Chapter 2: The Condo My Daughter-in-Law Had Already Bought
"Why would Madison be buying a $680,000 condominium?"" I whispered.
Noah sat down on the edge of my sofa.
"Because Mom told her you were paying the deposit.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The building had floor-to-ceiling windows, a rooftop swimming pool, a private gym, and a view of the Atlanta skyline.
It was the kind of property people bought when they had considerably more money than sense.
"Did Madison tell you this?""
"She told me last week. She said Grandma had finally agreed to help her get a place downtown.""
I shook my head.
"I never discussed a condominium with her.""
"I know.""
"Did your mother tell you that?""
Noah hesitated.
"She told me something different.""
I sat opposite him.
"What?""
"She said you were planning to give Madison the money because she's older and needs it more than I do.""
I almost laughed.
"That's absurd.""
"That's what I thought.""
He looked uncomfortable.
"Grandma, there's more.""
I waited.
"Madison already signed something with the real estate agent. She told me the seller was expecting the deposit before the end of the month.""
"How could she sign a contract without having the money?""
Noah looked down at his phone.
"Mom said you'd transfer it.""
A cold feeling settled in my chest.
Vanessa hadn't simply expected a generous Christmas present.
She had made financial promises using money that wasn't hers.
"Do you have the agent's information?""
Noah nodded and forwarded me the photograph.
I saved it.
Then I called my financial adviser, Richard Collins.
Richard had managed my investment accounts for nearly twenty years. Frank trusted him, and so did I.
He answered on the second ring.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Whitmore. Merry Christmas.""
"Richard, I need you to check something for me.""
"Of course.""
"Has anyone contacted your office requesting a transfer of $100,000 from my investment accounts?""
There was a pause.
"Actually, yes.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Who?""
"Your daughter-in-law, Vanessa.""
I closed my eyes.
"When?""
"Approximately two weeks ago. She claimed you had authorized a transfer for a property purchase.""
"Did I?""
"No, ma'am. That's why we haven't processed it.""
I stood and walked toward the window.
"What documentation did she provide?""
"A signed authorization form.""
My heart began pounding.
"Richard, I didn't sign anything.""
"I understand. We have not released any funds.""
"Send me a copy immediately.""
"Certainly. But Mrs. Whitmore, there's another issue.""
I stopped walking.
"What issue?""
He lowered his voice.
"That authorization wasn't submitted for Madison's condominium.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then what was it for?""
"A company called Whitmore Property Ventures.""
I recognized the name.
I'd never heard it before, but I knew enough about business to understand that companies didn't appear in financial paperwork without a reason.
"Who owns it?""
"According to the registration documents, Vanessa Whitmore.""
I sat down slowly.
My daughter-in-law had established a company and attempted to obtain $100,000 from my investment account.
But why?
And why had she told Madison the money was for a condominium?
"Richard, send me everything.""
"I will. But I strongly recommend that we review all recent authorization requests.""
"Do it.""
When I hung up, Noah was watching me.
"Grandma, what's happening?""
I didn't want to frighten him.
"Your mother may have made a financial request without my permission.""
His face went pale.
"Mom?""
"Yes.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"She told Madison everything was already arranged.""
I picked up my phone again.
"Then we'd better find out what else she's arranged.""
That evening, Richard sent me a document.
It was a scanned authorization form requesting $100,000 from one of my investment accounts.
At the bottom was a signature.
Eleanor Whitmore.
It looked remarkably like mine.
The same slanted E.
The same loop in the W.
Even the same little mark I sometimes made when lifting my pen.
But I hadn't signed it.
I enlarged the document.
The signature date was December 8.
I remembered December 8 very clearly.
I'd spent that entire afternoon at my doctor's office and returned home just before dinner.
Nobody had visited me.
Nobody had asked me to sign anything.
I called Richard.
"Who witnessed this?""
He checked.
"No witness is listed.""
"And how was it delivered?""
"By email.""
"From whom?""
"Vanessa's personal email address.""
I felt a strange combination of anger and disbelief.
"Richard, freeze every request associated with that company.""
"Already done.""
"Now tell me something. Has Daniel ever been listed as an authorized representative on my accounts?""
A longer silence followed.
"Yes, Mrs. Whitmore.""
My stomach dropped.
"When?""
"About six months ago, we received documents stating that you had appointed him as your financial representative.""
"I did no such thing.""
Richard sighed.
"That's concerning.""
"Send me those documents, too.""
A few minutes later, another email arrived.
This one contained a document bearing Daniel's signature.
My son had apparently been authorized to make certain financial decisions on my behalf.
Except I'd never given him that authority.
I stared at the signature.
Then I noticed the date.
September 14.
That was the day Daniel had driven me to lunch and insisted I sign several papers he'd described as routine updates to my estate plan.
I remembered asking him what they were.
He'd smiled.
"Just boring legal stuff, Mom. Nothing you need to worry about.""
I'd signed two pages.
Or so I thought.
My hands began trembling.
I called him.
He answered casually.
"Hey, Mom. Everything okay?""
"Daniel, I need to ask you something.""
"Sure.""
"Did you recently submit documents making you my financial representative?""
Silence.
Then a quiet sigh.
"Mom, where did you hear that?""
My throat tightened.
"Did you?""
He didn't answer immediately.
And that was when I knew Christmas morning hadn't been the beginning of this nightmare.
It had only been the first time I'd noticed something was wrong.
"Daniel," I said, "what exactly did you and Vanessa sign using my name?""
His voice changed.
"Mom, we need to talk.""
May you like
Before I could respond, he added:
"And I think you should know that Vanessa has already spoken to a lawyer about your mental capacity.""
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