Chapter 5 - Claire's Trust
At 8:00 the next morning, I called Claire's estate attorney.
Her name was Olivia Grant. She sounded surprised that I didn't know why Claire had insisted on a separate meeting with her two months before the delivery.
"Mrs. Mercer created a trust for Noah," Olivia said.
I stared across the kitchen at the empty chair where Claire used to drink coffee.
"How much?"
There was a pause.
"Approximately four point eight million dollars in assets, depending on market value."
I nearly dropped the phone.
Claire had inherited shares from her grandfather. I knew they existed. I didn't know they were worth that much.
The number pulled me backward into a conversation Claire and I had on our back porch the previous summer. I had asked whether we should move before the baby came. She had smiled, rubbed one hand over her stomach, and said, "A bigger house doesn't make a safer family." At the time, I thought she was talking about money. Now I wondered whether she had already been talking about Diane.
I remembered another detail. Two weeks before Noah was born, Claire had changed the password on her laptop. I teased her about becoming a spy. She kissed me and said, "Maybe I'm just tired of people assuming they can walk into every room of my life." I had laughed.
Sitting in Olivia's office, I didn't laugh.
"Who controls it?"
"You, as Noah's father, unless you are legally unable to serve."
"And then?"
"The successor trustee named in Claire's documents."
"Who?"
Olivia hesitated.
"Your mother. Diane Mercer."
My pulse hammered.
"Can she use the money?"
"Only for Noah's benefit, with reporting obligations. But a guardian and trustee can have broad practical control over expenditures."
I thought of Martin Keller's messages.
Emergency placement.
Photos.
Instability.
I asked Olivia to send me everything.
Before we ended the call, she added, "Evan, Claire changed one document shortly before she died."
"What document?"
"A private letter of instruction. She asked that it only be delivered if someone challenged your custody."
My throat tightened.
"Someone is challenging it."
Olivia went quiet.
"Then you need to come to my office."
An hour later, I sat across from her while she slid a sealed envelope over the desk.
Claire's handwriting was on the front.
FOR EVAN, IF DIANE TRIES.
My hands started shaking.
"She knew?"
Olivia didn't answer.
I opened the envelope.
The first line stopped me cold.
May you like
Evan, if you're reading this, your mother did exactly what I was afraid she would do.
The Message on Grandma's Phone
