiving money from Bennett's company for years.
Some payments were labeled consulting fees.
Others were listed as property research.
Then I reached the final email.
It was dated six months before Christmas.
*The original ownership structure is the only obstacle. Once Daniel gets the financial authority, we can use the conservatorship petition to complete reached the final email.
It was dated six months before Christmas.
The original ownership structure is the only obstacle. Once Daniel gets the financial authority, we can use the conservatorship petition to complete the transfer.
My hands began trembling.
"Why are you giving me this?""
Charles looked directly at me.
"Because Bennett is planning the transfer.*
My hands began trembling.
"Why are you giving me this?""
Charles looked directly at me.
"Because Bennett is planning to leave the country once the money clears.""
"And you?""
He swallowed.
"I'm trying to protect to leave the country once the money clears.""
"And you?""
He swallowed.
"I'm trying to protect my daughter.""
I almost laughed.
"After everything she's done?""
"She's my daughter, Eleanor.""
"And Daniel is my son. That my daughter.""
I almost laughed.
"After everything she's done?""
"She's my daughter, Eleanor.""
"And Daniel is my son. That didn't stop him from helping her.""
Charles nodded sadly.
"You're right.""
He slid another document across the table.
"This didn't stop him from helping her.""
Charles nodded sadly.
"You're right.""
He slid another document across the table.
"This is the original partnership agreement between Bennett and Vanessa. It explains how they intended to divide the proceeds.""
I opened it.
The first payment was listed is the original partnership agreement between Bennett and Vanessa. It explains how they intended to divide the proceeds.""
I opened it.
The first payment was listed at $2 million.
The second was $4.8 million.
The third was marked as a future distribution at $2 million.
The second was $4.8 million.
The third was marked as a future distribution.
I looked at the beneficiary.
It wasn't Vanessa.
It wasn't Bennett.
It was a trust registered in another.
I looked at the beneficiary.
It wasn't Vanessa.
It wasn't Bennett.
It was a trust registered in another state.
And the person named as its primary beneficiary was...
Madison Whitmore.
I stared state.
And the person named as its primary beneficiary was...
Madison Whitmore.
I stared at the page.
"Why would they put everything in Madison's name?""
Charles leaned closer.
"Because if the authorities investigate, they intend at the page.
"Why would they put everything in Madison's name?""
Charles leaned closer.
"Because if the authorities investigate, they intend to make her look like the person who benefited from the theft.""
My heart stopped.
"Are you saying they planned to blame my to make her look like the person who benefited from the theft.""
My heart stopped.
"Are you saying they planned to blame my granddaughter?""
He nodded.
"Vanessa told Bennett that Madison was reckless, impulsive, and unlikely to understand granddaughter?""
He nodded.
"Vanessa told Bennett that Madison was reckless, impulsive, and unlikely to understand the paperwork.""
I remembered Christmas morning.
The twenty-dollar bill.
The envelope.
The flames.
Then I understood something terrible.
Madison's the paperwork.""
I remembered Christmas morning.
The twenty-dollar bill.
The envelope.
The flames.
Then I understood something terrible.
Madison's outburst hadn't been part of their plan.
But her behavior was exactly the kind of thing they could use against outburst hadn't been part of their plan.
But her behavior was exactly the kind of thing they could use against her.
Charles stood.
"There's one more document you need to see. It's the original trust agreement.""
"Where is her.
Charles stood.
"There's one more document you need to see. It's the original trust agreement.""
"Where is it?""
He looked toward the window.
"With Robert Bennett.""
Before I could ask another question, Margaret appeared beside us.
it?""
He looked toward the window.
"With Robert Bennett.""
Before I could ask another question, Margaret appeared beside us.
Her phone was ringing.
She answered.
Then her face went pale.
Her phone was ringing.
She answered.
Then her face went pale.
"Eleanor, we have a problem.""
"What?""
"The bank has received a new transfer instruction.""
I stood.
"From whom?""
Marg"Eleanor, we have a problem.""
"What?""
"The bank has received a new transfer instruction.""
I stood.
"From whom?""
Margaret looked at me.
"Daniel.""
I turned toward my son, who had just entered the restaurant.
He looked horraret looked at me.
"Daniel.""
I turned toward my son, who had just entered the restaurant.
He looked horrified.
"Mom, I didn't send anything.""
Margaret checked the document.
Then she whispered:
"Someone has used Daniel's electronic authorization to requestified.
"Mom, I didn't send anything.""
Margaret checked the document.
Then she whispered:
"Someone has used Daniel's electronic authorization to request the release of the entire two-million-dollar transfer.""
And the scheduled release time was midnight.
May you like
the release of the entire two-million-dollar transfer.""
And the scheduled release time was midnight.
