Chapter 5: The Letter Hidden in My Father's Desk
I didn't sleep that night.
At 8:15 the following morning, I was sitting in a conference room at Bennett Industrial Holdings, staring at a copy of my father's original will.
Richard sat across from me.
Beside him was his attorney, a woman named Margaret Collins, who had flown in from Chicago that morning.
She placed a folder on the table.
“Sarah, before we discuss the suspicious transfer, I need you to understand something.””
I looked up.
“Go ahead.””
“The original trust agreement gave you authority as trustee. Your father also included a clause requiring independent legal verification for any amendment involving the beneficiaries.””
“So Mom couldn't simply change it?””
“Not without satisfying those requirements.””
Margaret opened another folder.
“The amendment filed six months before your father's death contains a witness signature, but the witness has denied signing it. The notary's commission number also appears to be incorrect.””
I leaned back.
“Someone fabricated the amendment.””
“That's one possibility we're investigating.””
Richard folded his hands.
“There's something else. Your father left a sealed letter with the estate attorney. It was supposed to be delivered to you once the original will was verified.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn't I receive it?””
Margaret looked uncomfortable.
“The attorney who held the documents retired. The letter was mistakenly placed in an archived estate file.””
She slid a cream-colored envelope across the table.
My name was written on the front.
Sarah.
In my father's handwriting.
I recognized it immediately.
My fingers trembled as I picked it up.
For a moment, I couldn't open it.
Richard quietly stood.
“Take your time.””
I unfolded the letter.
My Sarah,
If you're reading this, I've probably left you before I had the chance to explain everything.
My eyes blurred.
I continued.
I know I've asked you to be strong for this family. I know you've carried more than any daughter should have to carry. I'm sorry.
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
There are things your mother doesn't understand about the business. There are things she believes she is entitled to because she stood beside me. But the money was never meant to be a reward for whoever demanded it most.
My throat tightened.
I created the trust to protect both my daughters. You were named trustee because I trust your judgment. Never allow anyone to convince you that being responsible means you deserve less.
I stopped reading.
The room was silent.
Then I continued.
If anything happens to the trust, ask the attorney to inspect the blue ledger in my old study. It contains the original account history and the names of everyone who received money from the family business.
At the bottom was one final sentence.
And Sarah, if your mother tells you I changed my mind about you, don't believe her without seeing the original documents.
I lowered the letter.
Margaret's expression was serious.
“Do you know what he meant by the blue ledger?””
I nodded slowly.
“Dad kept an old wooden desk in his study. He never let anyone throw away his paperwork.””
“Is the house still in the family?””
“Mom lives there.””
Richard exchanged a glance with Margaret.
“Then we need to retrieve the ledger through the proper legal process.””
I looked at the letter again.
There was something written on the back.
A date.
And beneath it, a name.
*Thomas Reed.*
I recognized it.
Thomas had been my father's longtime accountant.
He'd disappeared from our lives shortly after Dad died.
I remembered asking Mom about him once.
She'd said he'd moved to Florida after stealing money from the company.
But my father's letter suggested something different.
“Do you know Thomas Reed?”” I asked Margaret.
She checked her notes.
“He was the accountant who handled the Mitchell business accounts before the estate was transferred.””
“Can you find him?””
Richard nodded.
“Our investigators can.””
I looked down at my father's handwriting.
“Then I want to speak to him.””
By noon, Richard's team had located Thomas.
He was living outside Franklin, Tennessee, and agreed to meet us at a small coffee shop.
When he walked in, I almost didn't recognize him.
He was thinner than I remembered, with gray hair and deep lines around his eyes.
But when he saw the letter in my hand, he stopped.
“Sarah?””
I stood.
“Mr. Reed.””
He looked at the envelope.
“Where did you get that?””
“My father's estate attorney.””
Thomas slowly pulled out a chair.
“I wondered when you'd find it.””
I sat opposite him.
“You knew about the trust?””
He nodded.
“I helped your father establish it.””
“Did Mom change the beneficiary records?””
Thomas looked toward the window.
“Your mother tried.””
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?””
“She came to me six months before your father died. She wanted the trust amended so Emily would receive everything.””
“Why?””
Thomas sighed.
“She said you were already financially secure. She said Emily was vulnerable and needed the money more.””
I stared at him.
“What did you tell her?””
“That the trust didn't allow it without your consent.””
“And then?””
Thomas's hands tightened around his coffee cup.
“Three weeks later, I was accused of stealing company funds.””
I felt cold.
“You were fired?””
“Your mother told the board I'd transferred money into my own account. I denied it, but she produced bank statements that appeared to support her accusation.””
“Were they real?””
“No.””
He opened his briefcase and removed a folded document.
“I kept copies of the original account records.””
I unfolded them.
There were multiple transactions.
Payments to shell companies.
Transfers between accounts.
And one name appeared repeatedly.
Mitchell Family Consulting LLC.
Thomas leaned closer.
“Your mother didn't create that company eight months ago, Sarah. It was originally registered under a different name.””
I looked at him.
“What name?””
He swallowed.
“Bennett Strategic Services.””
My blood ran cold.
“Bennett?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Richard.
He had gone completely still.
Thomas pushed another document across the table.
“The company was dissolved years ago. But someone recently reactivated its registration using an old corporate identity.””
Richard picked up the document.
“That name belonged to one of our former subsidiaries.””
Thomas nodded.
“Exactly.””
I looked between them.
“Are you saying someone used Bennett's old company records to steal from my father's trust?””
Thomas's expression darkened.
“I'm saying your mother may not have been working alone.””
Before I could ask another question, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's frightened voice came through.
“Sarah Mitchell?””
“Yes. Who is this?””
“My name is Laura Reed. I'm Thomas's daughter.””
Thomas immediately looked up.
Laura continued.
“My father doesn't know I'm calling, but there's something you need to see.””
“What?””
“I found an old email in his backup files. It was sent to your mother the week your father died.””
I glanced at Thomas.
Laura lowered her voice.
“It contains instructions for transferring the trust money.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Who sent it?””
There was a pause.
May you like
Then she said:
“Your father's lawyer.””
