Chapter 9: The Woman in the Bank Footage
The photograph Melissa sent me became the center of our investigation.
I forwarded it to Robert immediately.
He called within minutes.
"Don't contact your mother or Daniel about this document.""
"I wasn't planning to.""
"Good. The date is extremely important. If it was submitted to a bank, we need to establish who prepared it and who benefited.""
I zoomed in on the photograph.
The paper looked old, but the signature was unmistakable.
My father's name appeared at the bottom.
The date was six years after his death.
"Robert, is there any chance someone created this document recently?""
"That's possible. But the handwriting, paper, ink, and submission records will need to be examined.""
"Can we ask Melissa where she found it?""
"Not yet. Let me review what we have first.""
The following afternoon, Robert received confirmation from the bank.
Security footage from the original $12,800 withdrawal had been preserved.
The bank had also supplied copies of the supporting paperwork.
We met in his office at three.
A technician opened the video file.
The footage showed the bank's customer service area.
A man entered carrying a brown folder.
He wore a dark jacket and a baseball cap.
Even before he removed the cap, I recognized him.
Daniel.
He approached the counter and handed the employee several documents.
The employee examined them.
Daniel pointed to something on the first page.
Then he signed a receipt.
Robert paused the footage.
"That's your brother-in-law?""
"Yes.""
"Are you certain?""
"Absolutely.""
We continued watching.
Daniel received a small envelope and walked toward the exit.
But just before he left, someone approached him.
A woman.
She wore a beige coat and carried a large handbag.
Daniel handed her the brown folder.
She opened it briefly, examined the papers, and nodded.
Then they walked out together.
The technician zoomed in.
I leaned toward the screen.
The woman's face became clearer.
My stomach dropped.
It was my mother.
"That's Patricia Bennett," Robert said.
I nodded.
"Yes.""
The footage continued.
Before leaving, my mother turned toward the bank's security camera.
For a fraction of a second, she looked directly into it.
Then she smiled.
I felt sick.
Robert paused the recording.
"This is significant. It places both individuals at the bank during the transaction.""
"Can you identify what was inside the folder?""
"Not from the footage alone. But the bank has retained the original submission documents.""
He opened another file.
It contained a scanned medical invoice.
The patient name was Riley Bennett.
The amount was $12,800.
The hospital name was printed across the top.
But the address was incorrect.
The hospital's actual address was in a different part of Charlotte.
Robert pointed to the physician's signature.
"Do you recognize this name?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"We've contacted the hospital's records department. They have no record of this physician treating Riley.""
I leaned back.
"So the invoice was fabricated.""
"That is the preliminary indication.""
He opened the next page.
It was a medical consent form.
At the bottom was my father's signature.
The document examiner had already identified irregularities.
The signature appeared to have been copied from an older estate document.
Robert looked at me.
"There's another problem. The authorization also includes a witness signature.""
"Whose?""
He enlarged the page.
I recognized the handwriting.
It belonged to Melissa.
I stared at the screen.
"She signed this?""
"It appears so.""
I felt my chest tighten.
The same sister who had claimed she didn't know about the medical paperwork had signed as a witness.
Robert closed the file.
"We need to speak with her again.""
That evening, Melissa arrived at our house.
Paige answered the door.
"Melissa, what are you doing here?""
"I need to speak to Connor.""
I walked into the hallway.
"What happened?""
She looked frightened.
"Daniel knows you have the bank footage.""
I didn't answer.
"He said Mom is going to blame everything on him.""
I folded my arms.
"Did you sign Riley's medical authorization?""
Melissa began crying.
"Yes.""
The admission hit me harder than I expected.
"Why?""
"Daniel told me it was just paperwork. He said Mom had already paid for the medical expenses and needed a witness.""
"Did you read it?""
She shook her head.
"Connor, I swear I didn't know there was a fake surgery.""
"Your signature is on a document claiming Riley had an operation.""
"I know.""
"How could you sign something involving your niece without checking what it said?""
She covered her face.
"I was stupid. I trusted Daniel.""
Paige stepped forward.
"Did you receive any of the money?""
Melissa looked down.
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"Daniel said it was reimbursement for expenses Mom had paid for us.""
"How much, Melissa?""
She whispered:
"About eighteen thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Did you know it came from Emma and Riley's inheritance?""
"No. Not at first.""
"And when did you find out?""
She began sobbing.
"Last month.""
The room became completely silent.
"Last month?"" I repeated.
Melissa nodded.
"Mom told me after the restaurant dinner. She said you were becoming suspicious and that we needed to stick together.""
My jaw tightened.
"So when I asked you about the money, you already knew?""
She nodded again.
I stepped away from her.
"Why did you lie?""
"Because Daniel told me we could all go to prison if I admitted what happened.""
Paige looked horrified.
"Melissa, you signed a document using your niece's name. You understand how serious that is?""
"I know.""
I turned toward her.
"Are you still planning to testify that Dad was pressured into changing the trust?""
Melissa shook her head.
"No.""
"Then you need to tell Robert everything. Every payment. Every document. Every conversation.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I will.""
Before she left, she turned toward me.
"Connor, there's something else Mom told Daniel.""
I waited.
"She said the money wasn't supposed to stop with the trust. She said there was another account your father had created, and if you ever found it, everything would fall apart.""
I felt a chill run down my spine.
"What account?""
"I don't know. But Daniel has been looking for it.""
My phone rang.
Robert.
I answered.
"Connor, we have a problem.""
"What happened?""
"Your mother's attorney has just submitted a new document to the probate court.""
"What document?""
"A sworn statement claiming that your father transferred the remaining trust assets to Melissa before he died.""
I closed my eyes.
"That's impossible.""
"I know. But there's something else.""
"What?""
Robert's voice became unusually serious.
"The statement includes a witness signature from someone who claims to have been present when your father made the transfer.""
"Who?""
There was a pause.
Then Robert answered.
"Your mother.""
I looked at Melissa.
She had gone completely pale.
Because she had just admitted that my father never authorized the transfers.
May you like
And now my mother was preparing to swear under oath that he had.
*Worse, the document was accompanied by a bank receipt showing that the supposed transfer had been completed before my father died.*
