Chapter 5: The Secret Behind the Offshore Letter
Dad didn't dial the police.
Not immediately.
He stared at Rhonda as if he were seeing her for the first time.
"What happened on the rig?"" he asked.
Rhonda folded her arms.
"Don't pretend you don't know.""
"Tell me.""
She glanced at me.
"Not in front of Madison.""
Dad laughed once.
"She's the reason we're standing here.""
"Daniel, please.""
"No. You wanted to discuss the rig. Let's discuss it.""
Rhonda's lips tightened.
"Fine.""
She walked downstairs.
Dad followed.
I stayed close behind him, holding the letter.
In the kitchen, Rhonda placed her handbag on the counter.
She took out her phone and opened a photograph.
"Remember this?""
She turned the screen toward Dad.
It showed a maintenance report from the oil rig.
A damaged safety valve.
A handwritten signature at the bottom.
Daniel Ellis.
Dad stared at it.
"Where did you get that?""
"From the company.""
"I never signed this.""
Rhonda shrugged.
"That's what the document says.""
Dad took the phone.
He studied the signature.
Then he looked at Mason's business card lying on the kitchen counter.
"Did you get this from him?""
Rhonda didn't answer.
Dad put the phone down.
"That report was submitted two months ago. I was on the rig when the valve failed. I reported the damage immediately.""
"According to this, you approved the equipment.""
"That's a forged signature.""
Rhonda shrugged again.
"That's what everyone says when they get caught.""
I watched Dad's face.
He looked furious, but underneath the anger was something else.
Fear.
"Who gave you this report?"" he asked.
Rhonda picked up her mimosa glass.
"Someone who knows how things work.""
Dad moved closer.
"Who?""
"You're not listening.""
"Who?""
She set the glass down.
"Mason.""
Dad shook his head.
"He's a private investigator. He doesn't work for the rig.""
"Not officially.""
The kitchen went silent.
I looked between them.
"What's going on?""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Three weeks ago, a safety incident happened offshore. A pressure-control valve failed during a maintenance test. Nobody was hurt, but the company started an internal investigation.""
"And?""
"And someone submitted paperwork claiming I'd approved the replacement part.""
I frowned.
"Did you?""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"I refused to sign off because the equipment hadn't passed inspection.""
Rhonda laughed.
"That's a convenient story.""
Dad ignored her.
"After the incident, the company placed me on temporary administrative leave pending an investigation. That's why I was expecting to come home early.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want you worrying.""
He reached for my hand.
"I'm sorry, baby.""
I squeezed his fingers.
Then Rhonda interrupted.
"Let's not pretend this is about protecting Madison. You were going to lose your job anyway.""
Dad turned.
"What?""
"Your company has been investigating you for weeks. You think they'll keep a man who can't even keep his paperwork straight?""
"Enough.""
She picked up her handbag.
"Do you know how much money I've spent keeping this family afloat?""
Dad stared at her.
"Where did the money go, Rhonda?""
She looked away.
He opened the blue envelope and pulled out the transfer records.
"Seventy-six thousand three hundred dollars.""
Rhonda shrugged.
"Investments.""
"Red Oak Property Holdings.""
"Yes.""
"Who owns it?""
She didn't answer.
Dad pulled out his phone.
He searched something.
Then he looked up.
"Rhonda Ellis.""
Her expression changed.
"What?""
"You're listed as the registered manager.""
She took a step backward.
"That's not what it means.""
"Then tell me what it means.""
She picked up her bag.
"I don't have to stand here and be interrogated.""
Dad moved toward the front door.
"Don't leave.""
"Excuse me?""
"We're calling the police.""
Rhonda's voice sharpened.
"Daniel, think carefully.""
He turned.
"I've thought about it.""
She leaned closer.
"You'll lose your job. Your house. Your reputation. Everything.""
Dad stared at her.
"Then I'll lose it.""
For a moment, she had nothing to say.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through.
"Is this Madison Ellis?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Evelyn Brooks. I believe you've been trying to reach me.""
I nearly dropped the phone.
"You're the trustee?""
"Yes, sweetheart.""
I looked at Dad.
He nodded for me to put her on speaker.
"Evelyn, my mother left me a letter.""
"I know.""
My stomach tightened.
"You know?""
"Your mother contacted me shortly before she passed. She asked me to protect the trust until you turned eighteen.""
"How much money is in it?""
Evelyn paused.
"Before I answer, I need to verify your identity.""
"Of course.""
She asked several questions.
My date of birth.
My mother's full name.
The name of the hospital where I'd been born.
Then she confirmed something that made my knees weak.
"Madison, your mother established the trust with an initial value of $640,000.""
I stared at the phone.
"What?""
"That was the original value. The assets have been managed conservatively. With appreciation and reinvested income, the current value is approximately $1.38 million.""
The kitchen seemed to tilt.
Dad sat down.
Rhonda dropped her handbag.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
Evelyn continued.
"Your eighteenth birthday was the date specified for the transfer of control. We attempted to contact you in September, but our correspondence was returned.""
I frowned.
"Returned?""
"Yes. The address on file was your family home.""
I looked at Rhonda.
She was staring at me.
"Did someone intercept your mail?"" Evelyn asked.
Nobody answered.
Then Rhonda spoke.
"That money belongs to the family.""
Evelyn heard her.
"Who is that?""
"My stepmother.""
There was a pause.
Then Evelyn said:
"Madison, has anyone attempted to access your trust?""
I looked at the documents.
"Yes.""
"Do you have evidence?""
"Bank transfers. Forged signatures. A recording.""
"Good. Do not send those documents to anyone until we establish a secure channel.""
Rhonda stepped toward me.
"Give me that phone.""
Dad moved between us.
"Touch her and see what happens.""
Evelyn's voice became firmer.
"Madison, I need you to listen carefully. The trust is separate from your father's accounts. Your stepmother has no authority over it.""
"Can she access it?""
"No.""
"Can my father?""
"Not without your authorization.""
I looked at Dad.
He nodded slowly.
"That's what your mother wanted," Evelyn continued.
"She was very specific.""
Then she said something else.
"There's another matter.""
"What?""
"Your mother left instructions that I should only reveal this information once you reached adulthood.""
I held my breath.
"She included a document identifying the original source of the trust's assets.""
"Her grandfather?""
"Yes. But there is a complication.""
"What complication?""
Evelyn paused.
"Your mother's grandfather wasn't simply a property investor. He was one of the original founders of a coastal energy company that later became part of a much larger corporation.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Which company?""
Evelyn gave him the name.
His face went pale.
I recognized it.
It was the same company that operated the offshore rig where he worked.
"What does that have to do with Dad?"" I asked.
Evelyn answered carefully.
"Your mother's grandfather retained a significant ownership interest in the original company. Those shares passed through the family trust.""
Dad stood.
"Wait.""
He looked at the letter.
"Are you telling me Lisa's family owned part of the company I work for?""
"Historically, yes.""
"How much?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"Enough that the trust still receives substantial distributions.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't Mom tell us?""
"She wanted you to have a normal childhood. She didn't want money to define your life.""
I looked at Rhonda.
She was no longer pretending to be confused.
Her eyes were fixed on the phone.
Evelyn continued.
"There's one more thing, Madison. We received a suspicious inquiry about your trust three weeks ago.""
"From whom?""
"A representative of Red Oak Property Holdings.""
Dad and I exchanged a look.
Evelyn added:
"They requested information about the beneficiary and attempted to change the correspondence address.""
"Who signed the request?""
"The document carried your father's name.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"Another forged signature.""
"That's what our compliance department believes.""
I looked at Rhonda.
She was backing toward the hallway.
Dad noticed.
"Don't move.""
She stopped.
Evelyn continued.
"Madison, I strongly recommend that you come to Savannah with your father. There are original documents here that you need to see.""
"Can we come tomorrow?""
"Absolutely.""
Then her voice softened.
"And Madison?""
"Yes?""
"Your mother left something else for you. Something she asked me to give you personally.""
"What?""
"A sealed envelope.""
I swallowed.
"What does it say?""
Evelyn was quiet for a moment.
"Your mother's final instructions.""
The call ended.
I looked at Dad.
He looked at me.
For the first time since Mom died, I felt like I was standing at the edge of something she had carefully prepared for me.
Then Dad's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
He answered.
"Daniel Ellis.""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Ellis, this is Captain Robert Hale from Gulf Meridian Offshore Operations.""
Dad straightened.
"What's happening?""
"We've received a formal complaint concerning your conduct during the safety incident.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Who's making the complaint?""
"Your wife.""
Rhonda smiled.
Then the captain added:
"There's another issue. We've also received evidence suggesting you accessed confidential company documents and attempted to transfer company assets into a private trust.""
Dad looked at me.
"That's impossible.""
"Mr. Ellis, I'm afraid we have a bigger problem.""
"What?""
"The documents include a signature from your late wife.""
My father went completely still.
May you like
Because Mom had been dead for seven years.
And whatever document they had submitted, it was impossible for her to have signed it.
