Chapter 10: The Sister Who Had Been Smiling at Me
"Patricia has the original documents—and she already has a buyer waiting for the house.""
Marcus's words seemed to hang in the air.
I looked at him, then at Robert.
"Call Patricia.""
Robert shook his head.
"Not yet. We need to understand exactly what documents she possesses.""
Marcus lowered himself into a chair.
His daughter stood beside him, crying quietly. Tyler was speaking with one of the officers, explaining how the documents had been prepared.
I couldn't stop thinking about Patricia.
She had been at my house two weeks earlier.
She'd brought a bottle of expensive wine, hugged me at the front door, and spent nearly an hour discussing Thanksgiving dinner.
She'd even complimented the antique cabinet in my study.
Now I wondered whether she'd been looking for something.
"Marcus," I said, "how long has your sister been involved?""
He rubbed his face.
"About a year.""
"A year?""
"She introduced me to Daniel.""
"And you never thought to tell me?""
"I didn't want you worrying.""
I stared at him.
"You've spent a year arranging to sell my house, and you didn't want me worrying?""
He looked down.
Robert placed his briefcase on the table.
"Let's start with the original documents. What exactly did Patricia take?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Your father's estate file. The property deed. Some investment records.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Those were in my locked study.""
"Patricia had a key.""
I stared at him.
"Why did she have a key?""
"She said she needed to help me organize some paperwork.""
I remembered giving Patricia access once, months earlier, when she'd collected a package while we were traveling.
I'd trusted her.
That was apparently the mistake.
Robert asked, "Did you authorize her to remove anything?""
"No," I answered.
Marcus looked at the floor.
"I gave her permission.""
Robert immediately wrote something down.
"That distinction matters. We need to establish which documents were taken and how they were used.""
I walked toward the window.
Outside, the police lights reflected against the swimming pool.
My birthday party decorations were still glowing inside the house. Pink roses stood in crystal vases. The birthday cake remained untouched.
The entire celebration had become a crime scene.
Then I heard Brianna's voice.
"Grandma Patricia said everything would be ours.""
I turned.
"What did you just say?""
Brianna wiped her face.
"She said the house should belong to Dad's side of the family. She said you weren't going to stay forever.""
Robert stepped closer.
"When did she tell you this?""
"At Thanksgiving last year.""
I felt a strange pressure in my chest.
Patricia had sat across from me at Thanksgiving dinner, complimenting the turkey I'd spent six hours preparing.
She'd asked whether I planned to leave the house to charity someday.
I'd laughed and told her I hadn't thought about it.
Apparently, she'd been thinking about it.
"Did Patricia discuss the buyer with you?"" Robert asked.
Brianna nodded.
"She said Daniel had connections with investors. She said the property was worth more than Dad could ever earn working.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Did your sister convince you to do this?""
He shook his head.
"She showed me an opportunity.""
"What opportunity?""
"She said Daniel could arrange a private sale and help me clear my debts.""
Robert interrupted.
"Did Patricia know the property was solely in Vanessa's name?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
"And she still encouraged you to proceed?""
He looked away.
"She said there were ways around it.""
My hands tightened.
Robert took out his phone.
"I'm contacting our office to arrange emergency protection of the property records. We should also notify the relevant authorities about the possibility of additional forged documents.""
The officer approached us.
"Mrs. Williams, we'd like to take a formal statement from you.""
I nodded.
"Of course.""
Before I could sit down, Marcus suddenly stood.
"I need to call my sister.""
Robert shook his head.
"That would be unwise.""
"She's my family!""
I looked at him.
"And what was I?""
He stopped.
Then his phone rang.
The name on the screen made everyone go silent.
*Patricia Williams.*
Marcus answered.
"Where are you?""
Her voice was loud enough for me to hear.
"Why are the police at your house?""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Patricia, what did you do?""
She laughed nervously.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"The documents.""
A pause.
Then she said, "You were supposed to have everything handled before tonight.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
Marcus looked at me.
"Patricia, listen. Vanessa knows.""
There was silence.
Then Patricia spoke again.
"Then you need to get her to sign the final agreement before she talks to Robert.""
Robert immediately raised his hand, signaling that Marcus should put the call on speaker.
Marcus did.
Patricia continued.
"Do you understand? Daniel is waiting. The buyer has already arranged the money. We cannot lose this opportunity.""
I stepped closer.
"Patricia?""
Silence.
Then a sharp breath.
"Vanessa?""
"Yes. The woman whose house you were planning to sell.""
Her voice changed.
"You're misunderstanding everything.""
"Then tell me why you have my original property documents.""
"I don't have anything.""
"Your brother just told the police you took them.""
Patricia was silent for several seconds.
Then she said something I would never forget.
"Maybe if you hadn't been so controlling with your money, none of this would have happened.""
I felt my face grow hot.
"You think that justifies stealing my documents?""
"Don't be dramatic. You married into this family. You should have understood that family assets belong to everyone.""
I looked at Robert.
He was recording the conversation through the authorized procedure he'd just explained to the officer.
I took a breath.
"Patricia, where are you?""
"That's none of your business.""
"Then I suppose the police can find out.""
She laughed.
"By the time they do, the documents will already be somewhere safe.""
The call ended.
Robert looked at the officer.
"We need to establish the location of those original documents immediately.""
The officer nodded.
But my attention was fixed on something Marcus had just whispered.
"She already gave Daniel the folder.""
I turned.
"What folder?""
Marcus looked at me with frightened eyes.
"The one containing your father's estate records.""
May you like
Then he revealed the part he had been hiding.
"Patricia told Daniel that your father had left you something else. Something worth considerably more than the house.""
