Chapter 5: The Woman Charlotte Feared
Margaret Collins arrived at the Carter estate twenty-three minutes later.
She was sixty-three, with short silver hair, a navy wool coat, and the sort of expression that made people reconsider their decisions before speaking.
She carried a leather briefcase in one hand.
In the other was a sealed document pouch.
Evelyn met her at the entrance.
“Margaret.””
“Evelyn.””
They embraced briefly.
Then Margaret looked past her.
“Where is Daniel?””
“Upstairs with Lily.””
“And Madison?””
Evelyn glanced toward the east hallway.
“Somewhere she shouldn't be.””
Margaret didn't smile.
“Then we'd better hurry.””
They entered the living room.
Madison stood beside the fireplace, holding a glass of water.
Her designer handbag was gone.
Her eyes moved immediately to Margaret's briefcase.
“I hope you've come to explain why you're involving yourself in our marriage.””
Margaret placed the briefcase on the coffee table.
“I've come because Charlotte hired me to protect her daughter.””
Madison gave a dismissive laugh.
“Charlotte is dead.””
Margaret looked directly at her.
“Her instructions aren't.””
Daniel entered from the staircase.
He had changed into a dark sweater, but his face remained tense.
“Margaret, I want answers.””
“You'll get them.””
“Did my father steal money from Lily's trust?””
Margaret opened the briefcase.
“Your father attempted to gain control over the trust before his death. He was unsuccessful at first.””
Daniel stared.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Because Charlotte asked me not to.””
“I'm her husband.””
“You were also under enormous pressure from your father's business affairs. Charlotte believed telling you immediately could put you in danger.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Danger from whom?””
Margaret looked toward Madison.
“That's what we're here to establish.””
Madison placed her glass down.
“This is outrageous.””
Margaret removed a document.
“On March 12, three years ago, Richard Carter submitted a request to amend the Carter Family Residential Trust.””
Daniel took the paper.
“That's impossible. He died in January.””
“Exactly.””
Daniel stared at the date.
The signature at the bottom appeared to be his father's.
But the request had been submitted two months after his death.
“Who signed this?””
Margaret tapped the signature.
“The authorization was submitted electronically through an account associated with your father's estate.””
Evelyn leaned forward.
“Who accessed the account?””
Margaret turned another page.
“An authorized representative named Madison Hayes.””
The room went silent.
Madison laughed.
“That's a lie.””
Margaret placed a printed authorization form on the table.
“Your signature is here.””
Madison didn't touch it.
“Anyone could have forged that.””
“Then you'll welcome an independent handwriting examination.””
Madison looked toward Daniel.
“Are you seriously believing this woman over your wife?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Margaret continued.
“Charlotte discovered the unauthorized activity and began investigating. She found that several payments had been routed through a company called M.H. Property Consulting.””
Evelyn frowned.
“What does M.H. stand for?””
Margaret looked at Madison.
“Madison Hayes.””
Daniel turned sharply.
“You had a company?””
“It was a consulting business.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because it wasn't relevant to our marriage.””
“Apparently, it was relevant to my daughter's money.””
Madison folded her arms.
“I didn't steal anything.””
Margaret removed another document.
“Three transfers were made from accounts connected to the trust. Their combined value was $186,400.””
Daniel stared.
“Almost two hundred thousand dollars?””
“Yes.””
“Where did the money go?””
Margaret slid the document toward him.
The destination account belonged to M.H. Property Consulting.
Daniel sat down.
Evelyn felt the room tilt.
“Did Charlotte recover the money?””
“Some of it. Not all.””
Daniel looked up.
“Why didn't you report this?””
“I did. Charlotte authorized a formal investigation, but before it could be completed, her health deteriorated.””
Madison shook her head.
“You're leaving out the most important part.””
Margaret looked at her.
“Which is?””
“Richard wanted the money moved. He said it was for the family. He told me Daniel knew.””
Daniel stood.
“My father never told me anything about this.””
“He said you were too busy running the company.””
“I was working for him!””
Madison's voice cracked.
“He said he was protecting you.””
Margaret leaned back.
“Interesting. Then perhaps you can explain why the money went to an account registered in your name.””
Madison looked away.
Daniel walked toward the window.
Snow had begun collecting along the stone ledges outside.
He remembered the final months of his father's life.
Richard had been secretive, increasingly irritable, and obsessed with the estate.
He had told Daniel that Charlotte was becoming paranoid about money.
He had insisted that Daniel stop discussing family finances with her.
Daniel had believed him.
Now, he wondered how many other things his father had lied about.
“Margaret,” he said quietly, “what did Charlotte want us to know?””
Margaret opened the document pouch.
“She left a second letter.””
Evelyn looked up.
“To me?””
“No. To Daniel.””
He took the envelope.
His name was written across the front.
His hands trembled slightly as he opened it.
Daniel,
If Margaret has given you this letter, then I hope you have finally begun asking the right questions.
I never wanted to believe your father was capable of hurting Lily. But I found evidence that he had been planning to change the trust long before I became ill.
He told me that he wanted to protect the family estate from creditors.
I discovered that he had already promised part of the property to a private investment group.
Daniel stopped reading.
“Promised the property?””
Margaret nodded.
“The group was called Northbridge Capital.””
Daniel recognized the name.
It was an investment company that had attempted to purchase several properties in the area.
He continued reading.
I refused to sign the transfer documents.
After that, the atmosphere in this house changed.
Your father began meeting Madison privately. I heard them discussing Lily's inheritance, and I realized they believed the house could become theirs if I were no longer able to protect it.
Daniel lowered the letter.
“Madison was meeting my father?””
Margaret nodded.
“Charlotte documented several meetings.””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she was afraid the information would reach the wrong person.””
Madison suddenly laughed.
“You're all acting like Charlotte was some kind of detective. She was sick. She misunderstood everything.””
Margaret turned toward her.
“Then perhaps you can explain this.””
She removed a photograph.
It showed Richard Carter standing beside Madison outside a restaurant.
The date printed on the back was almost three years before Charlotte's death.
Daniel stared.
“Where was this taken?””
“Chicago,” Margaret answered.
“Your father told Charlotte he was attending a business conference.””
Daniel looked at Madison.
“You told me you had never met him before our engagement.””
Madison said nothing.
“Why did you lie?””
“I didn't.””
“You're standing in a photograph with him.””
“I was working for his company.””
Daniel blinked.
“What?””
Madison's expression changed.
For a moment, she seemed to consider telling the truth.
Then she lifted her chin.
“I was an administrative consultant. Richard hired me to handle some private estate paperwork.””
Margaret nodded.
“That is correct.””
Daniel turned.
“You worked for my father?””
“For a short time.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I knew you'd misunderstand.””
Evelyn looked at Margaret.
“What else did Charlotte discover?””
Margaret closed the folder.
“Something much more disturbing.””
She reached into her briefcase and removed a photograph of a handwritten ledger.
“Charlotte found that someone had been recording payments made to various people connected to the estate.””
Daniel examined it.
Several names appeared beside dates and amounts.
He recognized two business associates.
One was a former household manager.
The third name made him stop.
*Madison Hayes.*
But beneath it was another name.
A name he hadn't seen in years.
*Thomas Reed.*
Daniel looked up.
“Who is Thomas Reed?””
Evelyn's face changed.
Margaret noticed.
“Evelyn?””
She swallowed.
“Thomas was Richard's personal assistant.””
“Was?””
“He disappeared shortly before Richard died.””
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
“Why would his name be in Charlotte's records?””
Margaret removed another page.
“Because Thomas was the person who helped Charlotte trace the transfers.””
Madison's glass slipped from her hand.
It struck the marble floor and shattered.
Everyone turned.
“Madison?”” Daniel asked.
She looked frightened now.
Not angry.
Not offended.
Terrified.
Margaret stepped closer.
“Do you know where Thomas Reed is?””
Madison shook her head.
“No.””
“Charlotte believed he had information about the original trust documents.””
“I said I don't know!””
Margaret placed the final document on the table.
It was a printed email.
The sender was Thomas Reed.
The date was two weeks before Charlotte died.
The subject line read:
*I KNOW WHO ORDERED THE SECOND TRANSFER.*
Daniel read the message.
There was only one sentence.
Charlotte, the person you are looking for isn't Madison. She's only doing what someone else is paying her to do.
Daniel slowly lifted his head.
“Who?””
Margaret turned the paper over.
A handwritten name appeared on the back.
Evelyn Carter.
The room fell silent.
Evelyn stared at the paper.
“No.””
Madison's eyes widened.
Margaret didn't speak.
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Mom?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know why my name is there.””
Margaret reached into her briefcase again.
“There's something else.””
She placed a small photograph beside the email.
It showed Evelyn standing outside a bank.
Beside her was Thomas Reed.
May you like
And on the back, in Charlotte's handwriting, were the words:
*THE PERSON WHO HAS THE ORIGINAL RECORDS.*
