Chapter 8: The Man Behind the Fraud
At 9:45 the following morning, Rebecca and I arrived at a downtown office building.
The meeting with Michael Carter had been arranged through our attorneys.
I wasn't going alone.
Rebecca had also contacted an investigator who was reviewing the documents connected to my father's estate.
Michael was waiting in a small conference room.
He looked to be in his late fifties, with silver hair and a carefully pressed suit.
The moment I entered, he stood.
"Mrs. Brooks.""
"Who are you?""
He glanced at Rebecca before sitting down.
"My name is Michael Carter. I worked with Patricia Brooks for several years.""
"Doing what?""
"Property acquisitions. Loan arrangements. Private investments.""
I placed the photograph of my father on the table.
"Why was this in my husband's briefcase?""
Michael studied it.
Then he exhaled.
"Because Daniel recently asked me to recreate a document connected to your father's estate.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Recreate?""
Michael shifted in his chair.
"Patricia wanted a new authorization showing that the original transfer had been properly witnessed.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Why?""
"Because the original paperwork had problems.""
"What problems?""
He opened his briefcase and removed a folder.
"Your father owned a commercial property worth approximately $410,000. Shortly before his death, Patricia arranged for it to be transferred to an investment company.""
"Without my permission?""
"At the time, the company claimed your father had authorized the transaction.""
I stared at him.
"He was dying in a hospital.""
Michael nodded.
"I know.""
Rebecca interrupted.
"Mr. Carter, are you saying you personally witnessed a fraudulent transfer?""
He looked down.
"I didn't witness the original signature. I prepared the paperwork afterward.""
"Why?""
"Because Patricia told me everything had been approved.""
I almost stood.
"Then why did you message me telling me my father didn't know what he was signing?""
Michael looked directly at me.
"Because I eventually discovered the truth.""
He slid another document across the table.
It was a bank statement from eleven years earlier.
A payment of $180,000 had been transferred from the investment company to an account controlled by Patricia.
Another $90,000 had gone to a company associated with Daniel.
I stared at the figures.
"Daniel was involved?""
Michael nodded.
"He was younger, but he helped establish the accounts.""
Rebecca examined the statement.
"Do you have evidence connecting these transfers to the property sale?""
"I have copies of the original closing records.""
He removed another sheet.
The buyer had paid $410,000.
But only $120,000 had ever reached the estate account.
I looked at him.
"Where did the rest go?""
Michael swallowed.
"Patricia and Daniel divided it through several business accounts.""
My hands began shaking.
My father's property had been sold without his proper authorization, and most of the proceeds had disappeared.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Patricia said you had signed an agreement giving her authority to manage the estate.""
"I never signed that.""
"I believe you.""
Rebecca immediately asked Michael for the original documents.
He hesitated.
"There's something else.""
"What?"" I asked.
"Daniel recently contacted me about your house.""
I leaned forward.
"What did he want?""
"He wanted a new valuation and a second set of transfer documents. He said you were planning to move out and had agreed to sell.""
"That's a lie.""
"I know.""
Michael opened the folder again.
"He also asked me to prepare an affidavit stating that you had authorized him to manage your property.""
Rebecca's expression hardened.
"Did you prepare it?""
"No. I refused.""
"Why did Patricia's name appear on the previous documents?""
Michael looked uncomfortable.
"She was involved in the arrangement. She had access to your personal records.""
I remembered the times Patricia had visited our house while I was working.
The times she'd offered to organize my paperwork.
The occasions when she'd taken photographs of documents for what she called insurance purposes.
I felt sick.
"How long has she been planning this?""
Michael didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"Longer than your marriage.""
The room went silent.
He removed one final document.
It was a handwritten note.
I recognized Patricia's handwriting from the birthday cards she sent every Christmas.
The note read:
*Once Sarah signs the transfer, Daniel can complete the sale. Keep Vanessa out of the paperwork until everything is finalized.*
Below it was another sentence.
*The baby will make the arrangement easier to explain.*
I looked up.
"What arrangement?""
Michael shifted uncomfortably.
"Daniel was planning to claim that the house was being transferred to support his new family after your separation.""
Rebecca closed the folder.
"Mr. Carter, we'll need certified copies of everything.""
He nodded.
Then he looked at me.
"There's one more reason I agreed to meet you.""
"What?""
"Your father knew Patricia was taking money from the property sale.""
I felt my breath catch.
"How?""
"Because he confronted her.""
Michael reached into his briefcase and produced a small envelope.
"Your father gave this to me shortly before he died. He asked me to keep it until you needed to know the truth.""
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a short handwritten letter.
The first sentence made my eyes fill with tears.
*My darling Sarah, if you're reading this, something has happened that I was too afraid to tell you while I was alive.*
I stopped reading.
Rebecca gently touched my arm.
"Take your time.""
I looked down again.
The next paragraph mentioned Patricia.
Then Daniel.
And finally, a name I had never expected to see.
Vanessa Miller.
I looked up.
"Why is Vanessa's name in my father's letter?""
May you like
Michael's face went pale.
"Because she isn't a stranger to this family.""
