Chapter 10: The Woman Who Knew My Mother's Last Secret
Martin immediately contacted the court clerk to challenge the fraudulent filing.
My father called the bank again.
Michael sat silently in the corner, staring at the forged signature bearing his name.
But I couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
Daniel Brooks had been trusted by my mother.
He had known about her illness, her inheritance, and her plans for my future.
And now he was trying to take everything.
"How do we find him?"" I asked.
Martin closed his laptop.
"First, we find Patricia Wells. She may know where Daniel keeps the original documents.""
Dad looked at his watch.
"Let's go.""
Martin shook his head.
"Richard, we need to be careful. If Daniel knows we're investigating, he may destroy evidence.""
Michael stood.
"I know where Patricia lives.""
Dad frowned.
"How?""
"Your mother gave me her address years ago. Patricia was the person who helped Evelyn establish the foundation.""
We drove to Savannah that afternoon.
The journey took nearly four hours.
I sat in the passenger seat beside Dad, holding my mother's letter.
For most of the drive, neither of us spoke.
Finally, I asked the question I'd been carrying since the previous night.
"Did you ever think about telling me the truth about Michael?""
Dad kept his eyes on the road.
"Every birthday. Every time you asked about your mother. Every time you looked at a photograph of her.""
"Why didn't you?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of losing me?""
He nodded.
"I'd already lost Evelyn. The thought of losing you too was unbearable.""
I looked out the window.
"I don't know what to think anymore.""
Dad reached across the center console and squeezed my hand.
"You don't have to decide anything today. You're allowed to be angry. You're allowed to ask questions. But I want you to remember that none of this changes how much I love you.""
I nodded.
When we arrived in Savannah, Michael directed us to a quiet residential street lined with old oak trees.
Patricia Wells lived in a white house with a wide porch and blue shutters.
A woman in her late sixties opened the door.
She had silver hair and kind eyes.
When she saw me, she covered her mouth.
"Oh, Evelyn's little girl.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"You knew my mother?""
Patricia nodded.
"I loved her like a sister.""
She invited us inside.
Her living room was filled with photographs.
There were pictures of my mother at charity events, standing beside elderly couples, and holding boxes of donated supplies.
Then I noticed one photograph.
My mother stood beside Patricia, Dad, and a younger Vanessa.
I pointed.
"Why is Vanessa in that picture?""
Patricia's expression darkened.
"Because she was the person who nearly destroyed your mother's foundation.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Tell us everything.""
Patricia sat down.
"Vanessa was hired as an assistant. At first, she was charming. She worked hard and seemed genuinely interested in helping families.""
"What changed?"" I asked.
"Money.""
Patricia explained that the foundation owned several investment properties and had substantial reserves.
Vanessa began requesting access to financial records.
Then money started disappearing.
When Evelyn discovered the irregularities, she confronted Vanessa.
Patricia remembered the argument clearly.
"Your mother told Vanessa she would report everything to the authorities. Vanessa cried and begged for another chance.""
"Why didn't she report her immediately?"" Dad asked.
"Because Vanessa threatened to make a public accusation that Evelyn had been mismanaging the foundation. She knew your mother was already ill. She wanted to destroy her reputation before she could defend herself.""
I felt sick.
"Did Daniel help her?""
Patricia nodded.
"He was supposed to protect the foundation legally. Instead, he helped Vanessa move money through several companies.""
Michael leaned forward.
"Why did Evelyn never tell Richard?""
Patricia looked at Dad.
"She intended to. But Vanessa discovered that Evelyn had changed her will. She became desperate.""
Dad's face tightened.
"What happened next?""
Patricia walked toward a cabinet.
She returned with a small wooden box.
"Your mother gave me this two weeks before she died. She told me to keep it until Emily turned eighteen.""
She placed it on the table.
Inside was a flash drive, a small key, and a handwritten note.
The note read:
Patricia, if Vanessa ever tries to control Emily's inheritance, give her the key. The truth is in the old office.
I looked up.
"What old office?""
Patricia explained that my grandfather had maintained a small office inside the Savannah property.
It had been closed for years.
My mother used it to store original foundation documents.
The key was for its filing cabinet.
Dad examined it.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?""
Patricia's eyes filled.
"Because I received a threatening letter after Evelyn died. Someone told me that if I ever interfered with the family, my grandchildren would be in danger.""
Michael looked stunned.
"Who sent it?""
Patricia shook her head.
"There was no signature.""
I looked at the note again.
My mother had known the truth was hidden there.
"Can we go now?""
Patricia nodded.
But before we left, she took my hand.
"Emily, your mother made me promise something. She said if you ever came looking for answers, I had to tell you one thing.""
"What?""
Patricia looked directly into my eyes.
"She didn't just leave you money. She left you ownership of the foundation itself.""
I froze.
"All of it?""
"Controlling ownership, yes. Your grandfather wanted it to remain in the family, and your mother made sure it would pass to you.""
Dad looked at the papers.
"Then Vanessa wasn't just trying to steal an inheritance.""
Patricia nodded.
"She was trying to take control of an entire organization.""
Just then, my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Stop digging into the past, Emily. Some doors should stay closed.*
Then a second message arrived.
It contained a photograph of Patricia's front porch.
May you like
Taken less than five minutes earlier.
Someone had been watching us.
