Chapter 7: Seven Days After Her Funeral
Nobody spoke.
The officer turned another page.
Then another.
The notebook contained a detailed record of financial transactions spanning nearly a decade.
I recognized the handwriting.
My mother's.
She had written everything in neat blue ink, with dates carefully aligned along the left margin.
Evan stared at the notebook.
"That's private property.""
The officer didn't look up.
"Then you'll have no objection to preserving it as evidence.""
"I said it's private.""
"And I heard you.""
My father moved beside me.
"That's the original account book.""
I looked at him.
"What's in it?""
"Every payment Richard made to people involved in the attempted transfer.""
I looked back at Evan.
He had stopped smiling.
"How much?"" I asked.
My father didn't answer.
Instead, he turned to the officer.
"Please photograph every page before anyone moves it.""
The officer nodded.
Evan stepped forward.
"You're making a mistake. This is a family matter.""
I looked at him.
"Seven days after my mother died, you received money from her account.""
"That doesn't prove anything.""
"Then explain it.""
He looked at the officer.
"My attorney will handle this.""
"Of course," I said.
"Your attorney seems to be doing a lot of work lately.""
Evan's eyes narrowed.
"You're enjoying this.""
"No.""
I looked at the notebook.
"I'm finally understanding it.""
At that moment, Margaret arrived.
She stepped out of a black sedan carrying a leather briefcase.
"Nora!""
I walked toward her.
"What's happening?""
She looked at the police officers, then at Evan.
"Apparently, we're discovering things that should have been discovered years ago.""
I handed her the copy of the handwritten declaration.
She examined it carefully.
"Where did this come from?""
"The cabinet.""
Margaret looked at my father.
"Robert, is this the document Helen mentioned?""
"No. This is a fabrication.""
"Can you establish that?""
"Yes. I have the original trust agreement and the property registration records.""
Margaret opened her briefcase.
"Good. Because the emergency hearing is in less than seventy-two hours.""
Evan laughed.
"You're all behaving as though I've committed some crime.""
Margaret turned toward him.
"Mr. Bennett, your alleged ownership agreement contains a signature that the named notary denies witnessing. Your property transfer is dated after the owner's death. And your own former fiancée has just identified a document you allegedly concealed.""
Claire flinched.
Evan turned on her.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
She looked at him.
"I know exactly what I'm doing.""
He approached her.
"Claire, we need to talk.""
"No.""
"Don't be childish.""
She took a step backward.
"You told me the building was already yours.""
"It is.""
"You told me Nora had signed everything.""
"She did.""
"You told me her father was dead.""
Evan's mouth tightened.
"Keep your voice down.""
Claire laughed through her tears.
"Why? Afraid someone might hear the truth?""
The officer intervened.
"Sir, stay where you are.""
Margaret touched my arm.
"Nora, come with me.""
We moved toward the driveway.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
She lowered her voice.
"The bank statements arrived.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"And?""
"That $185,000 transfer Evan claimed was his investment?""
"Yes?""
"It was made from your joint account.""
"I know.""
"There's more. Three days before the transfer, an identical amount was deposited into that account from another source.""
I frowned.
"What source?""
Margaret opened a page.
"Your mother's estate account.""
I stared at her.
"That's impossible.""
"Not necessarily. Your mother had established a temporary distribution arrangement before her death. The money was supposed to fund the studio's expansion.""
"But I never received it.""
"According to the bank records, it was transferred into your joint account and then moved into the company account under Evan's name.""
I shook my head.
"Why would he do that?""
"To create the appearance that he personally funded the business.""
I felt sick.
"He used my mother's money to pretend he invested in my company?""
"That's what the transaction records suggest.""
I looked back at the house.
Evan was speaking with his attorney on the phone.
His expression was calm again.
He was pacing.
Pointing.
Explaining.
The performance had resumed.
"Can we prove it?"" I asked.
Margaret nodded.
"With the original bank statements, yes.""
"Then why is he still acting like he's untouchable?""
She hesitated.
"Because he may have another source of evidence.""
I looked at her.
"What evidence?""
"His attorney has submitted a witness statement from someone claiming your mother personally approved the transfer.""
"Who?""
Margaret looked down at the page.
"Your mother's former accountant.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Peter Lawson?""
"Yes.""
Peter had worked with my mother for nearly twenty years.
He had attended her funeral.
He had helped me organize the estate.
I remembered him standing beside me in the church hallway, telling me that Helen would have wanted me to keep the business going.
I had trusted him.
"Did he sign this?""
"Apparently.""
I stared at the statement.
The document claimed that my mother had personally instructed Peter to transfer the building and its associated assets to Evan.
I read the date.
October 8.
Four days before my mother died.
My throat tightened.
"That's a lie.""
Margaret studied my face.
"How do you know?""
"Because my mother was in the hospital on October 8. She was barely conscious.""
Margaret's expression changed.
"Do you have medical records?""
"Yes. I kept everything.""
"Then we need them.""
I looked back toward the house.
Claire was sitting on the front steps.
Her head was bowed.
I approached her.
She looked up.
"Nora.""
"Why did you agree to marry him?""
She wiped her face.
"Because he told me he loved me.""
I said nothing.
She looked down.
"And because he told me the building would belong to us.""
I sat beside her.
"Did your father know?""
She nodded.
"He introduced them. Richard said Evan was ambitious, and that you were too emotionally attached to the business to make the right decisions.""
I looked at her.
"And you believed that?""
"I wanted to.""
Her voice broke.
"After my mother died, my father became obsessed with money. He told me I had to secure my future. Evan made it sound like we were building something together.""
"Did you know about the forged documents?""
"No. Not until three nights ago.""
She reached into her handbag.
Then she pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I took this from Evan's office.""
I opened it.
It was a bank transfer authorization.
The date was six months earlier.
The recipient was a company I didn't recognize.
The amount was $750,000.
I looked at Claire.
"What is this?""
She swallowed.
"An account Evan opened using your mother's name.""
I stared at the document.
"Why are you giving me this?""
"Because yesterday, I found out he plans to transfer the money before Monday's hearing.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't know.""
She looked toward Evan.
"But I know who helped him.""
"Who?""
Claire's voice dropped.
"Peter Lawson.""
My blood ran cold.
The accountant.
The witness.
The man who had supposedly watched my mother approve the transfer.
Margaret joined us.
She examined the authorization.
"Where did you get this?""
"His office.""
"Did Evan know you took it?""
Claire shook her head.
Margaret photographed the document.
Then she looked at me.
"Nora, this changes everything.""
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
A hospital number appeared.
I answered.
"Hello?""
"Ms. Bennett? This is the records department at St. Mary's Hospital.""
"Yes?""
"We received your request for your mother's medical file.""
"Thank you.""
"There is one additional item we thought you should know about.""
I straightened.
"What item?""
The woman hesitated.
"Your mother had a visitor on October 8. Someone whose name was specifically restricted from her visitor log.""
I looked at Margaret.
"Who?""
The woman read the name.
"Richard Cole.""
I closed my eyes.
May you like
Richard Cole had visited my dying mother four days before she died.
And according to the medical records, he had stayed in her room for forty-seven minutes.
