Chapter 5: My Uncle Knew I Was Watching
Dad answered the call on speaker.
"Daniel.""
A familiar cheerful voice filled the room.
"Marcus! I've been trying to reach you.""
Dad didn't respond.
Daniel chuckled.
"What's wrong? You sound like somebody died.""
I watched my father's expression.
He looked at the frozen image of my mother on the television.
"Where were you on October twenty-first, six years ago?""
There was a pause.
"What?""
"The night Danielle died. Where were you?""
Daniel sighed.
"Marcus, we've discussed this. I was at home.""
"That's not what the video says.""
Silence.
Then Daniel laughed.
"What video?""
"The garage recording.""
Another pause.
I could hear the faint sound of traffic on Daniel's end.
"Marcus, listen to me. Whatever Ethan has shown you, don't jump to conclusions.""
My uncle knew my name.
He knew exactly why we were asking.
Dad stepped closer to the television.
"Why were you standing beside my wife that night?""
"Your wife?""
"Danielle.""
Daniel exhaled sharply.
"Because she asked me to help her. She was having financial problems and didn't want you involved.""
I almost dropped my phone.
"Financial problems?""
Daniel's voice changed.
"Who's that?""
"Ethan," I answered.
He paused.
"Oh. Hello, son.""
"Don't call me that.""
"Now, don't get emotional. I know you're upset.""
"You stole my mother's money.""
"That's an outrageous accusation.""
"Then explain the six hundred and eighty thousand dollars.""
Another silence.
Then Daniel said something that made my father look at me.
"Marcus, have you been checking your paperwork?""
Dad frowned.
"What paperwork?""
"The transfer documents you signed last week.""
I looked at my father.
He slowly lowered his phone.
"What did you say?""
Daniel continued.
"The documents for Danielle's trust. Vanessa was handling the administrative side. You signed them. The money is being moved according to the agreement.""
Dad's face hardened.
"I never approved taking Ethan's inheritance.""
"You approved the transfer.""
"I thought I was signing documents to protect his money.""
"Well, that's what the documents were for.""
Dad walked toward his office.
"Send me copies. Every single page.""
"Marcus, there's no need to make this difficult.""
"Send them.""
Daniel's voice became colder.
"You're making a serious mistake.""
Dad ended the call.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the ticking of the wall clock.
Then he opened a drawer in his desk and removed a thick folder.
I followed him.
"What are we looking for?""
"The papers Vanessa brought me last week.""
He flipped through the documents.
There were tax forms, insurance statements, and several pages filled with legal language.
Finally, he stopped.
"This is it.""
He held up a document bearing his signature.
At the bottom was a paragraph authorizing the transfer of assets from the Danielle Williams Family Trust.
My name appeared in the middle.
*BENEFICIARY: ETHAN WILLIAMS.*
But beneath it was another line.
*TRANSFER AUTHORIZED TO: WILLIAMS FAMILY HOLDINGS LLC.*
I read it twice.
"What is Williams Family Holdings?""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"I don't know.""
"Your name is on it.""
"I thought these documents were for establishing a protected college fund.""
He turned the page.
His signature appeared again.
Then again.
Some signatures were dated weeks apart.
I pointed to one.
"Dad, you signed this on October 28.""
He nodded.
"I remember. Vanessa said the accountant needed my approval.""
"But the document says you transferred the assets.""
Dad sank into his chair.
"I never read this page.""
I stared at him.
"You signed away my inheritance without reading what you were signing?""
His eyes filled with shame.
"I trusted her.""
I looked at the photograph of my mother still lying beside the desk.
"So did Mom.""
That hurt him more than anything else I could have said.
He picked up his phone and opened the banking app.
After several failed attempts, he found an account statement.
There were multiple transfers from the trust.
The first was for $125,000.
The second was $180,000.
The third was $210,000.
The final transfer was pending.
$165,000.
Together, they totaled $680,000.
Dad looked sick.
"She took everything.""
"Not everything," I said.
He looked up.
"The last transfer hasn't cleared.""
He immediately called the bank.
A representative answered after several minutes.
Dad identified himself and explained that he wanted to freeze the pending transaction.
"Sir, I can place a temporary security hold, but we'll need supporting documents and a fraud investigation.""
"Do it.""
The representative asked him to confirm the account holder's information.
Then she said something that made his face change.
"Mr. Williams, this account has a secondary administrator. Do you authorize that person to continue managing the trust?""
"Who?""
There was a pause.
"Mr. Daniel Williams.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Remove him.""
"Sir, that will require legal authorization from the trust's designated trustee.""
My father stared at the document.
"Then tell me who the designated trustee is.""
The representative read the name.
"According to our records, the trustee was changed on October 28.""
Dad looked at me.
I could see the fear in his eyes.
"To whom?""
The woman replied.
"Ms. Vanessa Williams.""
I felt my stomach turn.
Vanessa wasn't merely spending my mother's money.
She had taken control of the trust itself.
Dad hung up and immediately called Daniel again.
No answer.
Then he called Vanessa.
Her phone was switched off.
I stood beside the desk, unable to stop thinking about the envelope and the photograph.
My mother had hidden the letter because she knew someone would come looking for it.
And now I understood why.
There was something else in the documents.
A name written in the margin of the trust agreement.
*Clara Hayes — Original Estate Attorney.*
I searched the name on Dad's laptop.
An old law firm website appeared.
The office address was still listed in downtown Atlanta.
I clicked the contact page and found a phone number.
Dad dialed.
A receptionist answered.
"Hayes and Associates. How may I help you?""
"My name is Marcus Williams. I'm calling about my late wife, Danielle Williams.""
The woman went quiet.
"May I ask why you're calling?""
"Because I believe her estate was stolen.""
A long pause followed.
May you like
Then the receptionist said something I would never forget.
"Mr. Williams, Ms. Hayes has been waiting six years for someone from your family to contact her.""
