Chapter 6: The Missing Page
I barely slept that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Derek standing beside my mother's hospital bed, tearing a page from a blue notebook while she lay dying.
I had spent twenty-two years believing my father had abandoned me because life had become too difficult for him. I had spent the last three years believing his return meant he had finally grown into the man I needed.
Now I couldn't tell which memories belonged to the truth and which belonged to the story he'd carefully constructed for me.
At six thirty the next morning, I found Arthur sitting at the kitchen table with two untouched cups of coffee.
He had changed out of his pajamas, but his hair was still damp from a shower. In front of him lay a faded photograph of my mother, a legal pad, and an old brass key.
He pushed the photograph toward me.
"Your mother kept the blue notebook in a small metal box," he said.
"She didn't trust anyone with the original records. She wrote down every deposit, every withdrawal, and every conversation about your future.""
"Where's the box?""
"I don't know. After Evelyn died, Derek said he'd taken her personal belongings to his apartment. He promised to bring everything back.""
"Did he?""
Arthur gave me a sad look.
"Not everything.""
I sat across from him.
"Why didn't you tell me this yesterday?""
"Because I didn't remember the notebook until you read me that message. I hadn't thought about it in years.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"There were so many things happening at the hospital. Your mother was getting weaker. You were frightened.
Derek was angry about the money, the medical bills, and the responsibility he didn't want. I concentrated on getting you through the next day.""
I stared at the brass key.
"What's that for?""
"The box. I kept the key because Evelyn asked me to.""
My fingers closed around it.
"Then we're finding it.""
Arthur nodded, but he didn't look relieved.
"There is something else you need to understand. Your mother didn't write that notebook because she distrusted everyone. She wrote it because she was afraid someone would rewrite her decisions after she was gone.""
I swallowed.
"Someone like Derek.""
"Possibly.""
He stood and carried his coffee to the sink.
"Maya, I want the truth as much as you do. But whatever we find, we need to let the evidence speak.""
I agreed.
Then my phone rang.
Derek.
I stared at the screen before answering.
"Hello.""
"Good morning, princess.""
His cheerful voice made my stomach twist.
"I thought about what happened yesterday," he continued.
"I know things got emotional. I shouldn't have argued with Arthur in public.""
"You shouldn't have taken my inheritance either.""
A pause.
"I knew you'd say that.""
"Then why call?""
"Because I want you to hear my side before you make a decision that could destroy our relationship forever.""
I looked at Arthur.
He silently shook his head, reminding me not to agree to anything.
"Where do you want to meet?""
"At my office. Eleven o'clock. I'll show you the blue notebook your mother left me.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Why didn't you mention it before?""
"Because I didn't think you'd understand its importance.""
"Try me.""
He sighed.
"Your mother made arrangements that Arthur never knew about. She trusted me with certain responsibilities, and I have documents proving it.""
"Bring the original notebook.""
"I'll bring what I have.""
"No. The original.""
Another pause.
"Eleven o'clock, Maya.""
He ended the call.
Arthur placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You don't have to go.""
"I know.""
"Then why are you considering it?""
"Because if he has that notebook, I need to know what he did with it.""
Arthur studied my face.
"All right. But we're going together, and we won't sign anything.""
At ten forty-five, we arrived at Derek's office in a glass-fronted building downtown.
His company occupied two floors. The reception area had polished stone floors, framed photographs of luxury properties, and a large sign reading DJ PROPERTY HOLDINGS.
I recognized the initials from the bank statement.
A young receptionist smiled when we entered.
"Mr. Johnson is expecting you.""
She led us into a conference room where Derek stood beside a long table.
He had changed into a charcoal suit. A silver watch gleamed beneath his cuff. Three leather folders sat in front of him.
He looked at Arthur and sighed.
"I asked to speak to my daughter.""
Arthur pulled out a chair.
"And she brought someone she trusts.""
Derek's smile tightened.
"Fine.""
He gestured toward the table.
"Sit down, Maya.""
I remained standing.
"Show me the notebook.""
Derek opened the first folder.
Inside were photocopies of financial statements, several pages of handwritten notes, and a photograph of my mother holding a blue notebook.
"Your mother wanted me to manage her estate," he said.
"She understood that Arthur had no experience with investments. She knew I could protect the money.""
Arthur leaned forward.
"Then why did you tell Maya the trust was empty because of medical expenses?""
"Because the business suffered losses.""
"After you transferred the funds into it.""
Derek slapped his palm against the table.
"I was trying to rebuild the money!""
I flinched.
He immediately lowered his voice.
"Sorry, sweetheart.""
I stared at him.
"Stop calling me that whenever you get caught shouting.""
His face darkened.
For a moment, the polished businessman disappeared, and I saw the man Arthur had described from the hospital.
Then Derek slid a photocopied page toward me.
"Read this.""
It appeared to be a handwritten letter from my mother.
Derek, I know you are worried about the future. If anything happens to me, I want you to make the financial decisions necessary to provide for Maya. Do not let anyone interfere with your judgment.
The signature looked authentic.
I read it twice.
"Where's the original?""
"With the other papers.""
"Then show me.""
Derek leaned back.
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult.""
"No. I'm asking you to prove what you're saying.""
Arthur pointed toward the bottom of the page.
"What's the date?""
Derek's fingers covered the corner.
I moved the paper.
The date was March 12.
Two days before my mother had written the message on the photograph.
Two days before the hospital record indicated she had become too weak to sign legal documents without assistance.
"Why is this dated March 12?"" I asked.
Derek shrugged.
"She wrote it before she became seriously ill.""
Arthur's voice sharpened.
"She had been seriously ill for months.""
Derek stood.
"Are you going to accuse me of forging every piece of paper I show you?""
"Only the ones that don't make sense.""
I looked around the room.
"Where's the blue notebook?""
Derek hesitated.
Then he opened the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet and removed a small blue notebook with a worn leather cover.
My heart began pounding.
He placed it on the table.
"Here.""
Arthur stared at it as if he were seeing a ghost.
I reached for the notebook.
Derek held it down with one finger.
"Before you open it, I need you to understand something. Your mother wanted the money used for your future. My business was supposed to provide that future.""
"By taking the money out of my trust?""
"By investing it.""
"Without telling me?""
"You were a child.""
"I'm not a child now.""
He removed his finger.
I opened the notebook.
The first pages contained deposits, dates, and amounts written in my mother's careful handwriting.
The entries matched the bank statements Arthur had brought to the solicitor.
Then I reached a page dated three months before her death.
The handwriting became shaky.
Derek says he can double the money if I let him move it into his company. I told him the trust is for Maya and cannot be used without independent oversight. He became angry.
The next entry was even more disturbing.
I found a transfer request in my desk. My signature appears on it, but I did not sign it.
I looked up.
Derek's face had gone pale.
Arthur leaned over the table.
"Keep reading.""
The following pages listed several transfers.
Each one had a note beside it.
Not authorized.
Requested review.
Derek denies responsibility.
Then the entries stopped.
The last page had been torn out.
I touched the ragged edge.
"This is the missing page.""
Derek stood abruptly.
"That's enough.""
I held the notebook against my chest.
"What was on that page?""
"Nothing important.""
"Then why tear it out?""
"I didn't.""
Arthur rose.
"I saw you do it.""
Derek rounded on him.
"You saw nothing!""
"I saw you standing beside Evelyn's bed. She asked you to give her the notebook. You refused. Then you tore out a page and put it in your jacket.""
Derek's face twisted.
"You want to know what was on it? Fine!""
He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
He threw it onto the table.
"Read it.""
I unfolded the page.
At the top was my mother's handwriting.
Beneath it were the words:
If Derek attempts to transfer the trust again, Arthur Bennett is to be appointed guardian of Maya's inheritance, and all financial authority is to be revoked immediately.
My breath caught.
At the bottom was a signature.
Evelyn Johnson.
Beside it was a witness signature.
Arthur Bennett.
And below that, a third name.
A name I recognized from the bank records.
*Daniel Price, the attorney who had administered my mother's trust.*
I looked at Derek.
"Why did you keep this hidden?""
His lips parted, but no answer came.
Then he snatched the page from my hands.
"You don't understand what this means.""
Arthur stepped between us.
"Actually, I think she does.""
Derek's eyes flashed.
"If this document becomes public, everything I've built will collapse.""
I stared at him.
There it was.
Not an apology.
Not regret.
Fear.
He was afraid of losing his company, his reputation, and the comfortable life he'd built with money that had never belonged to him.
I picked up the notebook.
"I'm taking this to the solicitor.""
Derek slammed his hand against the table.
"You're not taking anything!""
Arthur moved toward the door.
"Then call the police.""
For several seconds, none of us moved.
Then Derek stepped aside.
I walked past him with the notebook pressed to my chest.
At the doorway, he spoke again.
"Maya, if you walk out with that, you won't just lose me. You'll lose everyone who depends on me.""
I turned.
"What does that mean?""
He looked directly at me.
"Your aunt. Your cousins. The house your grandmother lives in. Do you really think Arthur can protect all of you?""
My blood ran cold.
Because suddenly, I understood.
Derek wasn't just afraid of losing his business.
May you like
He was afraid of what would happen if I discovered where the rest of the money had gone.
And he was willing to drag the entire family down with him.
