Chapter 8: The Woman Who Signed My Wife Away
My mother arrived at Attorney Whitmore's office at 9:15 a.m.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were swollen, and she carried a
My mother arrived at Attorney Whitmore's office at 9:15 a.m.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were swollen, and she carried a brown leather handbag that she kept tightly pressed brown leather handbag that she kept tightly pressed against her side.
Lily was sitting beside me, drawing.
When against her side.
Lily was sitting beside me, drawing.
When Eleanor saw her granddaughter, she immediately knelt.
"Good Eleanor saw her granddaughter, she immediately knelt.
"Good morning, my darling.""
Lily hugged her.
"Grandma, are you okay?""
My morning, my darling.""
Lily hugged her.
"Grandma, are you okay?""
My mother smiled weakly.
"I'm going to be.""
Then she looked at me.
"Marcus, we need to talk.""
Whitmore closed the conference room door.
My mother smiled weakly.
"I'm going to be.""
Then she looked at me.
"Marcus, we need to talk.""
Whitmore closed the conference room door.
My mother placed her handbag on the table and removed a thick envelope.
"I kept these for eleven years.""
I stared mother placed her handbag on the table and removed a thick envelope.
"I kept these for eleven years.""
I stared at it.
"What are they?""
"Documents your father gave me before at it.
"What are they?""
"Documents your father gave me before he died.""
"Why didn't you show me?""
"Because Vanessa he died.""
"Why didn't you show me?""
"Because Vanessa threatened me.""
My jaw tightened.
"What did she threaten?""
"She threatened me.""
My jaw tightened.
"What did she threaten?""
"She said if I revealed what happened, she would tell you that your father had stolen money from his business and said if I revealed what happened, she would tell you that your father had stolen money from his business and that I had helped him.""
I shook my head.
"That makes no sense.""
"It didn't have to make sense that I had helped him.""
I shook my head.
"That makes no sense.""
"It didn't have to make sense. I was frightened.""
Whitmore opened the envelope.
Inside were copies of financial records, a partnership agreement, and a handwritten letter.
He. I was frightened.""
Whitmore opened the envelope.
Inside were copies of financial records, a partnership agreement, and a handwritten letter.
He examined the first page.
"This is important.""
I leaned forward.
"What?""
"These records show that your father attempted examined the first page.
"This is important.""
I leaned forward.
"What?""
"These records show that your father attempted to reverse an unauthorized property transfer.""
My mother nodded.
"Your father discovered that Vanessa had been moving money through a company account to reverse an unauthorized property transfer.""
My mother nodded.
"Your father discovered that Vanessa had been moving money through a company account. He confronted her, and she told him she had permission. He confronted her, and she told him she had permission.""
"Permission from whom?""
"She claimed Danielle.""
"Permission from whom?""
"She claimed Danielle's grandfather had promised her a share of the building.""
Whit's grandfather had promised her a share of the building.""
Whitmore looked up.
"That was impossible. Danielle's grandfather died before Vanessa was born.""
My mother began crying.
"I know.""
Imore looked up.
"That was impossible. Danielle's grandfather died before Vanessa was born.""
My mother began crying.
"I know.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did she make that claim?""
" stared at her.
"Then why did she make that claim?""
"Because she believed she could convince everyone that the original agreement had been changed.""
Whitmore examined another page.
"Mrs. EleanorBecause she believed she could convince everyone that the original agreement had been changed.""
Whitmore examined another page.
"Mrs. Eleanor, do you know whether your husband recorded his, do you know whether your husband recorded his final meeting?""
My mother nodded.
"He gave me a small cassette final meeting?""
My mother nodded.
"He gave me a small cassette recorder.""
"Do you still have it?""
She reached into her handbag and recorder.""
"Do you still have it?""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small plastic case.
My heart began pounding.
Inside was an old recording device.
Whitmore took removed a small plastic case.
My heart began pounding.
Inside was an old recording device.
Whitmore took it carefully.
"Where did you find this?""
"In your father's study. I hid it after his funeral.""
I stared at my mother.
" it carefully.
"Where did you find this?""
"In your father's study. I hid it after his funeral.""
I stared at my mother.
"Why?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because the recording contains Vanessa's voice.""
The room went silent.
Whitmore examined the device.
"DoWhy?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because the recording contains Vanessa's voice.""
The room went silent.
Whitmore examined the device.
"Do you remember what was recorded?""
My mother nodded you remember what was recorded?""
My mother nodded.
"I listened to it once. I heard your.
"I listened to it once. I heard your father arguing with Vanessa. Then I heard something that frightened me.""
father arguing with Vanessa. Then I heard something that frightened me.""
"What?""
She looked at Lily.
"Can we take"What?""
She looked at Lily.
"Can we take her outside for a moment?""
Whitmore's assistant took Lily into the reception her outside for a moment?""
Whitmore's assistant took Lily into the reception area.
Once the door closed, my mother began speaking.
" area.
Once the door closed, my mother began speaking.
"Your father had discovered that Vanessa had forged a signature on a property authorization.""
I stared.
"Whose signature?""
"Danielle's grandfather's.""
WhitYour father had discovered that Vanessa had forged a signature on a property authorization.""
I stared.
"Whose signature?""
"Danielle's grandfather's.""
Whitmore looked shocked.
"That document would have been impossible to authenticate.""
"Your father knew. He told Vanessamore looked shocked.
"That document would have been impossible to authenticate.""
"Your father knew. He told Vanessa he was going to report her.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"What did she do?""
he was going to report her.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"What did she do?""
"She begged him not to.""
My mother lowered her voice.
"Then she told him she had already moved the money.""
"How"She begged him not to.""
My mother lowered her voice.
"Then she told him she had already moved the money.""
"How much?""
"Almost four hundred thousand dollars.""
I leaned back.
"Did my father report her?""
"He tried.""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"But much?""
"Almost four hundred thousand dollars.""
I leaned back.
"Did my father report her?""
"He tried.""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"But the next morning, he was dead.""
I looked at the recorder the next morning, he was dead.""
I looked at the recorder.
"Play it.""
Whitmore checked the device and arranged.
"Play it.""
Whitmore checked the device and arranged for a technician to transfer the audio.
A few minutes later, a recording began for a technician to transfer the audio.
A few minutes later, a recording began.
My father's voice came through the speakers.
"Vanessa, this.
My father's voice came through the speakers.
"Vanessa, this is your last chance. Tell me where the money went.""
is your last chance. Tell me where the money went.""
Then my sister's younger voice answered.
"I told youThen my sister's younger voice answered.
"I told you. It was an investment.""
"Whose investment?""
"Mine.""
"You don't own the building. It was an investment.""
"Whose investment?""
"Mine.""
"You don't own the building.""
"Grandfather promised me something.""
"Your grandfather was dead before you were born, Vanessa.""
A chair scraped.
Then Vanessa said:
"You don't understand. I deserve.""
"Grandfather promised me something.""
"Your grandfather was dead before you were born, Vanessa.""
A chair scraped.
Then Vanessa said:
"You don't understand. I deserve something something.""
My father's voice became louder.
"You have.""
My father's voice became louder.
"You have stolen from your own family.""
"Don't call me a thief!""
"Then show me the records.""
There was a long silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
"I'll fix it.""
My father replied stolen from your own family.""
"Don't call me a thief!""
"Then show me the records.""
There was a long silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
"I'll fix it.""
My father replied:
"You have until tomorrow:
"You have until tomorrow morning.""
The recording continued.
Vanessa's voice became cold.
"And if I don't?""
"Then I'll go to the authorities.""
A loud noise followed.
Then the recording stopped.
I stared at the speaker.
"That's it?""
The technician nodded.
"That's all that's morning.""
The recording continued.
Vanessa's voice became cold.
"And if I don't?""
"Then I'll go to the authorities.""
A loud noise followed.
Then the recording stopped.
I stared at the speaker.
"That's it?""
The technician nodded.
"That's all that's on this section.""
Whitmore looked at the date.
"Your father died the following morning on this section.""
Whitmore looked at the date.
"Your father died the following morning.""
My mother covered her face.
"I always wondered whether.""
My mother covered her face.
"I always wondered whether Vanessa had something to do with it.""
I stood.
"Why didn't you tell the Vanessa had something to do with it.""
I stood.
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
"Because Vanessa told me she had nothing to do with his death. She said police?""
"Because Vanessa told me she had nothing to do with his death. She said he had suffered a heart attack. And she threatened to accuse he had suffered a heart attack. And she threatened to accuse me of helping him hide the money.""
I looked at her me of helping him hide the money.""
I looked at her.
"Mom, did you see Vanessa that night?""
She nodded.
"She came here after your father died.""
"What did she say?""
.
"Mom, did you see Vanessa that night?""
She nodded.
"She came here after your father died.""
"What did she say?""
My mother stared at the table.
"She told me that if I wanted you and your future familyMy mother stared at the table.
"She told me that if I wanted you and your future family to remain safe, I should never mention the financial records again.""
I felt sick.
She had been threatening our family for years.
And now I understood to remain safe, I should never mention the financial records again.""
I felt sick.
She had been threatening our family for years.
And now I understood why my mother had been so frightened of her.
But something still didn't fit why my mother had been so frightened of her.
But something still didn't fit.
"Mom, why was Vanessa at Danielle's hospital room?""
My mother looked.
"Mom, why was Vanessa at Danielle's hospital room?""
My mother looked at me.
"Because Danielle had found the recorder.""
I froze.
"What?""
"She discovered it among at me.
"Because Danielle had found the recorder.""
I froze.
"What?""
"She discovered it among your father's old belongings. She listened to it. She realized Vanessa had been involved your father's old belongings.
She listened to it. She realized Vanessa had been involved in the financial fraud.""
Whitmore leaned forward.
"Did Danielle confront in the financial fraud.""
Whitmore leaned forward.
"Did Danielle confront her?""
"Yes. She told Vanessa she would give the recording to the police unless she stopped interfering with Lily's trust.""
I her?""
"Yes. She told Vanessa she would give the recording to the police unless she stopped interfering with Lily's trust.""
I looked at the papers.
"Then Vanessa went to the hospital.""
My mother nodded.
"Danielle called me that night. She said she was looked at the papers.
"Then Vanessa went to the hospital.""
My mother nodded.
"Danielle called me that night. She said she was frightened. She told me Vanessa was coming to see her.""
"Why didn't you frightened. She told me Vanessa was coming to see her.""
"Why didn't you go?""
"I did.""
I stared at her.
"You were there?""
"Yes.""
"Then why go?""
"I did.""
I stared at her.
"You were there?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did the hospital list Vanessa as the authorized family contact?""
My mother began crying again.
"Because Vanessa told the nurses I was emotionally did the hospital list Vanessa as the authorized family contact?""
My mother began crying again.
"Because Vanessa told the nurses I was emotionally unstable. She said you were unavailable and that she was Danielle unstable. She said you were unavailable and that she was Danielle's closest relative.""
I clenched my fists.
"That's not true.""
"I know.""
"Why didn't you call me?""
"I tried.""
's closest relative.""
I clenched my fists.
"That's not true.""
"I know.""
"Why didn't you call me?""
"I tried.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
My mother reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a folded sheetI stared at her.
"What?""
My mother reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a folded sheet of paper.
It was a printed phone record.
Several calls to my number were listed.
All made between of paper.
It was a printed phone record.
Several calls to my number were listed.
All made between 8:30 and 10:00 p.m. on the night Danielle died.
I remembered receiving only one call.
My mother pointed 8:30 and 10:00 p.m. on the night Danielle died.
I remembered receiving only one call.
My mother pointed at the page.
"Vanessa had my phone for a few minutes. She told me she was calling you.""
I felt cold.
"She never at the page.
"Vanessa had my phone for a few minutes. She told me she was calling you.""
I felt cold.
"She never called me.""
My mother shook her head.
"No. She deleted the call called me.""
My mother shook her head.
"No. She deleted the call history and told me she couldn't reach you.""
I sat down slowly.
Everything was beginning to make sense.
Vanessa had controlled history and told me she couldn't reach you.""
I sat down slowly.
Everything was beginning to make sense.
Vanessa had controlled the communication.
She had kept me away from the hospital.
She had positioned herself as the family contact.
And she'd used the time alone with the communication.
She had kept me away from the hospital.
She had positioned herself as the family contact.
And she'd used the time alone with Danielle to do something that nobody had yet explained Danielle to do something that nobody had yet explained.
I looked at Whitmore.
"Can we get the hospital's original visitor.
I looked at Whitmore.
"Can we get the hospital's original visitor records?""
"We've requested them.""
"What about the medical records?""
"The request is underway.""
My mother reached across the table.
" records?""
"We've requested them.""
"What about the medical records?""
"The request is underway.""
My mother reached across the table.
"Marcus, there's something else you need to know.""
I turned.
"What?""
"Before Danielle died, she gave Vanessa a document.""
"What document?""
"Marcus, there's something else you need to know.""
I turned.
"What?""
"Before Danielle died, she gave Vanessa a document.""
"What document?""
"She said it was a letter addressed to you. She asked Vanessa to deliver it if anything happened.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did Vanessa deliverShe said it was a letter addressed to you. She asked Vanessa to deliver it if anything happened.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did Vanessa deliver it?""
My mother shook her head.
"No.""
I looked at Whitmore.
"Was there any letter in the estate file?""
He checked.
it?""
My mother shook her head.
"No.""
I looked at Whitmore.
"Was there any letter in the estate file?""
He checked.
"No.""
I turned back to my mother.
"What did Danielle say was in it?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"She said it explained why Vanessa had been so interested"No.""
I turned back to my mother.
"What did Danielle say was in it?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"She said it explained why Vanessa had been so interested in Lily's medical records.""
My entire body went cold.
"Mom, what medical records?""
My mother whispered:
"Danielle believed in Lily's medical records.""
My entire body went cold.
"Mom, what medical records?""
My mother whispered:
"Danielle believed Vanessa had been trying to obtain a copy of Lily's original birth records.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because she thought Vanessa had been trying to obtain a copy of Lily's original birth records.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because she thought there was something in them that could give Vanessa control over the inheritance.""
I couldn't breathe there was something in them that could give Vanessa control over the inheritance.""
I couldn't breathe.
Whitmore opened another file.
He looked through several pages, then stopped.
"Mr. Hale.""
I turned.
"What?""
He placed a.
Whitmore opened another file.
He looked through several pages, then stopped.
"Mr. Hale.""
I turned.
"What?""
He placed a document on the table.
It was a hospital authorization form from the night Danielle died.
At the bottom was a signature.
**Marcus document on the table.
It was a hospital authorization form from the night Danielle died.
At the bottom was a signature.
*Marcus Hale.*
I stared at it.
It looked exactly like mine.
But I had never signed it.
Whitmore pointed to the timestamp.
"According to this document, you Hale.**
I stared at it.
It looked exactly like mine.
But I had never signed it.
Whitmore pointed to the timestamp.
"According to this document, you authorized Vanessa to make medical and financial decisions on Danielle's behalf.""
I felt the room spinning.
"That's authorized Vanessa to make medical and financial decisions on Danielle's behalf.""
I felt the room spinning.
"That's impossible.""
My mother started crying.
"Marcus, she must have forged it.""
Whitmore nodded.
"That is our impossible.""
My mother started crying.
"Marcus, she must have forged it.""
Whitmore nodded.
"That is our suspicion.""
I examined the signature.
Then I noticed something else.
The form included a second handwritten note.
*Patient requested suspicion.""
I examined the signature.
Then I noticed something else.
The form included a second handwritten note.
Patient requested that husband be excluded from sensitive medical discussions.
I looked at my mother.
"Did Danielle ever say that?""
"No!""
Whit that husband be excluded from sensitive medical discussions.*
I looked at my mother.
"Did Danielle ever say that?""
"No!""
Whitmore turned the paper over.
There was a reference tomore turned the paper over.
There was a reference to another document.
A separate consent form.
He read it silently.
Then his expression changed.
"Mr. Hale, this another document.
A separate consent form.
He read it silently.
Then his expression changed.
"Mr. Hale, this is very serious.""
"What?""
He pointed to the final paragraph.
It stated that Vanessa had been authorized to receive confidential information is very serious.""
"What?""
He pointed to the final paragraph.
It stated that Vanessa had been authorized to receive confidential information about Lily's birth and biological parentage.
I stared at him.
about Lily's birth and biological parentage.
I stared at him.
"Biological parentage?""
He nodded.
And then he said:
"Biological parentage?""
He nodded.
And then he said:
"Your sister may have been trying to obtain information that would allow her to challenge Lily"Your sister may have been trying to obtain information that would allow her to challenge Lily's inheritance on the grounds that you were not her biological father.""
My heart stopped.
But before I could respond, Whitmore's assistant's inheritance on the grounds that you were not her biological father.""
My heart stopped.
But before I could respond, Whitmore's assistant knocked and entered.
She was holding a sealed envelope.
"Mr. Whitmore, this just arrived by courier.""
The lawyer examined the knocked and entered.
She was holding a sealed envelope.
"Mr. Whitmore, this just arrived by courier.""
The lawyer examined the sender's details.
His expression became unreadable.
Then he handed it to me.
The envelope was addressed in Danielle sender's details.
His expression became unreadable.
Then he handed it to me.
The envelope was addressed in Danielle's handwriting.
And across the front, she'd written:
**TO MARCUS. OPEN ONLY IF VANESSA CLAIMS LILY IS NOT YOUR's handwriting.
And across the front, she'd written:
*TO MARCUS. OPEN ONLY IF VANESSA CLAIMS LILY IS NOT YOUR DAUGHTER.*
I tore it open.
Inside was one page.
The first sentence read:
Marcus, if Vanessa has reached this point, DAUGHTER.*
I tore it open.
Inside was one page.
The first sentence read:
Marcus, if Vanessa has reached this point, she is using a lie about Lily's birth to hide the truth about what happened to our daughter.
I stopped reading.
Then I she is using a lie about Lily's birth to hide the truth about what happened to our daughter.*
I stopped reading.
Then I turned the page over.
There was a second line.
And turned the page over.
There was a second line.
And it contained a name.
**The doctor who helped Vanessa obtain those records was the same doctor who treated me it contained a name.
*The doctor who helped Vanessa obtain those records was the same doctor who treated me on the night I died.*
I looked at Whitmore.
"Who is Dr. Robert?""
He checked the hospital on the night I died.**
I looked at Whitmore.
"Who is Dr. Robert?""
He checked the hospital report.
Then he slowly removed his glasses.
"Robert Mitchell.""
I waited.
He swallowed.
"He was your father's personal report.
Then he slowly removed his glasses.
"Robert Mitchell.""
I waited.
May you like
He swallowed.
"He was your father's personal physician eleven years ago.""
