Chapter 4: The Lawyer My Father Never Trusted
“Your## Chapter 4: The Lawyer My Father Never Trusted
“Your father’s former attorney.””
Rachel repeated the words slowly, as if speaking them aloud might reveal which part of the story was a lie.
Christopher stood by the kitchen table, his face drained of father’s former attorney.””
Rachel repeated the words slowly, as if speaking them aloud might reveal which part of the story was a lie.
Christopher stood by the kitchen table, his face drained of color. Brenda remained near the front door, clutching her handbag so tightly that the leather creaked beneath her fingers.
“What was color. Brenda remained near the front door, clutching her handbag so tightly that the leather creaked beneath her fingers.
“What was his name?”” Rachel asked.
“Martin Shaw,” Christopher replied.
“He handled Nora’s father’s legal affairs his name?”” Rachel asked.
“Martin Shaw,” Christopher replied.
“He handled Nora’s father’s legal affairs for years. Brenda said he still had access to the old documents.””
Rachel went completely still.
I had known Martin Shaw since I was a child. He had attended my father’s retirement dinner, stood beside our family at the funeral, and helped for years. Brenda said he still had access to the old documents.””
Rachel went completely still.
I had known Martin Shaw since I was a child. He had attended my father’s retirement dinner, stood beside our family at the funeral, and helped Dad prepare the will that left me the house. He was a tall, soft-spoken man with silver hair and an old-fashioned habit of removing his Dad prepare the will that left me the house. He was a tall, soft-spoken man with silver hair and an old-fashioned habit of removing his glasses before delivering bad news.
He was also the reason my father had insisted that everything he owned be documented carefully.
Dad trusted very few people with his money.
Martin was one of them.
“What exactly glasses before delivering bad news.
He was also the reason my father had insisted that everything he owned be documented carefully.
Dad trusted very few people with his money.
Martin was one of them.
“What exactly did he prepare?”” Rachel asked.
Christopher rubbed his forehead.
“The authorization. Brenda told me Martin had the original file, so we could use the information to make the paperwork accurate.””
“Use the did he prepare?”” Rachel asked.
Christopher rubbed his forehead.
“The authorization. Brenda told me Martin had the original file, so we could use the information to make the paperwork accurate.””
“Use the information?”” Rachel repeated.
“You mean the information from the estate records?””
“I didn't ask where she got everything.””
Rachel stared at him.
“You used a power of attorney bearing your wife's purported signature, presented it information?”” Rachel repeated.
“You mean the information from the estate records?””
“I didn't ask where she got everything.””
Rachel stared at him.
“You used a power of attorney bearing your wife's purported signature, presented it to a real estate agent, and relied on it to enter a transaction for property you did not own. Now you're telling me you never even verified who prepared it?””
Christopher's voice rose.
“I believed my mother!””
to a real estate agent, and relied on it to enter a transaction for property you did not own. Now you're telling me you never even verified who prepared it?””
Christopher's voice rose.
“I believed my mother!””
Brenda spun around.
“Don't you dare put this on me.””
“You told me Martin had taken care of it!””
“I said I knew someone who could help!””
“You said the paperwork was legal!””
Rachel raised herBrenda spun around.
“Don't you dare put this on me.””
“You told me Martin had taken care of it!””
“I said I knew someone who could help!””
“You said the paperwork was legal!””
Rachel raised her hand.
“Enough.””
The single word silenced them both.
I shifted Harper against my chest. She was finally sleeping, her tiny mouth slightly open, unaware that the adults around her were dismantling the life she had been born into.
“Christopher,” I said, “did you ever speak to hand.
“Enough.””
The single word silenced them both.
I shifted Harper against my chest. She was finally sleeping, her tiny mouth slightly open, unaware that the adults around her were dismantling the life she had been born into.
“Christopher,” I said, “did you ever speak to Martin Shaw personally?””
He looked at me.
“No.””
“Did you ever meet him to sign anything?””
“No.””
“Did he contact me?””
Christopher said nothing.
Brenda moved Martin Shaw personally?””
He looked at me.
“No.””
“Did you ever meet him to sign anything?””
“No.””
“Did he contact me?””
Christopher said nothing.
Brenda moved toward the staircase.
“I'm going home. This has become ridiculous.””
Rachel stepped aside to let her pass, then spoke before she could climb the first step.
“Mrs. Bennett, please preserve every text message, email, letter, and electronic document relating to this transaction. Do not delete anything or attempt to contact witnesses about their toward the staircase.
“I'm going home. This has become ridiculous.””
Rachel stepped aside to let her pass, then spoke before she could climb the first step.
“Mrs. Bennett, please preserve every text message, email, letter, and electronic document relating to this transaction. Do not delete anything or attempt to contact witnesses about their statements.
If Mr. Shaw prepared a document, his records should establish that. If he did not, those records may establish that too.””
Brenda stopped.
“You can't statements. If Mr. Shaw prepared a document, his records should establish that. If he did not, those records may establish that too.””
Brenda stopped.
“You can't order me around.””
“I am not ordering you around. I'm telling you that destroying evidence or interfering with an investigation could create serious additional problems.””
Brenda looked at Christopher, apparently expecting him to defend her.
He didn't.
She walked order me around.””
“I am not ordering you around. I'm telling you that destroying evidence or interfering with an investigation could create serious additional problems.””
Brenda looked at Christopher, apparently expecting him to defend her.
He didn't.
She walked upstairs, her heels striking each step hard enough to make Harper stir.
Rachel waited until the sound faded before turning to me.
“Do you still have Martin's upstairs, her heels striking each step hard enough to make Harper stir.
Rachel waited until the sound faded before turning to me.
“Do you still have Martin's old contact information?””
“I have a number in my father's address book.””
“Don't call it yet.””
“Why?””
“Because we need to find out whether someone has impersonated him, misused his records, or persuaded him to participate. Those are very different situations. We should not make assumptions before we old contact information?””
“I have a number in my father's address book.””
“Don't call it yet.””
“Why?””
“Because we need to find out whether someone has impersonated him, misused his records, or persuaded him to participate. Those are very different situations. We should not make assumptions before we have evidence.””
Christopher gave a bitter laugh.
“Of course. Nora's attorney gets to decide who we can call now.””
Rachel closed her folder.
“No, Christopher. But if you want any chance of untangling this mess, you should stop making decisions based on what your mother tells you.””
His have evidence.””
Christopher gave a bitter laugh.
“Of course. Nora's attorney gets to decide who we can call now.””
Rachel closed her folder.
“No, Christopher. But if you want any chance of untangling this mess, you should stop making decisions based on what your mother tells you.””
His jaw tightened.
“I've done nothing wrong.””
“Then preserving the evidence should not frighten you.””
For several seconds, the only sound was the gentle hiss of the kettle cooling on the stove.
Then jaw tightened.
“I've done nothing wrong.””
“Then preserving the evidence should not frighten you.””
For several seconds, the only sound was the gentle hiss of the kettle cooling on the stove.
Then Christopher walked to the sink and braced both hands against the counter.
“I needed the money,” he muttered.
I looked at him.
“How much money?””
He turned away.
“More than you understand.””
“Then explain it.””
He shook his head.
“It's complicated.””
“You managed to prepare a document, Christopher walked to the sink and braced both hands against the counter.
“I needed the money,” he muttered.
I looked at him.
“How much money?””
He turned away.
“More than you understand.””
“Then explain it.””
He shook his head.
“It's complicated.””
“You managed to prepare a document, approach a buyer, and accept a quarter of a million dollars. You can manage to explain why.””
He looked at Harper and then at me.
For a fleeting moment, I thought he might finally tell the truth.
Instead, he said, “The company approach a buyer, and accept a quarter of a million dollars. You can manage to explain why.””
He looked at Harper and then at me.
For a fleeting moment, I thought he might finally tell the truth.
Instead, he said, “The company had debts. I was trying to keep everything afloat. If I'd lost the contracts, I'd have lost the employees, the equipment, the house—everything.””
“The house was never yours to lose.””
“Everything I had depended on it!””
There it was.
Not concern for me. Not concern for our daughter.
Fear for himself.
had debts. I was trying to keep everything afloat. If I'd lost the contracts, I'd have lost the employees, the equipment, the house—everything.””
“The house was never yours to lose.””
“Everything I had depended on it!””
There it was.
Not concern for me. Not concern for our daughter.
Fear for himself.
I studied his face, searching for the man who had once held my father's hand in the hospital and promised he would take care of our family.
“Did you ever consider asking me for help?”” I asked.
“I knew you'd refuse.””
“YouI studied his face, searching for the man who had once held my father's hand in the hospital and promised he would take care of our family.
“Did you ever consider asking me for help?”” I asked.
“I knew you'd refuse.””
“You never asked.””
“You always made me feel like I had to beg.””
“I paid your business insurance for eight months, Christopher. I covered payroll twice. I even sold my investments to help never asked.””
“You always made me feel like I had to beg.””
“I paid your business insurance for eight months, Christopher. I covered payroll twice. I even sold my investments to help you pay suppliers.
You never had to beg me. You only had to tell me the truth.””
His mouth tightened.
“It's easy to talk about honesty when you've got three million dollars sitting under your feet.””
“I didn't have three million dollars sitting anywhere. I had a home, a husband, and a belief that we were partners.””
I paused.
“Now I have Harper.””
He looked down.
Rachel gathered her things and told me you pay suppliers. You never had to beg me. You only had to tell me the truth.””
His mouth tightened.
“It's easy to talk about honesty when you've got three million dollars sitting under your feet.””
“I didn't have three million dollars sitting anywhere. I had a home, a husband, and a belief that we were partners.””
I paused.
“Now I have Harper.””
He looked down.
Rachel gathered her things and told me she would arrange a formal meeting with Martin Shaw. Until then, she wanted me to keep my phone charged, retain every message Christopher had sent, and avoid signing anything he placed in front of me.
After she left, I she would arrange a formal meeting with Martin Shaw. Until then, she wanted me to keep my phone charged, retain every message Christopher had sent, and avoid signing anything he placed in front of me.
After she left, I carried Harper upstairs.
The nursery smelled faintly of fresh paint and lavender detergent. White curtains filtered the pale autumn sunlight, and the little wooden rocking horse my father had bought months before he died stood carried Harper upstairs.
The nursery smelled faintly of fresh paint and lavender detergent. White curtains filtered the pale autumn sunlight, and the little wooden rocking horse my father had bought months before he died stood beside the crib.
I sat in the rocking chair and let myself cry.
Not loudly.
I cried the way exhausted people cry when they beside the crib.
I sat in the rocking chair and let myself cry.
Not loudly.
I cried the way exhausted people cry when they finally have a quiet room and nobody left to perform strength for.
A few minutes later, Christopher appeared in the doorway.
He had removed his watch. Without it, he looked strangely unfinished.
“Nora,” he said, “we need to talk alone.””
“No.””
“Please finally have a quiet room and nobody left to perform strength for.
A few minutes later, Christopher appeared in the doorway.
He had removed his watch. Without it, he looked strangely unfinished.
“Nora,” he said, “we need to talk alone.””
“No.””
“Please.””
“Not while I'm holding the baby.””
He came no farther than the threshold.
“I never wanted you to be homeless.””
“You gave me two hundred dollars and told me to leave.””
“I thought you'd go.””
“Not while I'm holding the baby.””
He came no farther than the threshold.
“I never wanted you to be homeless.””
“You gave me two hundred dollars and told me to leave.””
“I thought you'd go to your sister's.””
“My sister lives in Ohio. You knew I wasn't going there with a newborn.””
He pressed his hands together.
“Everything got out of control.””
“Who told you to to your sister's.””
“My sister lives in Ohio. You knew I wasn't going there with a newborn.””
He pressed his hands together.
“Everything got out of control.””
“Who told you to give me the envelope?””
“Brenda.””
“And you agreed.””
He didn't deny it.
I looked at him for a long time.
“Did you ever love me, Christopher, or did you just love what my father left me?””
His face crumpled.
“I loved you.””
“Then why did you choose the give me the envelope?””
“Brenda.””
“And you agreed.””
He didn't deny it.
I looked at him for a long time.
“Did you ever love me, Christopher, or did you just love what my father left me?””
His face crumpled.
“I loved you.””
“Then why did you choose the day I gave birth to try to take everything?””
He swallowed.
“Because I thought I was running out of time.””
Before I could ask what that meant, his phone began vibrating in his pocket.
day I gave birth to try to take everything?””
He swallowed.
“Because I thought I was running out of time.””
Before I could ask what that meant, his phone began vibrating in his pocket.
He glanced at the screen.
Whatever he saw made him step back from the doorway.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
“Nobody.””
He silenced the call.
The phone rang again immediately.
ChristopherHe glanced at the screen.
Whatever he saw made him step back from the doorway.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
“Nobody.””
He silenced the call.
The phone rang again immediately.
Christopher answered, turning toward the hallway.
“I told you I'd handle it,” he whispered.
A man's voice burst through the speaker, loud enough for me to hear.
“You said the money would be back in the account by Friday!””
Christopher closed his eyes.
“I need another few days.””
“Then you'd better find them. Because if Vale answered, turning toward the hallway.
“I told you I'd handle it,” he whispered.
A man's voice burst through the speaker, loud enough for me to hear.
“You said the money would be back in the account by Friday!””
Christopher closed his eyes.
“I need another few days.””
“Then you'd better find them. Because if Vale doesn't get his refund, we're coming to your office.””
The caller disconnected.
Christopher stood motionless.
“Who was that?”” I asked.
He put the phone away.
“A supplier.””
“That didn't doesn't get his refund, we're coming to your office.””
The caller disconnected.
Christopher stood motionless.
“Who was that?”” I asked.
He put the phone away.
“A supplier.””
“That didn't sound like a supplier.””
“Please, Nora. Just give me until tomorrow.””
“For what?””
He looked toward the stairs, where his mother's bedroom door had just closed.
Then he looked back at me.
“To sound like a supplier.””
“Please, Nora. Just give me until tomorrow.””
“For what?””
He looked toward the stairs, where his mother's bedroom door had just closed.
Then he looked back at me.
“To find out what my mother has really done.””
That night, after Christopher finally left the nursery, I received a message from Rachel.
Meeting confirmed for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Martin Shaw has agreed to see us. He has one concern about the power of attorney.
A find out what my mother has really done.””
That night, after Christopher finally left the nursery, I received a message from Rachel.
Meeting confirmed for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Martin Shaw has agreed to see us. He has one concern about the power of attorney.
A second message appeared.
He says he never prepared it.
I read the words twice.
Then my phone vibrated again.
This time, the message came from an unknown number.
*Your father warned you about people second message appeared.
He says he never prepared it.
I read the words twice.
Then my phone vibrated again.
This time, the message came from an unknown number.
Your father warned you about people who smile when they want something. Ask Christopher what happened to the original will.
My blood ran cold.
Because the original will was the one thing my father had insisted must never leave Martin Shaw's office.
And suddenly who smile when they want something. Ask Christopher what happened to the original will.*
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Because the original will was the one thing my father had insisted must never leave Martin Shaw's office.
And suddenly, I wondered whether the attempt to steal my house had begun long before I became pregnant.
