Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Secret Vanessa Stole From a: The Secret Vanessa Stole From a Dead Woman
I read Vanessa's message so many times that the words stopped Dead Woman
I read Vanessa's message so many times that the words stopped looking like words.
*Ask Rebecca what Emily was hiding before she looking like words.
Ask Rebecca what Emily was hiding before she died.
My first instinct was to call my wife and demand an explanation. My second was to wake died.*
My first instinct was to call my wife and demand an explanation. My second was to wake Lily, hold her close, and promise her that nobody would ever use her mother's memory to Lily, hold her close, and promise her that nobody would ever use her mother's memory to frighten her again.
I did neither.
Instead, I forwarded the message to Rebecca and asked her to call frighten her again.
I did neither.
Instead, I forwarded the message to Rebecca and asked her to call me as soon as possible.
She called within five minutes.
“Daniel, don't respond me as soon as possible.
She called within five minutes.
“Daniel, don't respond to Vanessa yet,” she said.
“I need you to Vanessa yet,” she said.
“I need you to tell me exactly what she wrote.””
I read both messages aloud.
Rebecca was silent for a moment.
“Did Emily ever tell you she was hiding something?””
“No. We were married for six years. We to tell me exactly what she wrote.””
I read both messages aloud.
Rebecca was silent for a moment.
“Did Emily ever tell you she was hiding something?””
“No. We were married for six years. We had ordinary disagreements, but there was no secret that I knew of.””
“Did she have had ordinary disagreements, but there was no secret that I knew of.””
“Did she have any legal disputes before she died? Any unusual insurance policies, debts, or property arrangements any legal disputes before she died? Any unusual insurance policies, debts, or property arrangements?””
“Not that I know of.””
“What about her family?””
“Her grandmother?””
“Not that I know of.””
“What about her family?””
“Her grandmother left her the house. Her father died when she was in college. Her mother died when Emily was twenty-three left her the house.
Her father died when she was in college. Her mother died when Emily was twenty-three.””
“And the trust?””
“I established it after Emily died, using the life insurance proceeds and the.””
“And the trust?””
“I established it after Emily died, using the life insurance proceeds and the remaining assets from her estate.””
“Did Emily have a separate trust or investment account before her death?””
I paused.
“There remaining assets from her estate.””
“Did Emily have a separate trust or investment account before her death?””
I paused.
“There was an account her grandmother established for her when she was young. Emily mentioned it once was an account her grandmother established for her when she was young. Emily mentioned it once, but I thought it had been closed after her grandmother died.””
“Do you remember the bank?””
“, but I thought it had been closed after her grandmother died.””
“Do you remember the bank?””
“First National. At least, I think it was.””
“Look for any old statementsFirst National. At least, I think it was.””
“Look for any old statements or correspondence. Don't contact Vanessa about it.””
After we ended the call, I went to or correspondence. Don't contact Vanessa about it.””
After we ended the call, I went to the locked cabinet in my office and removed the boxes of documents I'd kept after the locked cabinet in my office and removed the boxes of documents I'd kept after Emily's death.
Most contained ordinary paperwork: tax returns, medical bills Emily's death.
Most contained ordinary paperwork: tax returns, medical bills, funeral receipts, and copies of the estate filings.
At the, funeral receipts, and copies of the estate filings.
At the bottom of the second box, I found a cream-colored envelope with Emily's handwriting.
My chest bottom of the second box, I found a cream-colored envelope with Emily's handwriting.
My chest tightened at the sight of it.
I had seen that handwriting on birthday cards and tightened at the sight of it.
I had seen that handwriting on birthday cards and grocery lists, on notes she'd tucked into my briefcase before grocery lists, on notes she'd tucked into my briefcase before business trips, and on the last letter she'd written me before her surgery.
The envelope was business trips, and on the last letter she'd written me before her surgery.
The envelope was addressed to me.
There was no stamp, no date, and no indication that it had ever addressed to me.
There was no stamp, no date, and no indication that it had ever been mailed.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
*Daniel, if anything happens to me, please make sure Lily been mailed.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
*Daniel, if anything happens to me, please make sure Lily's future is protected. My grandmother made arrangements for her that I never finished's future is protected. My grandmother made arrangements for her that I never finished explaining to you. The paperwork is with the other family documents.
I wanted to explaining to you. The paperwork is with the other family documents. I wanted to tell you everything after my next appointment.*
I read it again.
Then I turned the tell you everything after my next appointment.*
I read it again.
Then I turned the page over, hoping for more.
There was nothing.
I remembered the page over, hoping for more.
There was nothing.
I remembered the weeks before Emily's surgery. She had been tired, worried, and unusually protective weeks before Emily's surgery. She had been tired, worried, and unusually protective of Lily's routine.
She'd asked me to promise that I would never let anyone pressure me of Lily's routine. She'd asked me to promise that I would never let anyone pressure me into making decisions about Lily's inheritance without speaking to a lawyer first.
At the time, I'd assumed she was frightened into making decisions about Lily's inheritance without speaking to a lawyer first.
At the time, I'd assumed she was frightened about the operation.
Now, I wasn't so sure.
I searched the box again.
Behind about the operation.
Now, I wasn't so sure.
I searched the box again.
Behind a stack of insurance statements, I found an old bank letter addressed to Emily. It referenced an account number and a trust a stack of insurance statements, I found an old bank letter addressed to Emily. It referenced an account number and a trust administration department.
The account had been opened by Emily's grandmother decades earlier.
The letter administration department.
The account had been opened by Emily's grandmother decades earlier.
The letter also contained the name of a law firm.
I photographed the page and sent it to also contained the name of a law firm.
I photographed the page and sent it to Rebecca.
Then I heard a small voice behind me.
“Daddy?””
Lily stood in the doorway Rebecca.
Then I heard a small voice behind me.
“Daddy?””
Lily stood in the doorway wearing her pajamas. Her rabbit dangled from one hand.
I immediately put the wearing her pajamas. Her rabbit dangled from one hand.
I immediately put the letter down.
“Sweetheart, why aren't you asleep?””
“I heard you walking letter down.
“Sweetheart, why aren't you asleep?””
“I heard you walking around.””
I opened my arms.
She came to me, but her eyes settled on the envelope.
“Is that Mommy's writing?””
“Yes.””
around.””
I opened my arms.
She came to me, but her eyes settled on the envelope.
“Is that Mommy's writing?””
“Yes.””
“Are you reading her letters?””
“Just one she left with“Are you reading her letters?””
“Just one she left with some papers.””
Lily touched the edge of the envelope.
“Does it say something about me some papers.””
Lily touched the edge of the envelope.
“Does it say something about me?””
I hesitated.
“It says your mother wanted to make sure you were taken care of.””
Lily looked at the floor?””
I hesitated.
“It says your mother wanted to make sure you were taken care of.””
Lily looked at the floor.
“Vanessa said Mommy left us with nothing.””
The sentence.
“Vanessa said Mommy left us with nothing.””
The sentence made my throat tighten.
“That's not true.””
“She said Mommy was bad with money and you had to pay for everything.””
I pulled made my throat tighten.
“That's not true.””
“She said Mommy was bad with money and you had to pay for everything.””
I pulled Lily onto my lap.
“Your mother worked hard. She loved you more than anything. Whatever happened to Lily onto my lap.
“Your mother worked hard. She loved you more than anything. Whatever happened to the money or the house, none of it changes who she was.””
Lily leaned against my chest.
“Then why does Vanessa hate her?””
I had the money or the house, none of it changes who she was.””
Lily leaned against my chest.
“Then why does Vanessa hate her?””
I had no answer that wouldn't burden a child with adult suspicions.
So I told her the truth I could safely give her.
“Sometimes people say no answer that wouldn't burden a child with adult suspicions.
So I told her the truth I could safely give her.
“Sometimes people say cruel things when they want someone else to feel small. That doesn't make those things true.””
She was cruel things when they want someone else to feel small. That doesn't make those things true.””
She was quiet for a moment.
Then she whispered, “Vanessa told me Mommy had a secret that would make you stop loving her.””
My whole quiet for a moment.
Then she whispered, “Vanessa told me Mommy had a secret that would make you stop loving her.””
My whole body went still.
“When did she say that?””
“After she took the blue box. She said Mommy wasn't the person I body went still.
“When did she say that?””
“After she took the blue box. She said Mommy wasn't the person I thought she was.””
I stroked Lily's hair.
“Did she tell you what the secret was?””
Lily shook her head.
“She thought she was.””
I stroked Lily's hair.
“Did she tell you what the secret was?””
Lily shook her head.
“She said I was too little to understand. But she said if I ever told you about the box, she would tell you everything.””
I held my daughter tighter.
Van said I was too little to understand. But she said if I ever told you about the box, she would tell you everything.””
I held my daughter tighter.
Vanessa hadn't merely threatened to hurt Lily.
She had deliberately used Emily's memory to silence her.
And sheessa hadn't merely threatened to hurt Lily.
She had deliberately used Emily's memory to silence her.
And she had apparently been doing it for months.
I settled Lily back into bed, leaving her bedroom door open. Then I returned to my office and called Rebecca.
She had apparently been doing it for months.
I settled Lily back into bed, leaving her bedroom door open. Then I returned to my office and called Rebecca.
She answered on the second ring.
“I found something,” I said.
“A letter from Emily mentioning an answered on the second ring.
“I found something,” I said.
“A letter from Emily mentioning an arrangement her grandmother made for Lily.””
“Send me a photograph. I've also found a connection to the law firm arrangement her grandmother made for Lily.””
“Send me a photograph. I've also found a connection to the law firm you mentioned.””
I sent it.
A few minutes later, Rebecca called back.
“The firm still exists. One of the partners who you mentioned.””
I sent it.
A few minutes later, Rebecca called back.
“The firm still exists. One of the partners who handled your wife's grandmother's estate is retired, but the records may have been transferred to the firm's archives.””
“Can we handled your wife's grandmother's estate is retired, but the records may have been transferred to the firm's archives.””
“Can we contact them?””
“Yes. I'll make the request tomorrow. Daniel, I need to warn you that an old family trust could have terms we haven't seen contact them?””
“Yes. I'll make the request tomorrow. Daniel, I need to warn you that an old family trust could have terms we haven't seen. We shouldn't assume it contains money or that Vanessa had access to it.””
“Understood.””
“And don't let. We shouldn't assume it contains money or that Vanessa had access to it.””
“Understood.””
“And don't let Vanessa persuade you that Emily's private financial arrangements are evidence of wrongdoing. We need actual records.””
After we Vanessa persuade you that Emily's private financial arrangements are evidence of wrongdoing. We need actual records.””
After we hung up, I sat alone in the office and thought about the last conversation I'd had with Emily before hung up, I sat alone in the office and thought about the last conversation I'd had with Emily before her surgery.
She'd been lying in a hospital bed, her hand wrapped around mine.
“Promise me something,” she'd said.
“Anything.””
“If I'm not here, don't let anyone convince you that protecting her surgery.
She'd been lying in a hospital bed, her hand wrapped around mine.
“Promise me something,” she'd said.
“Anything.””
“If I'm not here, don't let anyone convince you that protecting Lily means making her mother disappear.””
I'd kissed her forehead.
“I would never do that.””
She'd smiled sadly.
“I know. Lily means making her mother disappear.””
I'd kissed her forehead.
“I would never do that.””
She'd smiled sadly.
“I know. But people can be very convincing when they're frightened.””
I'd never understood what she'd meant.
Now I wondered whether But people can be very convincing when they're frightened.””
I'd never understood what she'd meant.
Now I wondered whether she'd been trying to warn me about someone specific.
The next morning, Rebecca called she'd been trying to warn me about someone specific.
The next morning, Rebecca called the retired attorney who had handled the original trust. After several transfers the retired attorney who had handled the original trust. After several transfers and a long wait, she reached a records administrator who confirmed that the firm's archive contained a sealed file and a long wait, she reached a records administrator who confirmed that the firm's archive contained a sealed file associated with Emily's grandmother.
The administrator couldn't disclose its contents over the phone, but she agreed to arrange an associated with Emily's grandmother.
The administrator couldn't disclose its contents over the phone, but she agreed to arrange an appointment for Rebecca to inspect the file with proper authorization.
At ten thirty, Rebecca called me from her office.
“ appointment for Rebecca to inspect the file with proper authorization.
At ten thirty, Rebecca called me from her office.
“Daniel, I have a preliminary update. Emily's grandmother established a trust that was intended to benefit Emily and, after herDaniel, I have a preliminary update. Emily's grandmother established a trust that was intended to benefit Emily and, after her death, Lily. The original terms need to be reviewed, but the file appears to include a substantial investment account.””
I gripped the phone.
“How substantial?””
“I death, Lily. The original terms need to be reviewed, but the file appears to include a substantial investment account.””
I gripped the phone.
“How substantial?””
“I can't confirm the current value yet. We need the statements and the trustee's accounting.””
can't confirm the current value yet. We need the statements and the trustee's accounting.””
“Who was the trustee?””
“An independent financial institution. Not Vanessa.””
I exhaled.
“Then how could“Who was the trustee?””
“An independent financial institution. Not Vanessa.””
I exhaled.
“Then how could Vanessa have touched it?””
“We don't know that she did. But the documents suggest the trust may have required certain notifications when Emily died Vanessa have touched it?””
“We don't know that she did. But the documents suggest the trust may have required certain notifications when Emily died. If those notifications weren't completed, we need to understand why.””
I thought of the line of credit Rebecca had mentioned.
“Could someone have used Lily's information to borrow against. If those notifications weren't completed, we need to understand why.””
I thought of the line of credit Rebecca had mentioned.
“Could someone have used Lily's information to borrow against the trust?””
“Possibly, depending on the trust terms and whether any lender improperly relied on false documents. That's one of the trust?””
“Possibly, depending on the trust terms and whether any lender improperly relied on false documents. That's one of the issues we're investigating.””
I stood and walked to the window.
“Rebecca, I need you to tell me something. Was Emily hiding the issues we're investigating.””
I stood and walked to the window.
“Rebecca, I need you to tell me something. Was Emily hiding this from me?””
“Nothing in the records we've seen establishes that. Her letter suggests this from me?””
“Nothing in the records we've seen establishes that. Her letter suggests she intended to explain it. Please don't let Vanessa turn an unfinished conversation into an accusation against your wife.””
Those words she intended to explain it. Please don't let Vanessa turn an unfinished conversation into an accusation against your wife.””
Those words steadied me.
For the first time since the anonymous messages began, I felt something other than anger.
I felt the possibility that Emily had left Lily more protection steadied me.
For the first time since the anonymous messages began, I felt something other than anger.
I felt the possibility that Emily had left Lily more protection than I had realized.
Then Rebecca's voice sharpened.
“Daniel, there's one more thing. The trustee's preliminary records indicate that someone than I had realized.
Then Rebecca's voice sharpened.
“Daniel, there's one more thing. The trustee's preliminary records indicate that someone requested information about the account several months ago.””
“Who?””
“The request was made under your name.””
I stared at the wall.
“Did I make it?””
“The signature requested information about the account several months ago.””
“Who?””
“The request was made under your name.””
I stared at the wall.
“Did I make it?””
“The signature on the request doesn't match the verified signatures we have from your estate documents. The trustee is reviewing it.””
on the request doesn't match the verified signatures we have from your estate documents. The trustee is reviewing it.””
“Who submitted it?””
“They're checking the contact information and supporting documents.””
I closed my eyes.
Vanessa“Who submitted it?””
“They're checking the contact information and supporting documents.””
I closed my eyes.
Vanessa had apparently tried to access an account that belonged to Lily's family, using paperwork that might not had apparently tried to access an account that belonged to Lily's family, using paperwork that might not have been genuine.
But I still didn't know what she had done with the information.
At noon, Michael arrived with sandwiches and have been genuine.
But I still didn't know what she had done with the information.
At noon, Michael arrived with sandwiches and a folder of his own. He had spent the morning helping me organize copies of the property records.
a folder of his own. He had spent the morning helping me organize copies of the property records.
When I told him about the old trust, he whistled softly.
“Emily's grandmother leftWhen I told him about the old trust, he whistled softly.
“Emily's grandmother left Lily a separate inheritance?””
“Apparently.””
“And Vanessa knew?””
“That's what I'm trying to establish.””
Michael set Lily a separate inheritance?””
“Apparently.””
“And Vanessa knew?””
“That's what I'm trying to establish.””
Michael set down the folder.
“Dan, think about the timing. The money transfers started after the wedding. The house sold six months ago.
The insurance request came in April. If Vanessa found out about the trust down the folder.
“Dan, think about the timing. The money transfers started after the wedding. The house sold six months ago.
The insurance request came in April. If Vanessa found out about the trust, it might explain why she suddenly needed access to everything.””
“Or she might have been doing this, it might explain why she suddenly needed access to everything.””
“Or she might have been doing this for some other reason.””
“True. But we can't ignore the possibility.””
I looked at the photograph of Emily's letter.
“I keep thinking about the promise I for some other reason.””
“True. But we can't ignore the possibility.””
I looked at the photograph of Emily's letter.
“I keep thinking about the promise I made her.””
Michael sat beside me.
“You're keeping it now.””
I wanted to believe him.
Then my phone rang.
The made her.””
Michael sat beside me.
“You're keeping it now.””
I wanted to believe him.
Then my phone rang.
The caller ID showed Vanessa's number.
I answered but didn't speak first.
“Daniel,” she said, sounding breathless, “we need to talk.””
“About what?””
“Emily's caller ID showed Vanessa's number.
I answered but didn't speak first.
“Daniel,” she said, sounding breathless, “we need to talk.””
“About what?””
“Emily's trust.””
I looked at Michael.
“How do you know about it?””
There was a pause.
Then Vanessa said, “Because I trust.””
I looked at Michael.
“How do you know about it?””
There was a pause.
Then Vanessa said, “Because I know what she left behind. And if you keep digging, you're going to discover something that will change everything you think you know about your wife.””
know what she left behind. And if you keep digging, you're going to discover something that will change everything you think you know about your wife.””
I felt my pulse hammer in my ears.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa's voice dropped to a whisper.
“I felt my pulse hammer in my ears.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa's voice dropped to a whisper.
“Your wife didn't tell you the truth about Lily's inheritance. And neither did the lawyer.””
Your wife didn't tell you the truth about Lily's inheritance. And neither did the lawyer.””
Before I could respond, she hung up.
I stared at my phone.
Then a new email arrived from Rebecca.
The subjectBefore I could respond, she hung up.
I stared at my phone.
Then a new email arrived from Rebecca.
The subject line read:
*URGENT — TRUST DOCUMENTS RECEIVED.*
And the first page of the attached file contained line read:
*URGENT — TRUST DOCUMENTS RECEIVED.*
May you like
And the first page of the attached file contained a clause that made me realize Vanessa's threats might be only half a clause that made me realize Vanessa's threats might be only half the story.
the story.
