Chapter 8: The Man Who Had Access to Everything
Dad read the name again.
*Richard Cole.*
For a moment, he seemed unable to connect the letters to a person.
Then he gripped the edge of the counter.
“Rich?””
I knew Richard Cole as Dad's closest friend and former business partner. He had attended my high school graduation, brought pizza to our house on Friday nights, and helped Dad repair the fence after a storm.
He had also been the person who drove Dad to the hospital when Grandma died.
Richard had keys to our house because Dad trusted him to check on things whenever we traveled.
He knew where Dad kept important paperwork.
He knew the name of Grandma's attorney.
And he knew I had a college fund.
“That can't be right,” Dad said.
“Rich wouldn't do this.””
Daniel pointed to the email.
“I'm not saying he did. I'm saying his name appears on documents connected to the application.””
Linda folded her arms.
“Richard was helping me organize some paperwork.””
Dad slowly turned toward her.
“You said you handled everything yourself.””
“I didn't want to bother you with estate details.””
“What estate details?””
She looked at the floor.
“Richard understood property management. He offered to help.””
Margaret's expression sharpened.
“Did he prepare the authorization bearing Emily's signature?””
“I don't know.””
“Did he submit the loan application?””
“I don't know!””
Her voice rose, but the fear in her eyes was unmistakable.
Ashley sank into a chair.
“Mom, you told me Richard was helping you buy the SUV.””
Linda looked at her sharply.
“I said he was helping with the financing.””
“You said he had arranged everything.””
Dad pressed his palms against the counter.
“Why was Richard involved in buying Ashley a car?””
Linda swallowed.
“Because he knew a dealership that could offer a good price.””
Daniel examined the bank statements again.
“Then we need to establish whether the dealership received the funds directly, and whether any of the transferred money went elsewhere.””
I thought about the SUV sitting outside.
Its polished black paint reflected the morning sunlight. Ashley had been so proud of it the day it arrived. She had taken photographs in front of our house and posted them online with the caption Finally, something good is happening for me.
Now she stared at her phone as if it had become a dangerous object.
“I want to call Richard,” she said.
Dad shook his head.
“Not yet.””
“Why not?””
“Because we don't know what he knows. If he's involved, calling him could give him time to destroy evidence.””
Ashley looked devastated.
“He was always nice to me.””
“So was Linda,” I said quietly.
She looked at me.
I immediately regretted the words, but I didn't take them back.
Ashley had helped her mother lie. She had accepted the car without asking enough questions. But she had also admitted what she knew, and the fear in her face seemed genuine.
“I didn't know about the forged signature,” she whispered.
“I swear.””
“I believe you didn't know everything,” I replied.
“But you knew something wasn't right.””
She lowered her head.
“I know.””
Margaret placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“Emily, you don't have to decide what you believe about everyone today. Let the evidence speak.””
Daniel photographed the documents and made arrangements to preserve the original records. He advised Dad not to confront Richard until the attorney and authorities had reviewed the information.
But before anyone could make another call, Dad's phone rang.
Richard's name appeared on the screen.
We all stared at it.
Dad answered and put the call on speaker.
“Rich.””
“Mike, buddy. Everything okay?””
Richard sounded cheerful. I could hear traffic in the background.
Dad glanced at Daniel.
“Not particularly. We have some questions about paperwork connected to Eleanor's property.””
There was a pause.
“What paperwork?””
“A loan application using my name.””
Another pause, longer this time.
Then Richard chuckled.
“Sounds like a clerical error. These property companies make mistakes all the time.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Why does your name appear on documents connected to the application?””
Silence.
“Mike, I think you should calm down. I can explain everything in person.””
“Where are you?””
“At the office.””
“Stay there. I'm coming over.””
“Actually, I'm heading out.””
Dad's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Rich, don't hang up.””
Richard sighed.
“Look, I did Linda a favor. That's all. She told me you knew about the arrangement.””
Dad looked at Linda.
She had gone completely still.
“What arrangement?”” Dad asked.
Richard's voice dropped.
“The trust transfer. The property release. She said it was all approved.””
Margaret leaned toward the phone.
“Richard Cole, this is Margaret Hayes. Did you witness Emily Carter signing the authorization?””
The line went silent.
Then Richard said, “I don't know what you're talking about.””
“You are named as the witness.””
“I didn't prepare that document.””
“Did you witness the signature?””
“I have to go.””
The call ended.
Dad stared at the phone.
For several seconds, the only sound was the refrigerator humming.
Then Ashley began to cry.
“He lied to us, too.””
Daniel gathered the paperwork.
“We need to move quickly. The application may not have been approved, but someone has attempted to use Michael's identity and the property as collateral. We should notify the lender and make a formal report.””
Dad nodded.
“Do whatever you need to do.””
Linda suddenly sat down.
“I didn't know he would go this far.””
Everyone turned toward her.
Dad's voice was dangerously quiet.
“What did you know?””
Linda rubbed her face.
“Richard told me he could help me access the property funds. He said the college account could be replenished afterward.””
“You knew about the loan?””
“I thought it was a temporary arrangement!””
“You knew my identity was being used?””
She didn't answer.
Dad stepped away from the counter.
“I want you out of this house.””
Linda stared at him.
“Michael—”
“Pack your things. You can stay somewhere else while we sort this out.””
“Please don't do this.””
“You tried to slap my daughter. You stole from her. You lied to me about her inheritance. And now you've admitted knowing about a loan application using my name.””
“I didn't know it was illegal!””
“Then you should have asked questions before you signed anything.””
Linda's face crumpled.
Ashley stood and picked up her keys.
“I'm coming with you, Mom.””
Dad looked at her, pain crossing his face.
“You don't have to leave.””
“I know. But I need to understand what happened, and I can't do that if everyone is yelling.””
She turned toward me.
“I'm sorry, Emily.””
I nodded, unable to speak.
After Linda and Ashley left, Dad sat alone at the kitchen table.
I poured him a cup of coffee.
He looked up at me with red eyes.
“I should have protected you.””
I sat beside him.
“Yes,” I said.
“You should have.””
He flinched, but he didn't argue.
For the first time, I could see that he understood an apology wouldn't undo what had happened.
Then Daniel returned from the hallway with his phone pressed to his ear.
He listened for a moment before looking at us.
“The lender has just confirmed something important,” he said.
“The loan application was withdrawn yesterday morning.””
Dad frowned.
“By whom?””
Daniel lowered the phone.
“By the applicant himself.””
He turned the screen toward us.
The withdrawal had been signed electronically.
And the account used to authorize it belonged to Richard Cole.
But the withdrawal wasn't what made Daniel look frightened.
It was the note attached to the file.
Application withdrawn pending transfer of alternate collateral.
May you like
Someone had already prepared a second plan.
And according to the timestamp, it had been submitted less than an hour ago.
