Chapter 4: The Woman Holding My Mother's Death Certificate
My father didn't open the door immediately.
He stood in the foyer, staring at the security monitor as though the people outside had come to collect something he had buried years ago.
Uncle Daniel pressed the doorbell again.
"Marcus! I know you're in there!""
Dad looked at me.
"Stay behind me, Ethan.""
I almost laughed.
Three hours earlier, he'd punched me without asking a single question. Now he wanted to protect me.
I followed him anyway.
When he opened the door, Daniel stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. He wore a navy suit, polished shoes, and the same expensive watch he'd worn to my mother's funeral.
The woman beside him introduced herself.
"Marcus, I'm Patricia Reynolds. I was Danielle's estate attorney.""
I recognized her immediately.
She had been the woman who sat beside me at the funeral and told me my mother had loved me more than anything in the world.
Daniel placed his briefcase on the console table.
"We need to settle this privately.""
Dad folded his arms.
"Why? Afraid the cameras might record something?""
Daniel's eyes flicked toward the staircase.
For the first time, he looked uncomfortable.
Vanessa came downstairs, holding a glass of water.
"Daniel, thank goodness you're here.""
He barely acknowledged her.
"Where's the footage?""
I stepped forward.
"That's an interesting question. Why do you want to know?""
Daniel looked at me with irritation.
"Ethan, this situation is far beyond your understanding.""
"My mother's money has my name on it. Her death has my name on it. I think I understand enough.""
Patricia opened her briefcase.
"Perhaps we should start with the documents.""
She removed a thick folder and placed it on the table.
Dad picked up the first page.
His face changed.
"What is this?""
"A copy of the original estate authorization," Patricia answered.
"It was signed six weeks before Danielle's death.""
Dad scanned the page.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Why does this document say I authorized the transfer of Ethan's trust?""
Daniel pulled out a chair.
"Because you did.""
"I never signed this.""
"You were under considerable stress at the time.""
"I NEVER SIGNED THIS!""
Daniel raised both hands.
"Marcus, lower your voice. We can resolve this without making accusations.""
I leaned over the table.
The signature looked like Dad's, but something was wrong.
The last name had an unusually long final stroke.
Dad always signed his name with a short, sharp underline.
"This isn't his signature," I said.
Patricia looked at me.
"You're observant.""
Daniel immediately snapped, "He's eighteen. He doesn't know anything about legal documents.""
Patricia ignored him.
"I've been investigating discrepancies in Danielle's estate for several months. This document is one of the reasons I came here.""
Dad stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I received a threatening letter shortly after requesting the original trust records.""
"From whom?""
Patricia looked directly at Daniel.
"Your brother's attorney.""
The room became silent.
Daniel stood.
"This meeting is over.""
Dad blocked his path.
"You're not leaving until you tell me what happened to my wife.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You should be careful, Marcus. You have a mortgage, a business, and a son whose future could be affected by what you say next.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Are you threatening us?""
Daniel looked at me.
"No, Ethan. I'm explaining reality.""
Patricia closed the folder.
"Daniel, I'd advise you to stop speaking.""
He turned toward her.
"You work for me.""
"No," she replied.
"I worked for Danielle.""
She removed another envelope.
"This was delivered to my office three days after Danielle died. I was instructed to give it to Ethan when he turned eighteen.""
My heart began pounding.
Dad looked confused.
"Why would Danielle leave something specifically for him?""
Patricia handed me the envelope.
My name was written across the front in my mother's handwriting.
Ethan.
I hadn't seen her handwriting in three years.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Mom holding me when I was a baby, a small silver key, and a folded letter.
I unfolded the paper.
My precious Ethan,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I desperately hoped would never happen. There are people around your father who cannot be trusted.
I have protected something for you. Not money. Not property. Something much more important.
Never let Daniel convince you that my death was an accident.
I stopped reading.
Dad covered his mouth.
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
"Give me that letter.""
I pulled it against my chest.
"Why?""
"Because it's private family business.""
Patricia stood between us.
"Mrs. Williams, I strongly recommend you step away.""
Vanessa looked furious.
Then she turned toward Daniel.
He gave her a tiny nod.
It was almost invisible.
But I saw it.
So did Dad.
"What was that?"" Dad asked.
Neither answered.
Patricia pointed to the silver key in my hand.
"Danielle told me that key would make sense once Ethan received the letter.""
"What's it for?"" I asked.
"She never told me. She only said it belonged to a storage facility.""
Daniel suddenly grabbed his briefcase.
"Marcus, listen to me. Whatever you think you've discovered, you have no idea what you're getting into.""
Dad stepped aside.
"Get out.""
Daniel stared at him.
"You're making a serious mistake.""
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!""
Daniel walked toward the door.
But before leaving, he turned toward me.
His voice dropped.
"Your mother made the same mistake.""
Then he walked away.
Patricia remained in the foyer.
She looked at the letter in my hand.
"Ethan, there's something else your mother wanted me to tell you.""
"What?""
Patricia glanced toward Vanessa.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Your mother didn't die alone. Someone was in the car with her.""
