Chapter 5: The Account
I didn't leave.
Not because I trusted Karen.
Not because I trusted Dad.
And certainly not because I suddenly wanted to save my family.
I stayed because Daniel told me not to move until I understood what I was holding.
I put the folder back on the table.
“Daniel,” I said, “what exactly should I do?””
“Lock the documents somewhere safe. Don't alter them. Don't sign anything. And don't let anyone take them.””
Karen laughed.
“You're taking legal advice from a retired attorney over the phone?””
Daniel heard her.
“I may be retired, Karen, but I still know what fraud looks like.””
Her face changed.
Dad looked at her.
“Karen.””
She turned toward him.
“What?””
“Tell me the truth.””
She stared at him.
“You don't want the truth.””
“I want all of it.””
“You can't handle it.””
Dad slammed his hand on the table.
“Try me.””
Madison flinched.
I had never seen him lose his temper like that.
Karen stared at him for a long moment.
Then she sat down.
“I didn't start this.””
I folded my arms.
“Who did?””
She shook her head.
“I can't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because if I do, they'll come after me.””
“Who?””
She looked toward the windows.
Then lowered her voice.
“Robert.””
My skin prickled.
“Robert Hale?””
Karen nodded.
Daniel said through the phone, “Emily, listen carefully.””
I held the phone closer.
“I know that name. Your grandfather hired Robert years ago as a financial consultant. He had no authority to become trustee.””
“Then how did he become trustee?””
“I don't know.””
Dad suddenly spoke.
“I do.””
Everyone looked at him.
Dad swallowed.
“Robert approached me last year.””
I stared.
“What did he want?””
“He said he could restructure the trust.””
“Why?””
“He said the investments weren't performing well.””
“Did you hire him?””
“No.””
“Then why was he involved?””
Dad rubbed his face.
“Because I thought Daniel had recommended him.””
Daniel immediately said, “I never did.””
Dad looked stunned.
“I was told you had.””
“By whom?””
Dad looked at Karen.
She didn't answer.
“Karen?””
She stared at the floor.
I felt a coldness spread through me.
“Dad,” I said, “how much did Robert control?””
“I don't know.””
“Then find out.””
“I will.””
“No.””
I pointed at the folder.
“We will.””
I sat down and opened the documents again.
Daniel told me which pages to photograph.
Trust agreement.
Amendment.
Withdrawal requests.
Vehicle transfer.
Power of attorney.
Trustee change.
I photographed everything.
Then Daniel asked me to look at one particular page.
“Bottom right corner.””
I zoomed in.
There was a notary stamp.
The date was four months ago.
The notary's name was printed underneath.
I recognized it.
“That's Karen's friend.””
Dad looked over.
“Who?””
“Linda Matthews. She works at the salon Karen goes to.””
Karen snapped, “That's not relevant.””
“Why did she notarize my signature?””
“I don't know.””
“You know her.””
“So?””
“You've been friends for ten years.””
Karen stood.
“I didn't sign that document.””
I looked at her.
“Then why was it notarized in your presence?””
Her face went blank.
Daniel spoke.
“Emily, there should be a notarial journal entry.””
“Where?””
“At the county recorder.””
I looked at Dad.
“We're going.””
Karen stood quickly.
“No.””
I turned.
“No?””
“You're not going there.””
“Why?””
“Because this can be handled privately.””
“By who?””
She didn't answer.
I picked up my purse.
Dad grabbed his keys.
“I'm coming.””
Karen stepped in front of him.
“Michael, don't.””
He looked at her.
“You lied to me.””
“I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
She shook her head.
“You don't understand what Robert is capable of.””
Dad went still.
“Then tell me.””
She didn't.
Dad walked past her.
Madison followed.
I stopped her.
“Are you coming?””
She nodded.
“Emily…”
“What?””
“I really didn't know.””
I looked at her.
“Then help me prove it.””
She swallowed.
“Okay.””
We drove to the county recorder's office.
The sky had darkened by the time we arrived.
The lobby was almost empty.
A clerk brought up the notarial journal.
I gave her the date.
She searched.
Then she frowned.
“There is an entry.””
My heart pounded.
“Can I see it?””
She slid the record toward me.
I read it.
The document had supposedly been signed in person.
My name appeared as the signer.
Karen's name appeared as a witness.
Linda Matthews was listed as the notary.
But there was one problem.
I had been at work that entire day.
I remembered because I'd gotten a write-up for being seven minutes late.
I looked at Dad.
“I wasn't here.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
Then Madison spoke.
“Mom wasn't here either.””
Karen had told her she was at the salon that afternoon.
I looked at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because I drove her there.””
Karen's face went white.
Madison continued.
“She stayed for maybe twenty minutes. Then she told me she had an appointment somewhere else.””
Karen whispered,
“Madison.””
“No.””
Madison started crying again.
“You keep telling me to lie for you.””
Karen stared at her daughter.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
“Yes, I do.””
Madison looked at me.
“I think I finally understand.””
I asked quietly, “Understand what?””
She wiped her face.
“Mom didn't sell your car because I needed it.””
Karen's eyes widened.
“Madison, stop.””
“She needed the money.””
“For what?””
Madison looked at her mother.
“Robert.””
The name hit the room like a gunshot.
Dad's face hardened.
“What did Karen owe Robert?””
Madison shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You do.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“Madison.””
She closed her eyes.
“Mom borrowed money from him.””
“How much?””
“I don't know.””
“Why?””
She whispered,
“Because of the house.””
Dad looked confused.
“What about the house?””
Madison stared at him.
“Robert said the house wasn't really yours anymore.””
Dad went pale.
“What?””
“He said Grandpa's trust had already transferred it.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Is that possible?””
“No.””
Daniel's voice was firm.
“Absolutely not.””
Dad leaned against the wall.
I asked, “Then why would Robert say that?””
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Then he said,
“Because someone may have been trying to create a second set of ownership records.””
I looked at the documents in my hand.
“Why?””
“To sell the property.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“The house?””
Daniel said,
“Yes.””
I stared at my father.
“Dad.””
He couldn't speak.
Karen finally whispered,
“I was trying to stop him.””
I turned toward her.
“You were giving him my money.””
“I thought it would buy us time.””
“You sold my car to pay him.””
“I had no choice.””
“You always had a choice.””
She started crying.
“I was afraid.””
“Of Robert?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Karen looked at me.
And for the first time, she didn't look like the cruel stepmother I'd spent nine years fighting.
She looked like someone who had backed herself into a corner.
“He knows about your mother.””
The room went silent.
My entire body froze.
“What does he know?””
Karen's lips parted.
Then closed.
Dad stepped forward.
“Karen, what does Robert know about Emily's mother?””
She looked at me.
“He knows what really happened the night she died.””
I couldn't breathe.
My mother's death had always been described as an accident.
A rainy road.
A collision.
A terrible night.
But Karen was looking at me like the truth was something much darker.
I whispered,
“What are you saying?””
She didn't answer.
Instead, my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
His voice was urgent.
“Emily, I just pulled the original trust file.””
“What did you find?””
“A letter from your grandfather.””
“What does it say?””
Daniel took a breath.
“It names the person he believed was responsible for your mother's death.””
I gripped the phone.
“Who?””
May you like
Daniel said the name.
And this time, Dad collapsed into the nearest chair.
