Chapter 7 - The Empty Safe
I looked toward the hallway.
The trust safe was in my grandfather’s old study, behind a carved walnut panel Daniel claimed he hated.
Only three people knew the code.
Me.
Charles.
And, stupidly, Daniel.
I had given it to him after Lily was born because I trusted my husband more than I trusted my own memory after weeks of sleepless nights.
“What did he take?” I asked.
Charles exhaled. “Original certificates, two property deeds, and what appears to be the sealed addendum to your grandfather’s trust.”
I looked at Daniel.
He didn’t deny it.
“Where are they?”
He glanced at his mother.
“Safe.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“Emily, Charles is trying to panic you.”
Charles heard him. “Daniel, I strongly advise you not to destroy, conceal, transfer, or alter any trust property.”
Daniel walked toward the phone. “You strongly advise me?”
“Yes.”
“You work for my wife.”
“I serve as co-trustee.”
Daniel stopped.
He had never understood the difference.
Charles continued. “And the bank’s legal department has already preserved the footage.”
Margaret picked up her purse again. “This has gone far enough.”
She headed toward the front door.
I blocked nothing. I said only, “If the documents are in your car, don’t take them.”
She froze.
Daniel looked at her.
There.
A crack.
“Mom?”
Margaret’s voice came out tight. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Open your purse,” I said.
Her face flushed. “You don’t order me around.”
“No. But if you walk out with trust property after Charles warned you on speaker, that becomes a very different conversation.”
She looked toward the front windows.
A black sedan had just turned into the circular drive.
For a second, I thought it might be Daniel’s attorney.
Then another car followed.
Charles’s sedan.
Daniel swore under his breath.
The doorbell rang.
Margaret moved away from the exit.
I opened the door.
Charles Hayes stood outside in a dark suit, silver hair windblown, carrying a leather portfolio.
Beside him was a woman I had never met.
“Emily,” he said, “this is Dana Ruiz, forensic counsel for the trust.”
Dana looked past me at Daniel.
Then she held up a sealed evidence bag.
Inside was a photocopy of a handwritten note.
At the bottom was my husband’s signature.
May you like
The first line read:
IF EMILY REFUSES, USE THE MEDICAL ROUTE.
