Chapter 5: The Night Daniel Stole His Father's Will
Margaret immediately put the call on speaker.
"Robert, are you certain it was Daniel?""
"Completely certain. He used his personal access card.""
Daniel's mother closed her eyes.
"Did he take anything else?""
"The original will, several financial records, and a sealed envelope addressed to Emily.""
My heart began pounding.
"An envelope addressed to me?""
Robert paused.
"Yes. Your name was written across the front in Richard's handwriting.""
"What was inside?""
"We don't know. The envelope is missing.""
Margaret gripped the edge of the table.
"Has the police been notified?""
"Not yet. I wanted to speak with you first.""
"Notify them immediately.""
I looked at her.
"Mom, wait.""
She turned toward me.
"What is it, sweetheart?""
"Can we find out why Daniel took the will before involving the police?""
Robert interrupted.
"Emily, I need you to understand something. If the document was removed to interfere with the estate, the consequences could be serious.""
I swallowed.
"I understand. But I want to know what he was trying to hide.""
Robert agreed to send us the security footage.
Twenty minutes later, Margaret's laptop displayed a grainy recording from the company's office.
The timestamp read 11:47 p.m.
Daniel entered the building wearing a black jacket and carrying a leather briefcase.
He walked directly toward his father's office.
He didn't appear nervous.
He appeared prepared.
He unlocked the cabinet, removed several folders, and placed them inside his briefcase.
Then he stopped.
He turned toward the security camera.
For three seconds, he stared directly into it.
And smiled.
I felt cold.
"Why would he smile?""
Margaret shook her head.
"I don't know.""
The footage continued.
Daniel returned to the cabinet and removed a small black box.
Then he left.
I recognized the box.
It had belonged to Richard.
He used to keep it on his desk whenever I visited.
"What's in that box?"" I asked.
Margaret leaned closer.
"His personal signet ring. Some old photographs. And a USB drive.""
"What was on the USB drive?""
"Richard's private records. At least, that's what he told me.""
Robert called again.
"Mrs. Carter, there's another development.""
Margaret answered.
"What now?""
"The bank has temporarily frozen several accounts connected to the company. We discovered that the $450,000 loan submitted under Emily's name was backed by documents from the estate.""
I looked at the screen.
"What does that mean?""
Robert explained that the loan application had been submitted using my personal information, but it also listed shares in Carter Construction as collateral.
Shares I had never agreed to pledge.
Margaret's voice became icy.
"Daniel used Emily's inheritance to secure a loan without her permission?""
"That's what the documents suggest.""
I closed my eyes.
The man I had slept beside for eight years had apparently been preparing to take everything from me.
Robert continued.
"There's also a discrepancy in the will we have on file.""
"What discrepancy?"" Margaret asked.
"The copy Richard signed and the version Daniel removed from the office appear to be different.""
Margaret went silent.
"Are you saying someone altered the will?""
"We need to examine the original.""
I stood up.
"Where can we find Daniel?""
Margaret shook her head.
"His apartment, perhaps.""
"Then let's go.""
She hesitated.
"Emily, I don't want you confronting him alone.""
"I'm not planning to.""
An hour later, we arrived at Daniel's apartment.
It was a luxury condominium he had told me was being used for company meetings.
I had never been inside.
Margaret knocked.
No answer.
She called his phone.
It went straight to voicemail.
Then she noticed something through the narrow glass panel beside the door.
Daniel's briefcase was lying on the living room floor.
The same briefcase from the security footage.
Margaret called the building manager.
Within minutes, he opened the door using his master key.
The apartment was empty.
But it didn't look abandoned.
A half-finished glass of whiskey sat on the counter. An expensive woman's coat hung over a chair.
And on the kitchen island lay a stack of photographs.
I picked one up.
It showed Daniel and Vanessa standing outside a courthouse.
Another showed them entering a hotel.
Then I found something that made my blood run cold.
It was a photograph of me leaving my office.
Someone had circled my car in red ink.
Beneath it were three handwritten words.
She knows nothing.
Margaret took the photograph from my hand.
"Emily, we need to leave.""
But I wasn't moving.
There was another document underneath the photographs.
A printed email.
It was addressed to Daniel from Vanessa.
The subject line read:
*THE REAL PLAN.*
I began reading.
Once Emily signs the final transfer papers, we can move the remaining shares into the new company. Your mother will never be able to reverse it.
I looked at Margaret.
"Final transfer papers?""
She took the email and continued reading.
Then her face changed.
The message was dated two weeks before Daniel proposed our anniversary trip.
I remembered that trip.
He had insisted I sign several documents before we left, claiming they were routine paperwork for our mortgage.
I had signed some.
But I couldn't remember what they were.
"Mom," I whispered, "I think I may have already signed something.""
Margaret looked at me.
"What?""
"I don't know. Daniel said they were insurance documents.""
She immediately called Robert.
"Robert, we need copies of every document Emily signed in the last six months.""
There was a long pause.
Then he answered.
"Mrs. Carter, I was just about to call you.""
Margaret gripped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because the county recorder's office has confirmed that a property transfer was filed yesterday.""
My heart stopped.
"What property?""
May you like
Robert's next words were almost impossible to hear.
"Emily's marital home. The deed now lists Vanessa Williams as the sole owner.""
Related Stories
