Chapter 10: What My Father Left Behind
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what Claire had said.
“My father?””
She nodded.
“Your father knew about the foundation.””
I shook my head.
“My father died eleven months ago.””
“I know.””
“Then explain what you mean.””
Claire looked down at her phone.
“Daniel told me your father had been involved in a private financial arrangement before he died.””
I stared at her.
“What arrangement?””
“He said your father had invested money in a business project. Daniel was managing the remaining accounts.””
“That makes no sense.””
“I didn't know the details.””
“You're telling me my dead father was involved in your foundation?””
“No. Not directly.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Daniel told me that your father had promised to help him establish a family investment fund. After your father died, Daniel said there was money available through the trust.””
I stared at her.
“That's impossible. The trust was established for Maya.””
“I know that now.””
“What did Daniel tell you?””
“He said the money could be used temporarily, and that the trust documents allowed it.””
I felt anger rise again.
“Did you read the documents?””
She shook her head.
“Daniel handled the paperwork.””
“Of course he did.””
Claire looked at me.
“He said your father had approved everything before he died.””
I stared at her.
“Did you believe him?””
“I wanted to.””
“Why?””
“Because I trusted him.””
I looked at her.
“You trusted Daniel more than you trusted your husband?””
She didn't answer.
I took out my phone and called Rebecca.
She answered immediately.
“Marcus?””
“Claire just told me something. Daniel claims my father approved the financial arrangement before he died.””
There was a pause.
“Do you have any documents?””
“An email and several bank statements.””
“Don't let anyone destroy anything. I'll come to the hospital.””
I ended the call.
Claire sat down.
“I didn't know.””
I looked at her.
“Didn't know what?””
“That Daniel was lying.””
I wanted to ask how much of this was true.
How much was another attempt to shift responsibility.
But Rebecca arrived before I could.
She reviewed the email and the bank records.
Then she called my mother.
Within an hour, my mother had sent the original trust agreement.
Rebecca read it carefully.
Her expression changed.
“What?”” I asked.
She pointed to a paragraph.
“Your father created an independent trust for Maya. Claire was listed as a temporary administrative contact, not a trustee with withdrawal authority.””
I looked at Claire.
She closed her eyes.
Rebecca continued.
“Any withdrawal of principal required written authorization from you and the independent trustee.””
“Who was the independent trustee?””
Rebecca turned the page.
“Your father's attorney.””
I recognized the name.
Harold Whitmore.
He had handled my father's estate.
I called him.
He answered after two rings.
“Marcus. I heard Maya was in the hospital. How is she?””
“She is recovering.””
“Thank goodness.””
I took a breath.
“Harold, I need to ask you about the trust.””
His voice became more serious.
“What about it?””
“Did my father authorize anyone to use Maya's money for a private business?””
“No.””
“Did he authorize Daniel Mercer to manage the trust?””
“Absolutely not.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She nodded for me to continue.
“Did my father have any financial relationship with Daniel?””
Harold paused.
“Yes, but it ended before your father died.””
“What kind of relationship?””
“Daniel was a consultant for one of your father's property investments. There was a dispute over missing funds.””
My stomach tightened.
“Missing funds?””
“Your father suspected Daniel had moved money without proper authorization. He confronted him, and the arrangement ended.””
I looked at Claire.
She was staring at the floor.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Your father didn't want to alarm you while he was ill. He asked me to preserve the correspondence in case anything happened.””
“Do you still have it?””
“Yes.””
“Can you send it to Rebecca?””
“Of course.””
May you like
Harold continued.
“Marcus, there's something else.””
