Chapter 10: The House That Belonged to Maya
I didn't go straight to Patricia's office.
I called Samuel Reed first.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"Did you hear what Daniel said about Patricia?""
"Yes.""
"Can you verify the photograph?""
"I can examine it. Don't make any assumptions yet.""
I looked at the image again.
Patricia stood outside her office building.
Denise was beside her.
The date printed on the back was six months earlier.
If it was genuine, it could mean Patricia had been meeting with Denise long before I hired her.
But Daniel had every reason to manipulate me.
He had admitted participating in the scheme.
He had stolen documents from Alicia's estate.
He had watched my family suffer while money disappeared.
I wasn't going to let him create another disaster by making me distrust everyone.
Samuel arranged for the photograph to be examined.
Then I drove to Patricia's office.
She was waiting in the conference room with two additional people.
One was a woman in her early fifties wearing a navy suit.
The other was a younger man carrying a thick file.
Patricia stood when I entered.
"Marcus. Thank you for coming.""
I placed the photograph on the table.
"Before we discuss anything else, I want to know why you're standing beside Denise in this picture.""
Patricia looked down.
Her expression changed.
"Where did you get this?""
"Daniel Price.""
She closed her eyes briefly.
"I was afraid he would eventually show you that.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Then it's real?""
"Yes.""
I stepped back.
"How long have you known Denise?""
"Approximately six months.""
I stared at her.
"Six months?""
"Marcus, let me explain.""
"You were representing me while secretly meeting my wife?""
"No. I was investigating her.""
I remained silent.
Patricia continued.
"Three years ago, before you hired my firm, someone contacted me about a possible fraudulent property transfer connected to the Willow Creek estate.""
"Who?""
"An investigator working for Alicia's estate.""
I stared at her.
"Robert Ellis?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I couldn't establish whether the information was reliable. I didn't want to accuse someone without evidence.""
I pointed at the photograph.
"Then why meet Denise?""
"Because she contacted my office after learning that Robert had reopened his investigation.""
I frowned.
"What did she want?""
"She wanted to know what documents we had.""
"And you told her?""
"No.""
Patricia opened the folder.
"I arranged the meeting because I wanted to find out whether she would admit involvement. She didn't know I was gathering information for the estate investigation.""
I looked at the other two people.
"Who are they?""
The woman introduced herself.
"Elaine Porter. I'm a forensic financial investigator.""
The younger man was Thomas Reed, an attorney specializing in property and trust litigation.
Patricia continued.
"Once you hired me, I disclosed the earlier investigation to an independent ethics adviser. I also arranged for Thomas to review the property matter so there would be no conflict involving your representation.""
I looked at the documents.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I needed to verify the connection first. And because the earlier case involved confidential estate information that I wasn't authorized to disclose without proper grounds.""
Thomas opened his file.
"Marcus, I can confirm that Patricia has not represented Denise in this matter. Her communications with Denise were part of an investigation.""
I looked at Patricia.
"Do you have proof?""
She slid a transcript across the table.
It was a summary of a recorded conversation between Patricia and Denise.
I read the first page.
Denise had admitted knowing Alicia.
She had admitted discussing the trust with Gregory.
She had also admitted that she had been aware of the proposed insurance amendment.
But the most important part was near the end.
Patricia: Why did you continue pursuing the property after Alicia's death?
Denise: Because Gregory said it was already arranged.
Patricia: Arranged by whom?
Denise: Daniel handled the money. Gregory handled the documents. I handled Marcus.
I stopped reading.
Patricia looked at me.
"She admitted the roles.""
I stared at the page.
"What about Maya?""
Patricia turned another page.
"She also discussed the boarding school application.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Why?""
"She wanted Maya out of the house before the trust restrictions changed.""
I looked toward Thomas.
"Has the court order been issued?""
He nodded.
"An emergency order has been entered preventing any sale, transfer, refinancing, or encumbrance of the Willow Creek property while the ownership dispute is investigated.""
I finally exhaled.
"Good.""
Elaine opened her folder.
"We've also traced a substantial portion of the home equity funds.""
"Where?""
"Through three accounts. The first belonged to Shaw Property Holdings. The second was connected to Daniel Price. The third was a personal account controlled by Denise.""
"How much remains?""
"Approximately sixty-two thousand dollars is currently identifiable.""
I shook my head.
"Where did the rest go?""
"Some went toward old debts. Some funded an investment property. Some was transferred through accounts we are still investigating.""
I looked at Patricia.
"Can we recover it?""
"Potentially. But the immediate priority is preserving the remaining assets and establishing the fraud.""
Then Elaine placed another document on the table.
"This is important.""
It was an insurance payment record.
The original policy had named Maya as beneficiary.
The later amendment naming Denise had been submitted electronically.
But the access logs showed something significant.
The request had been uploaded from Daniel's office.
The electronic authorization had been created using a device registered to Gregory.
And the verification email had been accessed through an account controlled by Denise.
I stared at the evidence.
"So all three of them participated.""
Elaine nodded.
"That's what the records currently indicate.""
I sat down.
For seven years, Alicia's money had been stolen.
For three years, my marriage had been manipulated.
And my daughter had been living in a house with a woman who was apparently trying to erase her from the future her mother had carefully arranged.
I looked at Patricia.
"What's next?""
"First, we protect Maya's inheritance. Then we cooperate with the investigators handling the financial fraud. We also need to address your marriage and the property you own jointly, if any.""
I nodded.
"I want Denise out of my house.""
Thomas explained the available legal process.
"Because you purchased the property before the marriage, the deed is in your name, and the mortgage was paid before the marriage, you have a strong ownership position. But we need to follow the proper legal steps.""
"Understood.""
Patricia closed the folder.
"Marcus, there's one more thing.""
I looked at her.
"Denise has requested a meeting.""
"When?""
"This afternoon.""
I almost laughed.
"Why?""
"She wants to discuss a settlement.""
I stared at the table.
"What settlement?""
"She says she's willing to cooperate if you agree not to pursue certain financial claims.""
I stood.
"Absolutely not.""
Patricia nodded.
"I expected that answer.""
I picked up my phone.
"Where is she?""
"At your house.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Can you come with me?""
"Yes.""
Patricia also agreed to attend.
We arrived at my house shortly after two.
Denise was sitting in the living room.
She wore a cream-colored dress and had arranged a folder on the coffee table.
When she saw me enter with Patricia and Thomas, her expression tightened.
"Marcus. I thought we could talk privately.""
"We've done enough talking privately.""
She looked at Patricia.
"I specifically asked to meet with my husband.""
Patricia placed her briefcase on the table.
"Then you should have arranged the meeting through your attorney.""
Denise ignored her.
"Marcus, we can fix this.""
I remained standing.
"How?""
"We can separate the financial matters from the marriage.""
I stared at her.
"There's no marriage to save.""
She blinked.
"Don't say that.""
"You told my daughter she wasn't family. You tried to send her away. You used my property in a financial application without my permission.""
"That's not what happened.""
I placed the recording transcript on the table.
"Then explain this.""
Denise looked down.
Her face lost color.
I opened to the page containing her conversation with Gregory.
She didn't touch it.
"Where did you get that?""
"From the evidence you left behind.""
She looked toward Patricia.
"You recorded me?""
Patricia remained calm.
"You voluntarily participated in a recorded investigative interview. The legal circumstances are documented.""
Denise turned back to me.
"Marcus, you don't understand. Gregory was supposed to handle everything.""
I stared at her.
"Everything?""
"The property. The money. The insurance.""
"You knew Alicia?""
Denise looked away.
"Yes.""
"Did you know she was trying to protect Maya?""
"She was making things difficult.""
I felt my hands tighten.
"She was dying.""
Denise raised her voice.
"I know that!""
The room fell silent.
Then she lowered her head.
For a moment, I thought she might finally show remorse.
Instead, she said:
"Gregory promised me the money would be divided fairly.""
I stared at her.
"Fairly?""
"Jordan and Noah needed security too.""
"And Maya?""
"She already had you.""
I looked at her for several seconds.
Then I said:
"That is the most disgusting thing you've ever said.""
Denise stood.
"You have no idea what I sacrificed.""
"What did you sacrifice?""
"My entire life! I raised your daughter for three years!""
I laughed once.
"You didn't raise her. You made her feel unwanted in her own home.""
"She never accepted me!""
"She was fifteen years old trying to survive your cruelty.""
Denise looked toward the stairs.
"Where is she?""
"Safe.""
"She needs to come home.""
"She is home.""
Denise frowned.
"What?""
"She belongs here. You don't get to decide otherwise.""
She picked up the folder.
"Fine. Then let's discuss money.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"Any settlement discussion needs to go through counsel.""
Denise ignored him.
"Marcus, I can explain everything if you give me a chance.""
"Explain why you married me.""
She went still.
"Because I loved you.""
I shook my head.
"No. You married me because you wanted access to my company, my house, and my daughter's inheritance.""
"That's not true.""
"Then why did you tell Gregory you were handling me?""
Denise's lips parted.
She looked at Patricia.
Then at Thomas.
Finally, she looked at me.
And for the first time, she had no answer.
I turned toward the stairs.
"Your belongings can be collected through the attorneys. Until then, you're not to access my office or any financial documents.""
Denise stepped toward me.
"You can't throw me out like this!""
"I'm not throwing you out. I'm ending a marriage in which my daughter was never safe.""
Her expression twisted.
Then she said something that made me stop.
"You're making a mistake. Gregory still has the original trust key.""
I turned.
"What?""
She looked startled, as though she hadn't intended to reveal that information.
"Where is it?""
She shook her head.
"Ask him.""
"Denise, where is it?""
She remained silent.
Patricia stepped forward.
"Denise, if you know where the original trust key is, you need to disclose that information.""
Denise looked at her.
Then she whispered:
"Gregory has it.""
Thomas asked, "Where?""
Denise hesitated.
"His office. In a safe.""
I looked at Patricia.
"Can we get it?""
"Not without the proper legal process.""
Denise suddenly laughed.
"You think a key is going to solve everything?""
I stared at her.
"What else is there?""
She walked toward the front door.
Then she turned around.
"There's another document. One Alicia signed before she died.""
My heart stopped.
"What document?""
Denise smiled faintly.
"The one that says Maya doesn't get the house until she's twenty-one.""
I felt the room tilt.
"That's impossible.""
"Ask Gregory.""
She opened the door.
Then she delivered the final blow.
"And if you think the court order protects you, Marcus, you're about to discover that Alicia's trust wasn't the only thing we changed.""
She walked outside.
I stood in the living room, staring at the open doorway.
Patricia immediately called Thomas over.
"Find out what she's referring to.""
Thomas opened his file.
"There's no document in the county record showing that.""
"But she may be referring to a separate trust amendment.""
I looked toward the stairs.
Maya had been listening.
She came down slowly.
"Dad?""
I turned.
She was holding Alicia's old photograph.
"Is everything going to be okay?""
I took her hand.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
But even as I said it, my phone began vibrating.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Marcus Bennett?""
"Who's this?""
"My name is Robert Ellis. We need to speak immediately.""
I frowned.
"We spoke yesterday.""
"I know. But I just received something from an old source.""
"What?""
Robert took a breath.
"It's a document bearing Alicia's signature. It changes the terms of Maya's inheritance.""
I looked at Patricia.
"Is it real?""
Robert paused.
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"The document was witnessed by your wife.""
I stared at the phone.
"Denise?""
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then who?""
Robert answered.
"Your former business partner, Daniel Price.""
And suddenly I understood why Daniel had been so desperate to tell me his version of the story.
He hadn't been trying to confess everything.
May you like
He had been trying to make sure I never discovered what he had signed.
*The original trust document was still missing. And until we found it, Maya's inheritance—and the truth about her mother's final days—remained in someone else's hands.*
