Chapter 3: The Woman Who Had Been Keeping Records
I didn't confront Claire immediately.
Instead, I took my mother upstairs.
Noah followed us, carrying his stuffed dinosaur.
He climbed onto the bed beside Evelyn and placed the dinosaur in her lap.
“Grandma, you can borrow him,” he whispered.
My mother smiled through her tears.
“Thank you, sweetheart.””
I pulled a chair beside the bed.
“Mom, I need you to tell me everything.””
She stared at the carpet.
“I didn't want you to find out this way.””
“Find out what?””
She rubbed her wrist.
“Claire has been asking me questions about your father's estate for months.””
I leaned forward.
“What kind of questions?””
“Where I kept the property deed. Whether your father had life insurance. Whether I had savings.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She looked at me.
“Because she always made it sound reasonable.””
I waited.
“She said she wanted to help organize my finances. She offered to take me to the bank. She even helped me update my medication list.””
My stomach tightened.
“And then?””
“She started asking me to sign things.””
“What things?””
“Insurance forms. Medical forms. Documents she said would make things easier if I ever needed nursing care.””
I felt a chill.
“Did you sign anything?””
“Some papers. I don't know what they were.””
“Mom.””
She reached for my hand.
“I trusted her because she was your wife.””
I looked away.
That sentence hurt more than any accusation.
My mother continued.
“About a month ago, Claire brought me a document and said your company needed my signature. I told her I wanted you to read it first.””
“What did she say?””
“She became angry.””
“What exactly did she say?””
Mom swallowed.
“She said you were already overwhelmed with work, and I shouldn't make things difficult for you.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did she threaten you?””
My mother nodded.
“She said if I kept refusing, she'd tell you I was becoming confused. She said you might decide I needed a nursing facility.””
I stared at her.
“Mom, I would never do that.””
“I know, sweetheart.””
“Then why didn't you call me?””
She looked toward Noah.
“Because I was afraid she'd stop letting me see him.””
My throat tightened.
Claire knew exactly where to hurt her.
I heard a knock.
Daniel entered.
“Marcus, the lawyer called back.””
I stood.
“Put her on speaker.””
Daniel dialed the number.
A woman answered.
“Mr. Reed?””
“This is Marcus.””
“My name is Melissa Grant. I'm an attorney with Grant and Holloway.””
“Why did you contact me?””
“Your wife approached our office about transferring your mother's property into your business entity.””
I glanced at the bedroom door.
Claire was downstairs.
“What did she tell you?””
“She claimed your mother had authorized the transaction and that you were handling the purchase through Reed Property Holdings.””
“That's false.””
“I suspected as much.””
“Why?””
There was a pause.
“Because when I asked for independent confirmation from your mother, your wife told me Evelyn was medically incapable of participating in the process.””
My mother covered her mouth.
I felt my blood pressure rise.
“She's perfectly capable of making her own decisions.””
“I understand that now. But the documents submitted to us raised several concerns.””
“What concerns?””
“The signature appears inconsistent with the specimen we received from your mother's previous property records. There were also questions about the authorization attached to the transaction.””
I looked at Daniel.
He was already taking notes.
“Was the transfer completed?””
“No. Our office placed it on hold.””
I exhaled.
“Thank you.””
“Mr. Reed, I strongly recommend that your mother obtain independent legal representation. Do not allow anyone to pressure her into signing additional documents.””
“I will.””
Before ending the call, Melissa added something.
“One more thing. Your wife asked whether the transfer could be completed without your mother appearing in person.””
My stomach dropped.
“Why?””
“She said Evelyn's mobility issues would make it difficult.””
I looked at my mother.
She had started crying again.
After the call, Daniel closed the bedroom door.
“Marcus, this is serious.””
“I know.””
“We need to protect Mom.””
“I know.””
He sat on the edge of the bed.
“There's something else.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Last month, Claire asked me for the name of Dad's old financial adviser.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“She said she was helping Mom organize her estate.””
“And you gave it to her?””
“I didn't think anything of it.””
He rubbed his face.
“I'm sorry.””
I shook my head.
“We don't know what she did with the information.””
But I was beginning to understand the pattern.
Claire hadn't suddenly decided to take my mother's belongings.
She had been building something.
Quietly.
Carefully.
And I had been too busy believing her to notice.
Downstairs, I heard laughter.
Then Claire's voice.
She was talking to our aunt Margaret as if nothing had happened.
I left the bedroom.
At the top of the stairs, I stopped.
Claire stood near the kitchen island holding a glass of champagne.
She was smiling.
“Evelyn has always been dramatic,” she was saying.
“I think the medication has affected her mood.””
Margaret looked uncomfortable.
“Oh, I don't know, Claire.””
“I'm just worried about her. Marcus doesn't always see how difficult things have become.””
I walked down the stairs.
“That's interesting.””
Claire turned.
Her smile vanished.
“Marcus.””
I approached her.
“Tell Margaret what the attorney said.””
She set down her glass.
“Not now.””
“No. Right now.””
Margaret looked between us.
“What attorney?””
I held up the property transfer document.
“Apparently, my wife has been trying to transfer my mother's house into my company for ten dollars.””
Margaret gasped.
Claire's face reddened.
“That's not what happened.””
“Then explain it.””
“I was trying to protect your mother!””
“By forging her signature?””
Margaret stepped back.
“Claire?””
Claire turned toward her.
“This is a private family matter.””
Margaret shook her head.
“Your mother-in-law's house is not your private property.””
Claire's eyes flashed.
Then she did something I hadn't expected.
She laughed.
It was a short, cold sound.
“Fine. You want the truth?””
I said nothing.
She looked directly at me.
“Your mother has been hiding money from you.””
My eyebrows drew together.
“What?””
“She has savings. Investments. More than you think.””
I looked at my mother, who had just reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Mom?””
She shook her head.
“Marcus, I never hid anything from you.””
Claire grabbed her purse.
“Of course you didn't.””
Then she looked at me.
“You think you're protecting her, but you don't know what she's been doing.””
I stepped closer.
“What is that supposed to mean?””
She opened her mouth.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Something changed in her expression.
She rejected the call.
A second later, the phone vibrated with a text.
I saw the name at the top.
*RICHARD — LAW OFFICE.*
Claire quickly turned the screen away.
But not before I noticed the message preview.
*Did you secure the original deed? The buyer needs confirmation by Monday.*
My wife slipped the phone into her purse.
I looked at her.
“Who's Richard?””
She didn't answer.
I asked again.
“Claire, who's Richard?””
Her eyes met mine.
May you like
And then she whispered something I never expected.
“He's the person who knows what your mother did before your father died.””
