Chapter 11: My Mother-in-Law Filed the First Complaint
“She's accusing me of stealing money from my own father's foundation?””
I stared at the message on Detective Miller's phone.
Dad placed both hands on the table.
“Who submitted the complaint?””
Miller checked the information.
“An attorney representing Reed Capital Holdings.””
“Patricia?””
“She's listed as a cooperating witness.””
I laughed bitterly.
“She plants a necklace in my handbag, gets caught on camera, and now she's pretending I'm the criminal?””
Dad looked at me.
“Sarah, we need to remain calm.””
“How can I remain calm? She has been trying to destroy my life since before I married Daniel!””
Miller closed his notebook.
“There's a way to establish the truth. We need the original financial records and the original trust agreement.””
I looked at the letter from my mother.
“Thomas has the original envelope.””
“Correct.””
“And Vanessa knows where he took it.””
Miller nodded.
“Then we need to speak with Vanessa.””
Dad called her.
She answered immediately.
“Colonel?””
“Vanessa, we need your help.””
Her voice was trembling.
“I know. I'm sorry.””
“Where is Thomas Keller?””
“I don't know exactly. But I know where he keeps the documents.””
“Where?””
“The old office on Peachtree Street. The one Marcus uses for Reed Capital.””
Dad looked at Miller.
“Can you verify that?””
Miller nodded.
“Do you know whether Patricia is there?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“She might be.””
I stepped closer to the phone.
“Vanessa, why did you help your mother?””
There was a long silence.
“Because I thought Sarah had everything.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Dad left the family with debts. Mom struggled for years. Then you came along with your father's money, your trust, your beautiful house. Daniel got everything he wanted, and Mom thought it was unfair.””
I stared at the phone.
“So you helped her frame me because you were jealous?””
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't think she would hit you.””
“But you helped put the necklace in my handbag?””
“I didn't know she was going to do that.””
“Did you help forge my signature?””
She whispered.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“Mom said it was temporary. She said Daniel would repay the loan before anyone noticed.””
“And the money?””
“Marcus moved it through several accounts. Some went to Thomas.””
Dad interrupted.
“Vanessa, did you ever see the original records?””
“Yes.””
“Were they inside the Peachtree office?””
“I saw them there yesterday.””
Miller wrote down the address.
“Vanessa, I need you to stay where you are. Don't contact your mother or Marcus.””
“I'm scared.””
Dad's voice softened.
“If you tell the truth, the authorities can evaluate your cooperation. But you must stop helping them.””
The call ended.
I looked at Daniel's empty chair.
“Where is my husband?””
Miller answered.
“He agreed to meet with investigators this morning.””
“Is he cooperating?””
“Not fully.””
I shook my head.
Of course he wasn't.
A few minutes later, my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
“What?””
“Sarah, I need to see you.””
“Why?””
“Mom has gone too far.””
I almost laughed.
“She went too far when she dragged me by my hair.””
“I know.””
“Then what do you want?””
He lowered his voice.
“I found something in her office. Something about the original investigation.””
“What?””
“A payment ledger.””
My heart started racing.
“Where is it?””
“Mom took it to the storage unit.””
“Which storage unit?””
“Near the old industrial district. I have the address.””
I looked at Dad.
He immediately understood.
“Daniel,” I said, “don't touch anything. Send the address to Detective Miller.””
“I will. But Sarah, there's something else.””
“What?””
“Mom knows you're looking for the envelope. She's planning to destroy the original records.””
Dad reached for the phone.
“Daniel, this is Colonel Williams. Do you know when?””
“Tonight.””
“Who will be there?””
“Marcus, Thomas, and Mom.””
Miller took the phone.
“Mr. Williams, remain available. Investigators will contact you.””
He ended the call.
Dad looked at us.
“We have to act before those records disappear.””
Miller shook his head.
“We cannot simply enter private property without the proper legal authority. I'll contact the investigators handling the financial case and relay the information about possible destruction of evidence.””
Elizabeth, who had joined us earlier, gathered the relevant documents.
“I'll prepare a formal statement and preserve the copies we have.””
I stood up.
“I want to be there.””
Dad immediately shook his head.
“No.””
“Dad, those are my documents.””
“And that's precisely why I won't put you in unnecessary danger.””
“I'm not asking to confront anyone. I want to see the truth for myself.””
He studied my face.
Then he sighed.
“You're becoming just as stubborn as your mother.””
For the first time that morning, I almost smiled.
An hour later, the investigators confirmed that they had obtained authorization to search the storage facility based on the evidence and allegations already documented.
We waited in a nearby office while the team carried out the search.
At 8:43 p.m., Miller received a call.
He listened carefully.
Then his eyebrows rose.
“What did they find?”” Dad asked.
Miller put the phone on speaker.
An investigator's voice came through.
“We located the payment ledger, several original financial statements, and an envelope bearing Sarah Williams's name.””
I covered my mouth.
“Is it the original?””
The investigator paused.
“We believe so.””
Dad leaned forward.
“Was anyone there?””
“Yes. Patricia Williams and Thomas Keller.””
“And Marcus Reed?””
“He left before the team arrived.””
Miller looked at me.
“Sarah, there's another development.””
“What?””
The investigator continued.
“We also found a second ledger. It contains payments to several individuals connected to the original military investigation.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Which individuals?””
A pause.
Then the investigator read the first name.
“Marcus Reed.””
The second.
“Thomas Keller.””
And the third.
“James Miller.””
I turned toward the detective.
He didn't move.
But before anyone could ask a question, the investigator read the fourth name.
“Robert Williams.””
My father slowly sat back.
The ledger suggested that both he and Miller had received payments from the same account.
And suddenly, my mother's warning made sense.
May you like
Thomas Keller had never been working alone.
But the evidence was about to reveal something even worse.
