Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew My Mother First
Vanessa refused to explain herself inside the studio.
She insisted that Rachel had misunderstood the letter and that the documents were being taken out of context.
But when Rachel asked her to identify the $25,000 check, Vanessa suddenly became very interested in leaving.
"Those are private family records," she said.
Rachel calmly replied, "They're records concerning a disputed trust and a property transfer. We will preserve them as evidence.""
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Emily, don't let this woman convince you that your father is some kind of criminal.""
I held the blue ledger against my chest.
"Then tell me why Mom wrote that he was stealing from her.""
"Your mother was ill.""
"She was still alive when she wrote those entries.""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"People make mistakes when they're frightened.""
"Was she frightened of Dad?""
Vanessa looked away.
For the first time, I saw something other than anger in her expression.
It looked like guilt.
Rachel stepped between us.
"Mrs. Carter, any further discussion should take place through counsel.""
Vanessa adjusted her coat.
"Fine. But Emily should know that opening old wounds won't bring her mother back.""
Then she walked out.
I stood in the empty studio, staring at the doorway.
Rachel placed a hand on my shoulder.
"She's hiding something.""
"I know.""
"And I think we should find out what happened before your mother died.""
That afternoon, Rachel contacted the investigator handling the trust records.
His name was Michael Grant.
He specialized in financial misconduct and estate disputes.
Two days later, he met us at Rachel's office.
He placed a large folder on the conference table.
"I reviewed the property transfer, the original probate filing, and the documents recovered from the studio.""
Rachel opened her notebook.
"What did you find?""
Michael removed a sheet of paper.
"The studio wasn't simply sold for ten dollars. The sale was structured to transfer the property to a company controlled by Vanessa.""
"Why?"" I asked.
"Because the company was already registered as the beneficiary of a separate business arrangement involving your father.""
Rachel leaned forward.
"Was that arrangement disclosed to the probate court?""
"No.""
Michael placed another document on the table.
"This is a corporate registration from three months before your mother's death. It lists Robert Carter as managing director and Vanessa as the sole shareholder.""
I stared at the page.
"So they were already working together?""
"Yes.""
"Before Dad married her?""
Michael nodded.
I remembered the way Dad had introduced Vanessa after Mom died.
He'd told me she was a family friend.
Someone who had helped him through a difficult period.
But the company records suggested something very different.
Rachel examined the registration.
"Do we know what the company did?""
Michael opened another folder.
"It received payments from several accounts connected to your mother's business. Some were recorded as consulting fees. Others were listed as equipment purchases.""
"How much?"" Rachel asked.
"Approximately $212,000 over eighteen months.""
My mouth went dry.
"Was that separate from the $640,000?""
"Yes.""
I leaned back.
For years, I'd believed my father was a struggling widower trying to rebuild his life.
Now I was learning that he and Vanessa had been moving money around while I was still a child.
Rachel asked Michael to continue.
He removed a photocopy of a hospital visitor log.
"This is from the week your mother died.""
I recognized the hospital name.
"Why do you have that?""
"Because someone requested access to your mother's medical and estate documents shortly before her death.""
"Who?""
Michael pointed to a name.
Vanessa Carter.
I stared at him.
"She visited my mother?""
"Three times in the final week.""
Rachel frowned.
"Was that documented in the family records?""
"No. Your father told the probate court that only immediate family members visited.""
I felt nauseated.
"Why would he lie?""
Michael took a breath.
"There's more.""
He opened a separate envelope.
Inside was a copy of an email exchange recovered from an archived business account.
The first email was from my father.
We need to complete the transfer before Margaret changes the trust instructions.
The reply came from Vanessa.
She already suspects the missing funds. If she speaks to the administrator, we're finished.
My hands began shaking.
Rachel read the dates.
The emails had been exchanged eleven days before my mother died.
I stared at the screen.
"Did they steal the money while she was dying?""
Michael nodded.
"The records suggest they were attempting to consolidate control of several assets.""
I couldn't breathe.
Rachel closed the laptop.
"Emily, I think we need to contact the trust administrator immediately and request an emergency restriction on any remaining assets.""
"Do it.""
She picked up her phone.
But before she could make the call, mine rang.
The caller ID showed Brianna.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
"What?""
Her voice sounded different.
"Emily, where are you?""
"Why?""
"Can we talk?""
I looked at Rachel.
She shook her head slightly.
I walked into the hallway.
"What do you want, Brianna?""
There was a long pause.
Then she whispered, "Mom says you found the blue ledger.""
My stomach tightened.
"How do you know about that?""
"Because I saw it years ago.""
I leaned against the wall.
"When?""
"When I was younger. Mom kept it in her bedroom safe.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she told me never to mention it.""
I closed my eyes.
"What else do you know?""
Brianna began crying.
"Emily, I didn't know the dress was going to become this big. I thought Mom had permission to use the lace.""
"You knew it was mine.""
"I knew you made it. I didn't know about the money.""
"Then why did you sign the competition documents?""
"Mom told me the design had been transferred.""
"Did you believe her?""
Silence.
Then she said, "I found something in her office.""
"What?""
"A folder with your name on it.""
My heart began pounding.
"What was inside?""
"I don't know everything. But there were copies of your mother's trust papers, the competition agreement, and a photograph of you signing something.""
I frowned.
"I never signed anything.""
"I know.""
The way she said it frightened me.
"Brianna, what photograph?""
"I think it was taken when you were asleep in the hospital.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
"Who took it?""
"Mom.""
"Why?""
"I don't know. But there's something else.""
Her voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"The folder has a copy of a document from the year your mother died.""
"What document?""
Brianna hesitated.
Then she said the words I had been dreading.
"It says your mother changed her will three days before she died.""
I couldn't move.
"Changed it how?""
"She removed Dad as the executor.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who did she appoint instead?""
Brianna started crying harder.
"Emily, I think it was someone Mom trusted. Someone Dad has spent seven years trying to keep away from you.""
"Who?""
Before she could answer, I heard Vanessa shouting in the background.
"Brianna! Give me that phone!""
The call disconnected.
I stood motionless.
Rachel appeared in the doorway.
"What happened?""
I turned toward her.
"Brianna says my mother changed her will three days before she died.""
Rachel's expression sharpened.
"Do we know who replaced your father as executor?""
I shook my head.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of an old legal document.
At the bottom was my mother's signature.
And beside it was the name of the person appointed to protect my inheritance.
*Margaret Carter's attorney.*
But the name underneath made Rachel drop her pen.
"Emily," she whispered.
"That's impossible.""
I stared at the screen.
The appointed executor was listed as *Daniel Reeves*.
May you like
The same man who had been the director of the fashion competition.
And suddenly, the scholarship dispute looked like a much smaller part of a much bigger plan.
