Chapter 10: My Husband’s Former Partner
Martin Reeves had known my husband for thirty years, but when I asked him why Robert's former business partner was connected to the attempted theft of my home, he looked as though he wished he had never opened the file.
"Edward Voss and Robert built Harris Construction together," he said.
"They started with two trucks, a rented warehouse, and a handshake. For nearly three decades, they worked side by side.""
I sat across from him, struggling to reconcile that history with the documents spread across his desk.
"Robert never mentioned him after he retired.""
"That was deliberate.""
"Why?""
Martin removed a folder from his briefcase. Inside were old photographs, corporate filings, and a copy of a lawsuit filed seven years earlier.
"Edward was accused of diverting company funds into private accounts. Robert discovered discrepancies during an audit. When Edward refused to explain the transactions, your husband removed him from the business and referred the matter to the company's attorneys.""
"Was Edward convicted?""
"No. The case was settled after an independent investigation established that substantial funds had been transferred without proper authorization. Edward repaid part of the money, surrendered his interest in the company, and signed a confidentiality agreement.""
I stared at the photographs.
One showed Robert standing beside a younger Edward outside a construction site. Both men wore hard hats and broad smiles. Robert had his arm around Edward's shoulder.
They looked like brothers.
"How much money was involved?""
"Just over two hundred thousand dollars.""
I looked up sharply.
"The same amount taken from the reserve?""
"Approximately.""
I felt sick.
"Was that coincidence?""
"At this stage, we cannot say.""
I turned another page.
The lawsuit had been filed in 2019. Robert's handwritten notes appeared in the margin of one document.
Do not permit Voss access to family accounts.
Below that, in darker ink, he had added:
He knows Daniel is vulnerable.
My hands began to tremble.
"Robert knew Edward might approach Daniel?""
"He suspected it. After the business dispute, Edward contacted Daniel several times. Your husband was concerned that Edward would use their former relationship to influence him.""
"Why didn't he tell me?""
Martin's expression softened.
"Robert was trying to keep the dispute away from your family. He believed the matter had been settled.""
I looked at the last note.
He knows Daniel is vulnerable.
My husband had understood the danger.
And still, somehow, the danger had reached our doorstep.
"Where is Edward now?""
"His company operates from an office downtown. He has several active businesses, including consulting arrangements with property investment firms.""
"Harrison Residential.""
"Yes.""
I pushed back my chair.
"I want to speak to him.""
Martin immediately shook his head.
"Not without preparation. If he is involved in the disputed transactions, an unplanned confrontation could compromise the investigation.""
"I'm not planning to confront him. I want to ask him why he has spent the last year trying to take my home.""
"Margaret—"
"He knew my husband. He knew my son. He knew where the money was. And he knew I would never have agreed to this.""
I stood.
"Please arrange the meeting.""
Martin studied me for a long moment.
"All right. But I want another attorney present, and I want every question documented.""
The meeting was scheduled for the following afternoon at Martin's office.
Edward Voss arrived precisely at two o'clock.
He was seventy years old, tall, silver-haired, and dressed in an immaculate charcoal suit. His expensive watch caught the light as he shook Martin's hand.
When he saw me, his expression changed.
"Margaret Harris," he said quietly.
"I haven't seen you in years.""
"Not since Robert's funeral.""
He lowered his eyes.
"Robert was a good man.""
"Then you should have respected what he left behind.""
Edward glanced at Martin.
"I assume this concerns the property transaction.""
"It concerns the property transaction, the missing reserve funds, and documents bearing my husband's signature two years after his death," I replied.
He pulled out a chair.
"Those are separate matters.""
"Are they?""
He sat down without answering.
Martin placed copies of the disputed documents on the table.
"Mr. Voss, your name appears in connection with several transfers from the Harris Family Reserve. You also communicated with Patricia Coleman regarding the proposed sale of Mrs.
Harris's property. Can you explain your involvement?""
Edward examined the first page.
"I provided financial consulting services. I did not prepare the property documents.""
"Did you know Mrs. Harris had not consented to the sale?""
He folded his hands.
"I was informed that the family had reached an agreement.""
"By whom?""
"Daniel Harris.""
I turned toward him.
"My son does not own my house.""
"I understand that now.""
"Did you understand it when you accepted the transaction?""
Edward's jaw tightened.
"I was told he had authority to negotiate.""
"Did you verify that authority?""
He glanced at Martin.
"The documentation was being handled by the appropriate parties.""
"That wasn't my question," I said.
For the first time, irritation flashed across his face.
"No. I did not personally verify every signature.""
"Then you accepted a transaction involving nearly a million dollars without confirming that the owner had agreed to sell?""
"I relied on the representations provided to me.""
"By Patricia Coleman?""
"Among others.""
"And Daniel?""
"Yes.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you know Robert had specifically prohibited you from accessing our family accounts?""
Edward's expression hardened.
"Robert and I had a business disagreement many years ago.""
"Two hundred thousand dollars disappeared from the company, and my husband had to take legal action against you.""
"I repaid the amount determined by the settlement.""
"That isn't the same as answering my question.""
Edward looked directly at me.
"Robert held grudges. He was a proud man who found it difficult to forgive.""
"My husband trusted you for twenty-seven years.""
"And I trusted him.""
"Then why did he write that you knew Daniel was vulnerable?""
Edward went completely still.
Martin noticed it, too.
"Mr. Voss, are you familiar with that note?""
Edward slowly leaned back.
"Where did you find it?""
"That isn't relevant.""
"It is if someone is misrepresenting what Robert wrote.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"You know the note.""
He said nothing.
Then, unexpectedly, he sighed.
"Robert believed I had approached Daniel to recover money I thought I was owed. He was wrong.""
"Then what did you want from my son?""
Edward looked at the closed conference room door.
"Daniel contacted me. He wanted financing. I offered him a legitimate loan arrangement, but the conditions were unacceptable to him.""
"What conditions?""
"Full disclosure of his existing debts and collateral sufficient to secure the loan.""
I almost laughed.
"Which he couldn't provide.""
"Correct.""
"So you approached Patricia.""
"No. Patricia approached me.""
He opened his briefcase and removed a small stack of printed emails.
"She claimed she had access to documents that would establish the family's ability to repay the loan. She also said Robert had created an arrangement allowing the reserve to be used for Daniel's benefit.""
"Did you believe her?""
"I believed she had documents.""
"That isn't the same thing.""
"No," he admitted.
"It isn't.""
He pushed the emails toward Martin.
"These are my communications with Patricia. They should answer some of your questions.""
Martin began reading.
His expression changed with every page.
"Mr. Voss," he said, "why did you instruct Patricia to have the transfer completed before January fifth?""
Edward looked at me.
"Because I believed the funds would be distributed according to a valid agreement.""
"Which funds?""
"The proceeds from the property sale.""
I felt my hands curl into fists.
"You intended to take the proceeds from my home.""
"I intended to recover money I believed was owed to me.""
"By whom?""
Edward hesitated.
Then he gave an answer I had not expected.
"Robert Harris.""
The room fell silent.
Martin lowered the emails.
"Explain that statement.""
Edward's face had gone pale, but his voice remained steady.
"Before Robert died, he promised to resolve an outstanding financial obligation between us. The reserve contained money connected to that obligation. I was told the funds would be released after certain documents were completed.""
"By whom?"" I demanded.
"Patricia Coleman.""
"Why would you trust her?""
"Because she presented a signed authorization.""
"An authorization dated after my husband died?""
Edward's eyes flicked toward the papers.
"I wasn't shown that date until recently.""
Martin immediately asked, "When did you become aware of the discrepancy?""
"Three weeks ago.""
"And you continued with the transaction?""
Edward didn't answer.
I rose from my chair.
"You knew something was wrong, and you continued.""
"I believed the discrepancy could be resolved.""
"By selling my house without my permission?""
He looked at me, and for a moment I saw something resembling genuine regret.
"Mrs. Harris, I never wanted to take your home.""
"Then why are we sitting here?""
Edward closed his briefcase.
"Because Patricia told me that if the property transfer failed, she would expose the original agreement between Robert and me. She said it would prove Robert had concealed money from the family.""
Martin's expression turned cold.
"What original agreement?""
Edward looked at me.
"The agreement your husband made the year before he died. The one he never told you about.""
My heart pounded.
"What agreement?""
Edward reached into his briefcase again and removed a sealed envelope.
"I kept a copy because Robert insisted we document everything.""
He placed it on the table.
The envelope was addressed in Robert's handwriting.
Not to Martin.
Not to Edward.
To me.
I stared at my husband's name written across the front.
Edward pushed the envelope toward me.
"Your husband wanted you to receive this if anything happened to him. I was supposed to deliver it myself.""
"Then why didn't you?""
He looked down.
"Because Patricia told me the contents would destroy your family.""
I opened the envelope with shaking hands.
Inside was a letter dated March 28, less than two weeks before Robert died.
The first line made my breath catch.
Margaret, if Edward has finally given you this letter, then the person I feared has already begun using Daniel to reach you.
I read the sentence again.
Then I looked at Edward.
"Who was Robert afraid of?""
Edward's face had become almost gray.
"Your husband's letter will tell you.""
I looked down at the page.
The next paragraph began with a name.
A name I had seen in the disputed documents, on the suspicious transactions, and in Patricia's handwritten instructions.
*Patricia Coleman.*
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But the final sentence of Robert's letter was even more disturbing.
The money is not what she wants most. She wants the document that proves why Daniel was never meant to inherit the reserve in the first place.
