Chapter 8: The Last Secret in Renee's Name
Darius drove straight to Jennifer Wells's office.
He placed the guardianship application on her desk.
“Tell me what this means.””
Jennifer read the first page.
Then the second.
Her expression became increasingly serious.
“This is extremely concerning.””
“Was someone trying to take Kayla before Renee died?””
Jennifer looked up.
“The application was submitted eight months before Brittany became engaged to you. It claims Renee had concerns about your ability to manage Kayla's inheritance.””
Darius shook his head.
“Renee never said that.””
“There's a signature.””
He looked at the bottom of the page.
It was Renee's.
But something about it seemed wrong.
He had seen his wife's handwriting thousands of times.
He knew how she signed her name.
“This isn't hers.””
Jennifer examined it.
“That's what I wanted to determine.””
“Can you prove it?””
“We can request a forensic handwriting analysis.””
Darius leaned forward.
“Do it.””
Jennifer turned another page.
Then she stopped.
“There's a second witness.””
“Who?””
She pointed.
Darius read the name.
His uncle Richard.
He sat down.
“Of course.””
Jennifer continued reading.
“The application was never approved. It was withdrawn after the court requested additional documentation.””
“Who withdrew it?””
“Renee.””
Darius looked up.
“Renee knew?””
“Yes.””
He stared at the document.
Suddenly, he remembered a conversation from the final months of her life.
Renee had been sitting on their bed, folding Kayla's clothes.
She had asked him a strange question.
“If something ever happened to me, would you let anyone else make decisions for our daughter?””
He had laughed.
“Of course not. You're her mother.””
She had looked at him for a long time.
Then she had kissed his forehead.
“Promise me.””
He had promised.
And now he understood why.
That evening, Jennifer called with the handwriting results.
“The signature is forged.””
Darius closed his eyes.
“Who forged it?””
“We can't say conclusively yet. But the document was submitted by Renee's former attorney.””
“Where is he now?””
“Retired. He lives outside Savannah.””
“Can we contact him?””
“I already have.””
Darius waited.
“He agreed to meet us tomorrow.””
The following morning, Darius and Jennifer drove to Savannah.
The attorney's name was Thomas Grayson.
He was seventy-one years old and lived in a quiet house surrounded by oak trees.
When he opened the door, he looked surprised to see them.
“Mr. Mitchell.””
Darius stepped inside.
“I need answers.””
Thomas looked at Jennifer.
Then he closed the door.
“I was wondering when someone would come.””
Darius placed the guardianship application on the table.
“Did you file this?””
Thomas looked at it.
Then he nodded.
“Yes.””
“Did Renee sign it?””
“No.””
Darius stared.
“Why would you submit a forged document in my wife's name?””
Thomas lowered himself into a chair.
“Because I was threatened.””
“By whom?””
“Richard Mitchell. Robert Bennett. And a man named Logan Pierce.””
Darius clenched his jaw.
“Why didn't you tell the police?””
Thomas gave a tired laugh.
“I was afraid.””
“So you helped them?””
“I made a terrible decision.””
Darius leaned forward.
“What did they want?””
Thomas looked toward the window.
“Control of Kayla's inheritance. But that wasn't the only reason.””
“What else?””
Thomas hesitated.
Then he opened a drawer.
He removed a small envelope.
“Renee gave me this shortly before she died.””
Darius took it.
His wife's handwriting was on the front.
For my husband, when he finally knows the truth.
His fingers trembled.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
Darius,
If Thomas has given you this, it means the people I feared have finally been exposed.
There is something I never told you.
Before we married, I discovered that your father had been involved in a financial arrangement with Robert Bennett. I tried to warn him, but he refused to listen.
After your father died, the arrangement continued through Richard.
I found the records. I found the missing money. And I found something even worse.
Darius turned the page.
Our family was never the original target.
He frowned.
Then he continued.
They wanted access to the Mitchell estate because they believed your father had hidden something valuable inside the company records.
Darius looked up.
“What?””
Thomas spoke quietly.
“Your father left behind a separate investment account.””
Darius returned to the letter.
The account was never included in the probate documents. It contains the original ownership records, the evidence of fraud, and the names of everyone involved.
Your father left the account to you.
But I changed the beneficiary after I discovered the truth.
Darius stopped.
His eyes moved to the final paragraph.
I placed Kayla's name on everything.
He looked at Thomas.
“What does this mean?””
Thomas answered.
“It means your daughter owns the controlling interest in the account.””
Darius stared.
“How much?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Approximately thirty-eight million dollars.””
Darius felt dizzy.
He looked back at the letter.
Renee had never told him.
She had never told anyone.
Thomas continued.
“Richard and Robert were trying to obtain the account before Kayla turned eighteen. That's why they needed control of her guardianship.””
Darius closed his eyes.
“And Brittany?””
“She was supposed to marry you, become Kayla's legal stepmother, and eventually gain access through the estate.””
Darius slowly folded the letter.
“Did Renee know Brittany would come after us?””
Thomas shook his head.
“She didn't know her name. But she knew someone would be sent.””
Then he reached into another drawer.
He removed a small photograph.
It showed Renee standing outside a hospital.
Beside her was a woman Darius didn't recognize.
Thomas pointed at her.
“That's the person who first warned Renee about the scheme.””
Darius looked closer.
Then his stomach dropped.
He recognized the woman.
She was Brittany's mother, Patricia.
Darius turned toward Thomas.
“Patricia knew?””
Thomas nodded.
“She helped Renee collect evidence.””
“Then why was she supporting Brittany?””
“Because she was afraid of her husband.””
Darius stared at the photograph.
For months, Patricia had watched her daughter manipulate him.
She had known about the trust.
She had known about Renee's investigation.
And she had remained silent.
Jennifer picked up the photograph.
“Do you know where Patricia is now?””
Thomas shook his head.
“No. But Renee left another instruction.””
He handed Darius a second envelope.
“Don't open this until you've spoken to Patricia.””
Darius looked at the handwriting.
Then he asked the question that had been haunting him.
“Why?””
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Thomas answered:
“Because Renee believed Patricia was the only person who could identify who actually ordered her death.””
