Chapter 3
Daniel crossed the ballroom without acknowledging the curious guests.
He had been my attorney for twenty-two years. He had helped me settle my husband's estate, protect our business, and establish the financial arrangements that supported my family.
He knew how much I valued privacy.
If he had come to my birthday party carrying a briefcase, something serious had happened.
“Evelyn,” he said, kissing my cheek. “I'm sorry this evening has become so unpleasant.”
“Unpleasant is one word for it.”
His eyes briefly settled on the ruined cake.
“I see.”
Marcus approached him.
“Daniel, Mom says someone tried to access her accounts. What's going on?”
Daniel glanced at Vanessa before answering.
“We discovered irregularities involving documents connected to your mother's properties. We have been investigating them for several weeks.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“This is absurd. You're turning a family disagreement into a criminal investigation.”
The woman beside Daniel finally spoke.
“Mrs. Vanessa Carter?”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Who are you?”
“I'm Renee Wallace, a forensic accountant. Mr. Brooks retained me to examine the financial records and document the unauthorized activity.”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“Wonderful. My mother-in-law hired somebody to spy on me.”
“I was hired to examine financial records,” Renee replied. “I don't investigate people based on family gossip.”
Daniel opened his briefcase.
“We have copies of several requests submitted using Mrs. Evelyn's personal information. We also have records of communications concerning the proposed trust.”
Marcus looked at his wife.
“Did you submit those requests?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Daniel placed a document on the nearest table.
“This signature appears on one of the authorization forms. It is being examined, and we have not yet reached a final conclusion about who signed it.”
Vanessa seized on the uncertainty.
“See? They don't even know anything!”
Renee opened her folder.
“However, we also have correspondence showing that someone discussed transferring control of the properties before Mrs. Evelyn had approved any such arrangement.”
Vanessa's expression tightened.
Marcus looked sick.
“Why would anyone do that?”
Nobody answered immediately.
I watched my son struggle to reconcile the woman he loved with the evidence accumulating around her.
I understood that struggle.
I had once defended Vanessa myself.
When Marcus first brought her home, she had been warm and attentive. She remembered birthdays, helped me choose gifts, and called to ask how I was feeling after a minor surgery.
I had welcomed her because she seemed to make my son happy.
The changes came slowly.
First, she complained that I visited too often.
Then she suggested I sell the house where Marcus had grown up.
Later, she began asking questions about my investments, my insurance, and the properties I owned.
Every question was presented as concern.
Every suggestion came wrapped in affection.
I had ignored the warning signs because I wanted to believe we were becoming a family.
Vanessa suddenly turned toward me.
“You planned this. You invited everyone here so you could humiliate me.”
I shook my head.
“No. I planned a birthday celebration. You chose to turn it into something else.”
“You wanted me to look like a criminal!”
“I wanted to know why you were trying to gain access to my financial records.”
She looked at Marcus.
“Tell her to stop!”
He stared at her.
“I need you to tell me the truth.”
“I am telling you the truth!”
“Then explain the documents.”
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“Your mother has spent years making you choose between us. She never wanted you to have a life of your own.”
Marcus flinched.
I felt the words strike him exactly where she intended.
She was no longer defending herself. She was attacking the person who had discovered her secrets.
“Marcus,” I said gently, “you don't have to decide everything tonight.”
Vanessa seized the opportunity.
“Exactly. We should go home and discuss this privately.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Mrs. Carter, nobody is preventing you from leaving. But you should understand that the relevant records have been preserved, and any further questions will be handled through the appropriate channels.”
She looked at him with open hatred.
“You people have no idea what you're doing.”
Renee closed her folder.
“We will let the evidence speak for itself.”
Vanessa grabbed her handbag.
Then she leaned close to Marcus and whispered something I couldn't hear.
Whatever she said made his face turn pale.
He looked at her, then at me.
“What did she just tell you?” I asked.
Marcus swallowed.
“She says the trust wasn't her idea.”
Daniel frowned.
“Whose idea was it?”
Marcus looked toward the woman standing beside Renee.
She had remained quiet throughout the confrontation.
Now she stepped forward.
“Mine,” she said.
Everyone turned.
She placed another document on the table.
“My name is Patricia Cole. I used to work for the company that manages your family's investment accounts.”
Vanessa stared at her.
“You were supposed to keep your mouth shut.”
The ballroom went silent.
May you like
Patricia looked directly at Daniel.
“And I can prove who paid me to obtain those records.”
