Chapter 4: The Woman I Thought I Could Trust
I read the anonymous message three times.
*If you want to know who really forged your father's signature, stop trusting Margaret Wilson. Ask her what happened eleven years ago, the week your father died.*
My fingers went cold.
Margaret had worked for Bennett Enterprises for eight years. She had been the person who helped me protect my shares, reviewed every major contract, and reassured me whenever Daniel tried to push boundaries.
She had also been one of the few people who knew how much my father's death had affected me.
I looked up.
"Margaret, did you know my father?""
She stopped typing.
"Why are you asking?""
"Because someone just sent me a message suggesting you know something about his death.""
Robert shifted uncomfortably.
Margaret slowly closed her laptop.
"Olivia, I think we need to have a private conversation.""
Robert immediately stood.
"Should I leave?""
"No," I said.
"Whatever this is, I want witnesses.""
Margaret looked at me for several seconds.
Then she reached into her briefcase and removed an old envelope.
It was yellowed around the edges.
My father's handwriting appeared across the front.
*For Olivia. Only after Daniel betrays you.*
I stopped breathing.
"Where did you get that?""
"Your father gave it to me eleven years ago," Margaret replied.
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you give it to me?""
"Because he specifically instructed me not to.""
I reached for the envelope.
My father's handwriting was unmistakable. He had always written in capital letters, pressing his pen so hard that the words were almost carved into the paper.
I opened it.
Inside was a single handwritten letter.
Olivia,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I desperately hoped would never happen.
I know you love Daniel. I also know that love can make intelligent people ignore things they would immediately recognize as danger in someone else.
Never surrender your controlling shares. Never allow anyone to convince you that your inheritance is merely a gift that belongs to your husband.
And if Daniel ever attempts to remove you from the company, ask Margaret about the original account.
I read the last sentence again.
"The original account?""
Margaret nodded.
"Your father suspected that someone was trying to manipulate the company's finances even before he died.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
"Daniel.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"That's impossible. Daniel was practically living at the hospital when my father was sick.""
"Your father knew that. But he also knew Daniel had been approaching investors privately.""
I gripped the letter.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father believed you would defend Daniel. He asked me to wait until you had independent evidence.""
Robert leaned forward.
"What original account?""
Margaret looked toward him.
"An offshore account created before Bennett Enterprises received Olivia's inheritance. Your father believed it had been used to divert money from the original business.""
I felt sick.
"Are you saying Daniel was stealing before I invested?""
"I can't establish that yet," she said.
"But your father left instructions to investigate it if certain circumstances occurred.""
"Where are the records?""
Margaret looked down.
"Your father gave them to someone he trusted.""
"Who?""
Before she could answer, the meeting-room door opened.
A security officer appeared.
"Mrs. Bennett? There's someone downstairs asking to see you.""
"Who?""
The officer glanced at his clipboard.
"A man named Thomas Reed.""
Margaret went completely still.
Robert noticed.
"Do you know him?""
Margaret slowly nodded.
"Thomas was the company's former accountant.""
The same man whose notary stamp appeared on the suspicious document.
I stood.
"Bring him up.""
Ten minutes later, a thin man in his early fifties entered the room.
He wore a gray coat and carried a battered leather briefcase.
His eyes moved nervously between Margaret and me.
"Mrs. Bennett, thank you for agreeing to meet.""
I didn't offer him a seat.
"Did you forge my father's signature?""
"No.""
"Did you notarize a power of attorney supposedly signed by him?""
His face tightened.
"Yes.""
I stared at him.
"How could you?""
"Because someone brought me the document and told me the original had been signed years ago. I was paid to certify the copy.""
"Who paid you?""
Thomas opened his briefcase.
He removed a bank receipt and placed it on the table.
"Patricia Bennett.""
Robert swore under his breath.
Thomas continued.
"But there's something else. Patricia didn't act alone.""
I looked at Margaret.
She wasn't moving.
Thomas turned toward her.
"Tell her.""
Margaret's lips parted.
"Thomas, this isn't the place.""
"Eleven years, Margaret. I've kept quiet for eleven years.""
I felt my heartbeat pounding.
"Tell me what?""
Thomas placed a small photograph on the table.
It showed my father standing outside a bank with two people.
One was Margaret.
The other was Daniel.
The photograph was dated three days before my father died.
I looked at Margaret.
"What were you doing with my husband and my father?""
She finally spoke.
"Your father asked me to help him investigate Daniel.""
"Then why were you meeting them together?""
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"Because Daniel had discovered the investigation.""
Thomas leaned toward me.
"And the night your father died, someone accessed his private bank records.""
He paused.
"That person wasn't Daniel.""
May you like
He pointed at the photograph.
It was Margaret.
