Chapter 5: The Missing Will
I read Thomas Bennett's email four times.
Then I pushed my chair backward.
"My father-in-law was murdered?""
Evelyn raised a hand.
"Don't jump to conclusions. Thomas is making an allegation. We need evidence before accepting it as fact.""
"But why would he say that?""
"Because he may know something about Richard's final days.""
She picked up her phone.
"I'll contact him through the number he provided.""
Thomas answered almost immediately.
"Is this Evelyn Brooks?""
"Yes. I'm calling on behalf of Sarah Mitchell.""
There was a long silence.
Then a man's tired voice came through the speaker.
"Is she there?""
I leaned toward the phone.
"This is Sarah.""
"Mrs. Mitchell, my name is Thomas Bennett. I worked with Richard for twenty-two years.""
"I remember you from his funeral.""
"I'm sorry I didn't speak to you then.""
"Why didn't you?""
"Because I was afraid.""
The answer made my stomach tighten.
"Afraid of whom?""
"Daniel.""
Evelyn glanced at me.
"Mr. Bennett, we need you to be specific. What exactly are you alleging?""
Thomas exhaled.
"Richard discovered that Daniel had been stealing from the company. He confronted him about it three weeks before his death.""
"How much money?"" I asked.
"At least four million dollars. The final number may be higher.""
"And you believe Daniel caused his death?""
"I believe Daniel knew something was going to happen. I also believe someone altered Richard's medical records.""
I felt my fingers go numb.
"What do you mean?""
"Your father-in-law was admitted to Piedmont Hospital after suffering complications from a cardiac condition. His doctors had prescribed a specific medication. But during his final hospitalization, his medication chart was changed.""
Evelyn leaned closer.
"Do you have documentation?""
"I have copies of the original medication records, the amended records, and emails between Daniel and Margaret Ellis.""
I stared at the phone.
"Why didn't you go to the police?""
"I tried.""
"And?""
"Three days later, my office was broken into. My computer disappeared. Someone sent me photographs of my grandchildren leaving school.""
The kitchen went silent.
I looked toward Noah.
He was still sleeping peacefully.
"Where are you now?"" Evelyn asked.
"At a hotel outside Atlanta. I don't intend to stay here long.""
"Can you meet us?""
"Not at your office. I don't know who might be watching.""
Evelyn agreed to arrange a secure meeting through her legal contacts.
Before hanging up, Thomas said something that made me grip the table.
"Sarah, there's one more thing. Richard changed his will two days before he died.""
I swallowed.
"What did he change?""
"He removed Daniel as the executor.""
"Who replaced him?""
"You did.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Evelyn slowly closed her notebook.
"That explains why the original will is so important.""
"What if Daniel has it?""
"Then we need to find out where it went.""
I looked at the divorce papers.
Daniel had demanded that I sign away my claims to the family residence, but the agreement said nothing about the estate.
Could that have been intentional?
Had he expected me to sign without asking questions?
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
"What?""
"Sarah, we need to talk.""
"About what?""
"Your father's inheritance.""
I froze.
"Richard wasn't my father.""
"You know what I mean. I've spoken to my attorney.""
"Congratulations.""
"Don't be sarcastic. You have no idea what you're dealing with.""
I looked at Evelyn.
She gestured for me to put the call on speaker.
Daniel continued.
"That trust is complicated. Dad created it for the family, not just you.""
"Then why am I listed as the sole beneficiary?""
"Because he was confused near the end.""
"His doctor certified that he was competent.""
"Doctors can be wrong.""
I almost laughed.
"Is that why you forged my signature on a six-hundred-thousand-dollar loan?""
Silence.
Then he said, "You need to stop throwing around accusations.""
"Did you alter your father's will?""
A pause.
"What?""
"The original will. Where is it?""
His breathing changed.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"Thomas Bennett seems to know.""
For several seconds, there was no sound.
Then Daniel spoke in a different voice.
"Stay away from Thomas.""
"Why?""
"Because he's a liar.""
"Then you won't mind explaining why he says you were removed as executor two days before your father died.""
Daniel slammed something against his desk.
"That old man was manipulating everyone! He was sick, Sarah. He didn't know what he was doing.""
"That's not what his doctors said.""
"Listen to me. The estate is going to be contested. You will lose everything if you keep fighting.""
I glanced at Evelyn.
She wrote something on her notepad.
*Record everything.*
I continued.
"Is that a threat?""
"It's advice.""
"Then here's some advice for you. Don't come back to my house without legal permission.""
He laughed.
"You think you can keep me away from my own home?""
"Yes.""
"You're going to regret this.""
He hung up.
Evelyn immediately asked me to forward the recording to her.
Then she made another call.
Within an hour, we had arranged for a locksmith to change the exterior access codes and for a property security company to inspect the house.
But the biggest discovery came that afternoon.
Evelyn received a call from the probate court.
Richard's original will had been submitted for registration four days after his death.
The document named Daniel Mitchell as executor.
And it left the majority of the estate to him.
I stared at the scanned copy.
"This contradicts everything Thomas just told us.""
Evelyn enlarged the final page.
"Look at the date.""
I leaned closer.
The document was dated six months before Richard died.
"Thomas said Richard changed his will two days before his death.""
"Exactly.""
Evelyn compared the signature with the one on Richard's property transfer.
Her expression hardened.
"This signature doesn't look right.""
She pulled another document from her briefcase.
A letter signed by Richard in front of two witnesses.
The handwriting was noticeably different.
Then she pointed to the notary stamp.
"Sarah, look at the commission date.""
I read it.
The notary's license had expired before the will was supposedly signed.
Evelyn sat back.
"Someone submitted a potentially fraudulent will to probate.""
My phone vibrated.
A text message from an unknown number appeared.
*You should stop digging. Daniel isn't the only person who knows what happened to Richard.*
A second message arrived.
*Ask Vanessa why she visited the hospital the night before he died.*
I looked at Evelyn.
"Vanessa?""
Before she could answer, my doorbell rang.
The security camera showed a familiar face.
Margaret Ellis.
Richard's former assistant.
May you like
She was standing on my porch holding a small black handbag.
And in her other hand was a sealed envelope.
