Chapter 7: The Document Nobody Was Supposed to Find## Chapter 7: The Document Nobody Was Supposed to Find
Monica pointed at me as if she had been
Monica pointed at me as if she had been waiting years for the opportunity.
"She took it.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"The waiting years for the opportunity.
"She took it.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"The trust document. You were in my room yesterday. You had access to the house. You knew where I kept the safe.""
Dad stepped between us.
"Emily hasn't been in your room.""
trust document. You were in my room yesterday. You had access to the house. You knew where I kept the safe.""
Dad stepped between us.
"Emily hasn't been in your room.""
"How would you know? You barely pay attention to anything that happens in this house.""
"Enough, Monica.""
She grabbed his sleeve.
"No, Daniel! That document was in my safe this morning. Now it's gone.
Your"How would you know? You barely pay attention to anything that happens in this house.""
"Enough, Monica.""
She grabbed his sleeve.
"No, Daniel! That document was in my safe this morning. Now it's gone.
Your daughter has been digging through my belongings, talking to strangers, and feeding you lies about me. Isn't it obvious?""
I could barely believe what I was hearing.
daughter has been digging through my belongings, talking to strangers, and feeding you lies about me. Isn't it obvious?""
I could barely believe what I was hearing.
"You sold my car without permission," I said.
"You have money going into a company connected to my mother's estate, and now you're accusing me of stealing a document I've never"You sold my car without permission," I said.
"You have money going into a company connected to my mother's estate, and now you're accusing me of stealing a document I've never seen?""
"You expect me to believe you suddenly became an investigator overnight?""
"I expect you to stop blaming me for everything you do.""
Monica's eyes flashed.
"Your seen?""
"You expect me to believe you suddenly became an investigator overnight?""
"I expect you to stop blaming me for everything you do.""
Monica's eyes flashed.
"Your mother would be ashamed of you.""
The room went silent.
Dad's voice dropped.
"Do not use Laura's name to hurt my mother would be ashamed of you.""
The room went silent.
Dad's voice dropped.
"Do not use Laura's name to hurt my daughter.""
Monica released his sleeve.
"Then stop allowing Emily to destroy everything I've built.""
"What exactly have you built?"" Dad asked.
"A secret apartment? An unauthorized purchasing account? A financial trail daughter.""
Monica released his sleeve.
"Then stop allowing Emily to destroy everything I've built.""
"What exactly have you built?"" Dad asked.
"A secret apartment? An unauthorized purchasing account? A financial trail leading to a missing adviser?""
Her face tightened.
"You don't understand any of it.""
"Then explain it.""
She looked away.
That was leading to a missing adviser?""
Her face tightened.
"You don't understand any of it.""
"Then explain it.""
She looked away.
That was becoming her answer to every question.
Dad pulled out his phone and called Rebecca.
He explained that Monica claimed a document had disappeared from her safe. Rebecca asked whether anything else was missing, whether there were signs of forced entry, and whether Monica becoming her answer to every question.
Dad pulled out his phone and called Rebecca.
He explained that Monica claimed a document had disappeared from her safe. Rebecca asked whether anything else was missing, whether there were signs of forced entry, and whether Monica had already contacted the police.
"No," Dad replied.
"Not yet.""
"Then nobody should touch the safe or rearrange the room. If Monica believes a document was stolen, preserve the scene and had already contacted the police.
"No," Dad replied.
"Not yet.""
"Then nobody should touch the safe or rearrange the room. If Monica believes a document was stolen, preserve the scene and let the appropriate authorities determine what happened.""
Monica snatched a tissue from her dresser.
"Are you seriously going to let your attorney tell you how to manage your own home?""
Dad let the appropriate authorities determine what happened.""
Monica snatched a tissue from her dresser.
"Are you seriously going to let your attorney tell you how to manage your own home?""
Dad ended the call.
"I'm going to let evidence tell me what happened.""
He turned toward me.
"Emily, go downstairs.""
"But—"
"Please ended the call.
"I'm going to let evidence tell me what happened.""
He turned toward me.
"Emily, go downstairs.""
"But—"
"Please.""
I obeyed.
I sat at the kitchen table, listening to footsteps overhead and fragments of conversation drifting down the staircase.
Monica's voice rose repeatedly.
Dad's remained low.
Twenty minutes later, he came downstairs alone.""
I obeyed.
I sat at the kitchen table, listening to footsteps overhead and fragments of conversation drifting down the staircase.
Monica's voice rose repeatedly.
Dad's remained low.
Twenty minutes later, he came downstairs alone.
"She's calling a locksmith," he said.
"Why?""
"She claims someone may have copied the safe's key.""
"Do you believe her?""
He pulled.
"She's calling a locksmith," he said.
"Why?""
"She claims someone may have copied the safe's key.""
"Do you believe her?""
He pulled out a chair.
"I believe the document existed. I don't know who took it, or whether anyone took it at all.""
I thought about Patricia's envelope.
"Could the document she says is missing be the same one in the photograph?""
"Possibly.""
"And if she had it, why didn't she give it to you?""
Dad stared at the table.
"That's what I intend out a chair.
"I believe the document existed. I don't know who took it, or whether anyone took it at all.""
I thought about Patricia's envelope.
"Could the document she says is missing be the same one in the photograph?""
"Possibly.""
"And if she had it, why didn't she give it to you?""
Dad stared at the table.
"That's what I intend to find out.""
His phone rang.
Rebecca.
He answered, and her voice came through the speaker.
"Daniel, I have an update. The bank has confirmed that the secondary purchasing profile was used to initiate several transfers, but the identity of the actual user remains under investigation.""
" to find out.""
His phone rang.
Rebecca.
He answered, and her voice came through the speaker.
"Daniel, I have an update. The bank has confirmed that the secondary purchasing profile was used to initiate several transfers, but the identity of the actual user remains under investigation.""
"Anything about Meridian?""
"Yes. The company was dissolved three years ago, but its registered agent filed an update shortly before the dissolution. The address on that update matches a mailbox service, not a business office.""
Dad rubbedAnything about Meridian?""
"Yes. The company was dissolved three years ago, but its registered agent filed an update shortly before the dissolution. The address on that update matches a mailbox service, not a business office.""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Can you identify the person who filed it?""
"I'm working on that. I also reviewed the documents Patricia provided. One email is particularly significant.""
"Which one?""
"The message Thomas sent before he disappeared. He stated that the original trust agreement had never his forehead.
"Can you identify the person who filed it?""
"I'm working on that. I also reviewed the documents Patricia provided. One email is particularly significant.""
"Which one?""
"The message Thomas sent before he disappeared. He stated that the original trust agreement had never been legally amended.""
I leaned closer to the phone.
"So the document Monica says was stolen might be a fake?""
Rebecca paused.
"That is one possibility. We need a qualified examination of the original paperwork before reaching been legally amended.""
I leaned closer to the phone.
"So the document Monica says was stolen might be a fake?""
Rebecca paused.
"That is one possibility. We need a qualified examination of the original paperwork before reaching that conclusion.""
Dad thanked her and ended the call.
I looked at him.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
He turned toward me.
"When I found the envelope in Kayla's SUV, I took photographs of everything inside. The apartment lease, the bank transfer, all of it.""
"Good.""
"I didn't take that conclusion.""
Dad thanked her and ended the call.
I looked at him.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
He turned toward me.
"When I found the envelope in Kayla's SUV, I took photographs of everything inside. The apartment lease, the bank transfer, all of it.""
"Good.""
"I didn't take anything from the envelope except the photographs.""
Dad nodded.
"That's important.""
Then I remembered something else.
"The envelope had a return address printed on it. A private mailbox downtown.""
"Do you remember the address?""
"I took a picture of it.""
I opened my phone and anything from the envelope except the photographs.""
Dad nodded.
"That's important.""
Then I remembered something else.
"The envelope had a return address printed on it. A private mailbox downtown.""
"Do you remember the address?""
"I took a picture of it.""
I opened my phone and showed him.
Dad studied the image.
"That's the same mailbox service Rebecca mentioned.""
We stared at the screen.
For the first time, the separate pieces seemed to be moving toward the same point.
The apartment.
The dissolved company.
The missing adviser.
The money showed him.
Dad studied the image.
"That's the same mailbox service Rebecca mentioned.""
We stared at the screen.
For the first time, the separate pieces seemed to be moving toward the same point.
The apartment.
The dissolved company.
The missing adviser.
The money that had vanished after my mother's death.
"Could Monica have used the mailbox to hide her correspondence?"" I asked.
"Perhaps.""
"Then why would she leave the envelope in Kayla's car?""
Dad considered that.
"Maybe she didn't know it was there.""
I thought that had vanished after my mother's death.
"Could Monica have used the mailbox to hide her correspondence?"" I asked.
"Perhaps.""
"Then why would she leave the envelope in Kayla's car?""
Dad considered that.
"Maybe she didn't know it was there.""
I thought about Kayla's behavior when we first saw the SUV.
She had been excited, careless, eager to show off the vehicle. She might have placed the envelope on the passenger seat without ever opening it.
If Monica had used the car to transport documents, the envelope might have been forgotten.
about Kayla's behavior when we first saw the SUV.
She had been excited, careless, eager to show off the vehicle. She might have placed the envelope on the passenger seat without ever opening it.
If Monica had used the car to transport documents, the envelope might have been forgotten.
Dad called Rebecca again and gave her the mailbox details.
She said she would pass them to the appropriate investigators rather than attempt to obtain private records herself.
Then she asked him to bring the original title and purchase receipt for my Honda to her office.
"I'll take Emily tomorrow," Dad said.
BeforeDad called Rebecca again and gave her the mailbox details.
She said she would pass them to the appropriate investigators rather than attempt to obtain private records herself.
Then she asked him to bring the original title and purchase receipt for my Honda to her office.
"I'll take Emily tomorrow," Dad said.
Before he could end the call, a voice came from the stairs.
"You're not taking her anywhere.""
Monica stood on the landing.
She had changed into a pale blue dress and applied fresh lipstick. Her hair was perfectly arranged, but her hands gripped the railing so tightly he could end the call, a voice came from the stairs.
"You're not taking her anywhere.""
Monica stood on the landing.
She had changed into a pale blue dress and applied fresh lipstick. Her hair was perfectly arranged, but her hands gripped the railing so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
Dad looked up.
"Excuse me?""
"I said you're not taking Emily anywhere until we settle this.""
"Settle what?""
"Your that her knuckles had turned white.
Dad looked up.
"Excuse me?""
"I said you're not taking Emily anywhere until we settle this.""
"Settle what?""
"Your daughter has been spreading private information to strangers. She's been talking to Thomas Reed's wife. She's been snooping through our belongings. And now my documents have disappeared.""
I stood.
"Patricia contacted me because she knew my mother's name. I daughter has been spreading private information to strangers. She's been talking to Thomas Reed's wife.
She's been snooping through our belongings. And now my documents have disappeared.""
I stood.
"Patricia contacted me because she knew my mother's name. I didn't even know who she was until yesterday.""
Monica descended the stairs.
"You're a liar.""
Dad rose.
"That's enough.""
"No, Daniel. You need to choose. Either you trust the woman you married, or you trust the daughter who has spent years resenting me.""
I looked at didn't even know who she was until yesterday.""
Monica descended the stairs.
"You're a liar.""
Dad rose.
"That's enough.""
"No, Daniel. You need to choose. Either you trust the woman you married, or you trust the daughter who has spent years resenting me.""
I looked at him.
For one terrible moment, I was seventeen again, standing in the kitchen while Monica explained why I needed to be more grateful, more patient, and less difficult.
I knew this trick.
She wasn't asking Dad to examine him.
For one terrible moment, I was seventeen again, standing in the kitchen while Monica explained why I needed to be more grateful, more patient, and less difficult.
I knew this trick.
She wasn't asking Dad to examine the facts.
She was asking him to choose between people.
But Dad didn't hesitate.
"I'm choosing the truth.""
Monica's mouth fell open.
He continued.
"If the facts.
She was asking him to choose between people.
But Dad didn't hesitate.
"I'm choosing the truth.""
Monica's mouth fell open.
He continued.
"If you have done nothing wrong, the investigation will establish that. If you have misused my accounts or taken money from Emily's trust, no amount of shouting will change the evidence you have done nothing wrong, the investigation will establish that. If you have misused my accounts or taken money from Emily's trust, no amount of shouting will change the evidence.""
Her face twisted.
"You'll regret this.""
"Perhaps. But I won't regret asking questions.""
Monica turned toward me.
"Enjoy your little victory, Emily. It won't last.""
She walked out of the room and slammed the front door.
Dad remained standing for several seconds.""
Her face twisted.
"You'll regret this.""
"Perhaps. But I won't regret asking questions.""
Monica turned toward me.
"Enjoy your little victory, Emily. It won't last.""
She walked out of the room and slammed the front door.
Dad remained standing for several seconds.
Then he exhaled.
"She's going somewhere," I said.
"Probably.""
"Should we follow her?""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"We're not going to make the same.
Then he exhaled.
"She's going somewhere," I said.
"Probably.""
"Should we follow her?""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"We're not going to make the same mistake she made. We're going to let the records speak.""
That night, I lay awake thinking about the missing trust document.
At 11:43 p.m., my phone lit up.
A message from Patricia.
I found something else in Thomas's old papers. I think you need to see it.
A photograph followed.
It showed a handwritten note dated mistake she made. We're going to let the records speak.""
That night, I lay awake thinking about the missing trust document.
At 11:43 p.m., my phone lit up.
A message from Patricia.
I found something else in Thomas's old papers. I think you need to see it.
A photograph followed.
It showed a handwritten note dated two days before my mother's death.
The handwriting was my mother's.
I recognized the shape of her capital letters immediately.
The note read:
*If Daniel cannot protect Emily's trust, Rebecca Hayes must be contacted. She has the original agreement two days before my mother's death.
The handwriting was my mother's.
I recognized the shape of her capital letters immediately.
The note read:
If Daniel cannot protect Emily's trust, Rebecca Hayes must be contacted. She has the original agreement.
I read it again.
Rebecca Hayes.
Dad's attorney.
The woman who had been helping us investigate Monica.
I called Patricia.
She answered on the first ring.
"Where did you get this?"" I asked.
"Thomas kept it with his records. I didn't notice it until tonight.*
I read it again.
Rebecca Hayes.
Dad's attorney.
The woman who had been helping us investigate Monica.
I called Patricia.
She answered on the first ring.
"Where did you get this?"" I asked.
"Thomas kept it with his records. I didn't notice it until tonight.""
"Did you tell Rebecca?""
"No. I wanted you to see it first.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"Why would Mom write Rebecca's name? Dad said Rebecca only handled his business contracts.""
"Maybe.""
"Did you tell Rebecca?""
"No. I wanted you to see it first.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"Why would Mom write Rebecca's name? Dad said Rebecca only handled his business contracts.""
"Maybe Laura knew her through another matter.""
I looked toward the dark hallway outside my bedroom.
"If Rebecca has the original trust, why hasn't she mentioned it?""
Patricia was quiet.
Then she said, "Emily, I think you need to ask her directly.""
Laura knew her through another matter.""
I looked toward the dark hallway outside my bedroom.
"If Rebecca has the original trust, why hasn't she mentioned it?""
Patricia was quiet.
Then she said, "Emily, I think you need to ask her directly.""
I ended the call and stared at the note.
A terrible possibility had begun to form.
What if the original trust hadn't disappeared?
What if someone had been protecting it all these years?
And what if the woman helping us uncover the truth had knownI ended the call and stared at the note.
A terrible possibility had begun to form.
What if the original trust hadn't disappeared?
What if someone had been protecting it all these years?
May you like
And what if the woman helping us uncover the truth had known exactly where it was from the beginning?
exactly where it was from the beginning?
