Chapter 7: The Man Who Knew My Mother's Secret
At seven the next morning, my father's attorney arrived carrying a leather briefcase and the expression of a man who had already received terrible news.
His name was Michael Reeves. He had represented my father for nearly fifteen years and had handled my mother's estate after her death. When he entered the living room and saw the documents spread across the coffee table, he didn't bother with pleasantries.
“Richard, tell me nobody has signed anything since last night.””
“Nobody has,” Dad replied.
“But someone attempted to transfer Emily's beneficial interest in the family holding company.””
Michael removed his glasses.
“Attempted?””
He examined the document bearing my forged signature, then compared it with the copy of my mother's trust agreement. His expression grew darker with every page.
“Emily, have you ever authorized anyone to act on your behalf financially?””
“No.””
“Have you ever met Grant Mercer?””
“No.””
Michael turned to my father.
“Then we have two separate problems. The attempted transfer of Emily's interest and the unauthorized loan secured against company assets.””
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“Can either transaction be completed without her consent?””
“Not lawfully. But someone has gone to considerable effort to make it appear that she consented.””
Michael placed the papers into separate folders.
“I'll contact the relevant institutions, notify them of the suspected fraud, and request that all pending transactions be frozen. We also need to establish how these documents were prepared and submitted.””
From the sofa, Vanessa gave a bitter laugh.
“You're treating this like some elaborate criminal operation. Grant was helping me solve a financial problem.””
Michael looked at her.
“Mrs. Bennett, did you knowingly submit a document containing a forged signature?””
“I didn't forge anything.””
“Did you know the signature wasn't Emily's?””
Vanessa stared at him.
“I knew she hadn't signed it herself.””
The words landed like a slap.
Dad slowly turned toward her.
“You knew?””
Vanessa's face crumpled.
“I was told it was a preliminary document. Grant said the signature could be regularized later.””
Michael's voice became colder.
“Who told you that?””
“Grant.””
“Do you have written correspondence?””
She hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
Vanessa looked toward the stairs.
“In my bedroom.””
Michael asked Peter to retrieve the material with Vanessa's cooperation. After several minutes, Peter returned with a tablet and a small black notebook.
Michael reviewed the messages on the tablet.
Then he stopped.
“Richard, you need to see this.””
Dad leaned over.
The message was dated three weeks earlier.
Grant had written: Once the trust interest is transferred, the remaining obstacle is the original beneficiary designation. Mercer Capital already has a copy of the 2016 amendment. Don't discuss it with Emily.
Dad read it twice.
“What beneficiary designation?””
Michael looked at me.
“Emily, your mother executed several estate documents in 2016. I handled some of them, but another attorney prepared a separate amendment relating to the family holding company.””
“Why haven't I heard about it?””
“Because it was intended to take effect under specific circumstances. Your mother requested that it remain confidential until the trust matured or you needed to exercise your rights.””
Dad looked stunned.
“You never told me about another amendment.””
Michael shook his head.
“Your wife was entitled to establish independent arrangements for her property. I wasn't authorized to disclose every private instruction she gave me.””
I stared at the message.
“What does it mean that Grant has a copy?””
Michael didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he opened his briefcase and removed an older file.
“Your mother had concerns about the company's future ownership. Before she died, she arranged for an independent review of the holding structure. She wanted to ensure that nobody could force a transfer of your interest without your informed consent.””
“Why would she expect someone to try?””
“Because she understood that wealth can attract people whose intentions aren't always honorable.””
My gaze drifted toward Vanessa.
She sat motionless, staring at the tablet.
Michael continued.
“The amendment may contain a safeguard that makes the attempted transfer more complicated than Grant expected. I need to retrieve the original before I can tell you exactly what it does.””
Dad stood.
“Where is it?””
“In a secure archive maintained by my former partner. I'll contact him this morning.””
Vanessa suddenly lifted her head.
“You can't access that document.””
Michael looked at her.
“Why not?””
“Because it's private.””
“So is Emily's inheritance.””
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
Michael returned to the messages.
“There's another problem. Grant has been communicating with someone inside Bennett Construction. Someone supplied him with internal financial information.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Who?””
“We don't know yet. But the messages refer to company valuations that were never made public.””
Peter stepped forward.
“I can review the access logs. Only a handful of people had permission to retrieve those reports.””
Dad nodded.
“Do it.””
At that moment, my phone vibrated.
Daniel had gone to the hotel to coordinate with the wedding planner, hoping we could still hold the ceremony. His message read:
The bridal shop owner says she can bring three replacement dresses to the hotel. We'll figure out the rest together.
I smiled despite everything.
Then another message appeared from an unknown number.
Ask your father who paid for your mother's final hospital bills. Ask him why the trust was amended after she died.
My fingers went cold.
I showed the screen to Michael.
He read it, then handed the phone to my father.
Dad's face changed.
“Where did you get this?”” he whispered.
“I don't know. It's an unknown number.””
He stared at the message for several seconds before looking at Michael.
“The hospital bills were paid through the family account. Everything was settled.””
“Then why would someone send this?”” I asked.
Dad didn't answer.
Michael took out his phone.
“Don't respond. I'll have the message preserved and ask our investigator to trace what can be traced.””
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“I told you this would happen.””
Dad turned toward her.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at me, and for the first time since I had known her, I saw something that resembled genuine fear.
“Your mother didn't just leave you money, Emily.””
She swallowed.
“She left you something that could destroy everyone involved.””
Before anyone could ask another question, Michael's phone rang.
He listened, his expression tightening.
Then he slowly lowered it.
“I've just spoken to my former partner,” he said.
“The original amendment is missing from the archive.””
Dad went pale.
“Missing?””
Michael nodded.
“And according to the access records, someone requested the file six months ago.””
May you like
He looked directly at Vanessa.
“The request was made under your name.””
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