Chapter 7: The Name I Never Expected to See
I read the handwritten note again.
Then I read the name beneath it.
Eleanor Hayes.
My mother.
For several seconds, the room seemed to disappear around me.
My mother had been dead for three years. She had raised me alone after my father spent most of his time building his company. She had held my hand at my wedding, carried Sophie around the hospital nursery, and cried when I told her I was going to become a father.
She had also been the person who taught me never to trust people who wanted something from me.
And now her name was sitting in front of me on a document connected to my attempted murder.
"Richard," I whispered.
"What is this?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"I was hoping you wouldn't notice that page.""
I raised my eyes.
"That's my mother's handwriting.""
"I know.""
"Explain.""
Richard rubbed his face.
"Your mother was involved in the original agreement. She wanted the company transferred before your father died.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible. She died three years before my accident.""
"She made arrangements before she passed.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"Richard, you promised you wouldn't bring that up.""
He laughed.
"Apparently, promises aren't worth much in this family.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"What arrangements?""
She looked at me with exhausted eyes.
"Your mother believed your father had made a mistake leaving everything to you.""
"Why?""
"Because she thought you were too trusting.""
I almost laughed.
"She thought I was too trusting?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She believed Richard understood business better than you did. She wanted him to manage the company.""
"Then why didn't she simply tell me?""
"Because you would have refused.""
I stared at the document.
There were several signatures, dates, and handwritten instructions.
One line was underlined twice.
*The son must remain unaware until the transfer is complete.*
My stomach tightened.
I remembered my mother's final months.
She had called me almost every evening. She had asked about my business, my marriage, and Sophie.
One evening, she had even warned me about Vanessa.
"Michael, sweetheart," she had said, "never let anyone make you feel guilty for protecting what your father built.""
At the time, I thought she was simply being protective.
Now I wondered whether she had known something.
I pulled out my phone and called Thomas Reed.
He answered immediately.
"Michael, I was about to call you.""
"Did my mother know about the trust arrangements?""
There was a pause.
"Yes.""
"Was she involved in a transfer agreement with Richard?""
Another pause.
"Where did you find that document?""
"Richard brought it.""
Thomas exhaled.
"Your mother contacted my office shortly before she died. She asked whether the trust could be changed to give Richard temporary management authority.""
"Could it?""
"No. Your father had made the trust irrevocable.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did she know that?""
"Yes. I explained it to her personally.""
I looked at Richard.
He was watching me carefully.
Thomas continued.
"Michael, there's something I never told you because I didn't think it was relevant at the time. Your mother left an envelope with my office. She instructed me to give it to you only if someone attempted to interfere with your inheritance.""
My heart began pounding.
"What's inside?""
"A letter. And a small USB drive.""
"Can you bring it?""
"I can have it delivered to your attorney's office. But I need to warn you. The contents are disturbing.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"More disturbing than this?""
Thomas was silent.
Then he said, "Possibly.""
The call ended.
Richard suddenly moved toward the front door.
I stepped into his path.
"Where are you going?""
"I'm done here.""
"Not until the police arrive.""
His face darkened.
"You think they'll believe you?""
I looked at the medical bag, the documents, and the prescription photograph on Sophie's tablet.
"I think they'll have plenty to investigate.""
Richard laughed.
"You still don't understand, Michael. Your father wasn't the only person who wanted control of that company.""
He glanced at Vanessa.
"Ask her who introduced us to Dr. Harrison.""
Vanessa looked up sharply.
"Richard, don't.""
I turned toward her.
"Who?""
She started shaking her head.
Richard smiled.
"Your mother.""
I felt as if someone had punched me.
"That's a lie.""
"Ask the doctor.""
Dr. Harrison looked uncomfortable.
I turned toward him.
"Did my mother know you?""
He slowly nodded.
"She was the person who introduced me to Richard.""
"Why?""
"She said your family needed someone who could manage your medical care if something happened.""
I stared at him.
"Before the accident?""
He nodded again.
"Months before.""
The front door suddenly opened wider.
Two police officers entered.
Behind them stood a woman in a dark business suit.
She introduced herself as Detective Laura Bennett.
"Mr. Hayes? We received a report involving suspected poisoning and child assault.""
I nodded.
"Yes. Everything is inside.""
She looked around the hallway.
Then her eyes landed on Richard.
"Mr. Reed?""
Richard's face changed.
"Do I know you?""
Detective Bennett opened a folder.
"Not personally. But we've been looking for you.""
Richard went completely still.
She turned toward me.
"Mr. Hayes, there's something you should know. Your brother-in-law isn't the first person connected to your family we've investigated.""
She opened another page.
"The financial records indicate that someone has been transferring money from your father's company for years.""
I swallowed.
"Who?""
Detective Bennett looked toward the folder on the coffee table.
May you like
Then she said:
"The person who approved the original transfers was your mother.""
