Chapter 4: The Letter My Mother Hid
"Michael, you weren't supposed to find that letter.""
Vanessa's words hung in the living room.
Nobody moved.
Richard slowly lowered the document in his hands and looked at her.
"What exactly do you mean by that, Mrs. Carter?""
Vanessa blinked.
"I meant the letter was private. Laura and I had disagreements before she died.""
Dad stared at her.
"You barely knew Laura.""
"That's not true.""
"You met her twice.""
Vanessa's lips tightened.
I looked down at the photograph again. My mother was holding me in her arms, smiling at the camera. She wore the little silver necklace I remembered from my childhood.
On the back, beneath her warning, was another line written in smaller handwriting.
*The second account is not what they think it is.*
I turned the photograph toward Richard.
"What's the second account?""
He examined the handwriting.
"Emily, your mother established two separate financial arrangements. I knew about the primary trust, but I wasn't aware of another account.""
Dad frowned.
"Laura never mentioned a second account to me.""
Richard opened his briefcase again.
"Then we need to review the original estate documents.""
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
"There's nothing to review. Laura was sick. She wasn't thinking clearly toward the end.""
I looked at her.
"Don't talk about my mother like that.""
She ignored me.
"Michael, please. You're allowing a dead woman's paranoia to destroy our family.""
Dad stood.
"Be careful.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"I have done everything for this family. I took care of Emily when you were traveling. I cooked, cleaned, managed the house, and made sure she had everything.""
"You put her in a freezing garage.""
"Four nights!""
"Four nights too many.""
Brittany stepped between them.
"Mom was trying to keep things organized. Emily has always been obsessed with her mother's belongings.""
I looked at her.
"They were my mother's belongings. Of course I care about them.""
Brittany rolled her eyes.
"You're sixteen. You don't even understand money.""
Richard interrupted.
"Actually, Emily has a legal interest in understanding every transaction involving her trust.""
He removed another document.
"There's a serious issue here. Someone attempted to alter the beneficiary instructions three months ago.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Alter them how?""
Richard pointed to a paragraph.
"The original trust named Emily as the sole beneficiary. The amended version added a second beneficiary.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Who?""
Richard turned the page.
*Brittany Mitchell.*
Brittany's mouth fell open.
"Wait. What?""
Vanessa immediately stepped toward Richard.
"That amendment was discussed with Michael.""
Dad looked at her.
"I never approved that.""
"You agreed that Brittany deserved financial security.""
"I said I'd help her find a job.""
Vanessa's voice rose.
"You promised to treat her like your own daughter!""
Dad slammed his palm against the table.
"That doesn't give you permission to steal from mine!""
The room went silent.
Richard examined the amendment more closely.
"There's another problem. The signature on this document appears to have been witnessed by a notary whose commission expired before the signing date.""
Vanessa sat down abruptly.
Dad looked at Richard.
"Can we challenge it?""
"Yes. But I need the original document, not just this copy.""
Richard turned toward Vanessa.
"Where is it?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Brittany suddenly stood.
"Mom, stop.""
Vanessa looked at her.
"Sit down.""
"No. You told me everything was legal.""
"BRITTANY!""
The young woman stepped backward.
"I didn't know about the forged signatures. You said Dad agreed to everything.""
Dad stared at her.
"Agreed to what?""
Brittany looked between us.
Then she whispered, "The money was supposed to be ours.""
My heart pounded.
Richard immediately wrote something in his notebook.
Dad walked toward the staircase.
"Where is the original jewelry box?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
He turned toward Brittany.
"Where?""
Brittany swallowed.
"In my bedroom.""
Dad started upstairs.
I followed him, despite Richard telling me to sit down.
Brittany's room looked nothing like my old bedroom anymore. My lavender curtains had been replaced with expensive white ones. My mother's furniture had been rearranged, and several of her belongings were displayed like decorations.
The jewelry box sat on Brittany's dresser.
Its brass lock was broken.
Dad picked it up carefully.
"Who opened this?""
Brittany shook her head.
"Mom did.""
Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
"Michael, put that down.""
He opened the lid.
The velvet compartments were empty.
The small locked compartment had been forced open.
Dad's hands began trembling.
"Where are the papers?""
Vanessa looked away.
Richard entered behind us.
"Mrs. Carter, if you removed estate documents, I strongly recommend you tell us where they are.""
Vanessa stared at the floor.
Then she finally spoke.
"I gave them to someone.""
"Who?"" Dad demanded.
She lifted her eyes.
And the name she gave wasn't one any of us expected.
"Laura's sister.""
My father froze.
My aunt Rebecca had been estranged from our family for almost six years.
She hadn't attended my mother's funeral.
She hadn't called on my birthday.
And according to Dad, she had moved overseas shortly after Mom died.
Richard slowly closed his briefcase.
"Michael, we have a much bigger problem than a stolen trust.""
He looked at me.
"Your aunt may be the only person who knows where your mother's original documents are.""
Then Dad's phone rang.
May you like
The caller ID displayed a number he hadn't seen in years.
*REBECCA CARTER.*
