Chapter 7: The Woman Who Came With My Brother
"Michael, don't sign anything until you hear me out.""
Robert's voice was still ringing in my ears when Ethan and I pulled into the parking lot of his law office.
Daniel's black SUV was already there.
So was another vehicle, a silver sedan with a woman sitting behind the steering wheel.
Ethan noticed it too.
"Is that the person Uncle Daniel brought?""
"I don't know.""
We entered the building.
Robert was waiting outside his office. His usually neat gray hair was disheveled, and he held a thick manila envelope against his chest.
"Michael, I'm glad you came.""
"Who is she?""
He glanced toward the conference room.
"Her name is Patricia Coleman. She claims she represented Danielle during the final preparation of her estate documents.""
I frowned.
"Danielle's attorney was you.""
"Exactly.""
"Then who is Patricia?""
"That's what I'd like to establish.""
Robert opened the conference room door.
Daniel was sitting at the far end of the table.
Beside him was a woman in her late fifties wearing a cream-colored suit. She had a leather portfolio open in front of her.
Daniel stood.
"Mike. Finally.""
I ignored him.
Patricia extended her hand.
"Mr. Williams. I'm sorry we have to meet under these circumstances.""
I didn't shake it.
"How did you know my wife?""
She smiled politely.
"Your late wife consulted me about certain financial matters.""
Robert placed his briefcase on the table.
"Patricia, you previously claimed to have prepared an amendment to Danielle's will. However, our office has no record of your involvement.""
"That doesn't mean it didn't happen.""
"Then produce the original.""
She opened her portfolio.
"I have a certified copy.""
Robert examined it.
His expression changed.
"This document is dated three days before Danielle died.""
"Correct.""
"Yet the signature is identical to the signature on the original will.""
Patricia frowned.
"What's your point?""
Robert placed both documents side by side.
"The original was signed in blue ink. This amendment is printed with a reproduced signature.""
Daniel shifted in his chair.
"Robert, you're making an unnecessary issue out of this.""
Robert looked at him.
"An amendment transferring a multimillion-dollar property is not an unnecessary issue.""
Ethan leaned forward.
"What does the amendment say?""
Patricia answered before Robert could.
"It states that your mother intended to divide the property between you and your stepmother.""
I stared at her.
"Vanessa?""
"Yes.""
"Danielle never wanted Vanessa to own this house.""
Patricia folded her hands.
"People change their minds.""
Robert shook his head.
"Not without proper documentation.""
Daniel slammed his palm on the table.
"Can we stop pretending this is complicated? Danielle wanted the family to be taken care of. The house is valuable. Everyone deserves something.""
Ethan looked directly at him.
"Everyone except me, apparently.""
Daniel's face tightened.
"Don't be disrespectful.""
"You charged me rent.""
"That was a family arrangement.""
"You told me Dad would throw me out if I complained.""
Daniel looked toward me.
"Mike, you need to control your son.""
I stood.
"Don't ever speak about him like that again.""
Patricia cleared her throat.
"Perhaps we should focus on the amendment.""
Robert removed a sealed envelope from his briefcase.
"This is the original amendment Danielle signed. It was deposited with our office under specific instructions.""
Daniel immediately stood.
"That document isn't valid.""
Robert raised an eyebrow.
"How would you know?""
Daniel hesitated.
"I mean, Danielle was ill. She wasn't in a condition to make legal decisions.""
Robert slowly opened the envelope.
"That's interesting. Because this document was signed four months before her final hospitalization.""
Daniel went silent.
Robert placed the pages on the table.
The first paragraph confirmed Ethan's ownership of the house.
The second established that I would serve as guardian of the property until Ethan turned eighteen.
The third contained a condition.
I read it twice.
If any trustee, guardian, or family member attempted to obtain money from Ethan through deception, coercion, or unauthorized financial arrangements, that individual would immediately lose any authority connected to the estate.
Ethan looked up.
"Does that mean Uncle Daniel can't manage anything anymore?""
Robert nodded.
"His authority ended when the evidence of financial misconduct became available. We are now taking formal steps to protect the trust.""
Daniel pushed his chair backward.
"This is ridiculous!""
Robert continued reading.
"There is also a separate clause concerning the sale or transfer of the property.""
I leaned forward.
"What clause?""
Robert turned the page.
"Danielle specifically prohibited any transfer to Daniel Williams or any company controlled by him.""
Daniel's face turned crimson.
"She had no right to do that!""
"She was the legal owner when she created the trust," Robert replied.
Patricia began gathering her papers.
"I think I've heard enough.""
Robert stopped her.
"Not so quickly. I have a question about your professional credentials.""
He pulled another sheet from his briefcase.
"Your name does not appear in the state bar records as an attorney authorized to practice law.""
Patricia froze.
Daniel looked at her.
"What?""
Robert continued.
"You're a licensed document preparer. Not an attorney. Yet you've represented yourself as Danielle's legal representative.""
Patricia stood.
"This meeting is over.""
But Robert wasn't finished.
He placed a final page in front of her.
It was a payment record.
A transfer of $25,000 from Daniel's company to Patricia's business account.
The description read: CONSULTING—ESTATE AMENDMENT.
I looked at Daniel.
"Twenty-five thousand dollars?""
He didn't answer.
Ethan suddenly reached into his backpack.
"There's something else.""
He placed his mother's digital recorder on the table.
"I found another file.""
Robert looked surprised.
"Where?""
"In the black box at home. There was a second recording.""
He pressed play.
Danielle's voice filled the conference room.
"If anyone is trying to change my will, please check the witness signatures. I know Daniel will try to use Patricia. She was never authorized to represent me.""
Patricia's face drained of color.
The recording continued.
"Michael, there's one more thing. Daniel wasn't the only person who knew about the money I discovered missing.""
A pause.
Then Danielle whispered:
"Vanessa knew too.""
I looked at Ethan.
He looked at me.
And then Robert slowly turned toward the conference room door.
Because someone had just entered.
May you like
Vanessa.
And she was holding a document none of us had seen before.
