Chapter 4: The Night Someone Entered Our House
For several seconds, I couldn't make myself speak.
My father's handwriting stared up at me from the note.
If Vanessa claims she sold the house to protect you, ask her who was waiting inside it the night I came home from the hospital.
I read it again.
Then a third time.
The words didn't change.
Someone had been inside our lake house while Dad was dying. Someone he hadn't expected to find there. Someone whose presence had frightened him enough that he had written about it in a letter intended for his daughter.
And Vanessa knew who that person was.
"Mr. Reed," I whispered, "when did Dad come home from the hospital?""
Thomas adjusted his glasses.
"He was discharged briefly on August eleventh. He returned to the hospital two days later.""
August eleventh.
Three days before the property transfer.
I remembered that night.
I'd been staying with Grandma because Vanessa said the house needed to be cleaned before Dad returned. She told me he would be more comfortable without me fussing over him.
But at eleven thirty that evening, Dad had called my phone.
I had been half asleep when I answered.
"Maya-bug?""
His voice sounded thin, as though he were calling from the bottom of a well.
"Dad? Are you home?""
There had been a long pause.
"Not yet, sweetheart.""
"Where are you?""
Another pause.
Then he said something I hadn't understood at the time.
"Sometimes, Maya, the people who know where you keep your spare key are the people you should worry about most.""
I'd asked him what he meant.
He'd told me not to worry.
The next morning, Vanessa arrived at Grandma's house and said Dad had been readmitted to the hospital. She blamed his exhaustion.
I had never questioned her explanation.
Now my stomach twisted.
"Thomas," I said, "did Dad tell you why he returned to the hospital?""
"He mentioned a disturbance at the lake house.""
"What kind of disturbance?""
Thomas looked at the note again.
"He didn't give me the full details. He was exhausted, and his condition had deteriorated. He said someone had entered the property without his permission.""
Grandma gripped the edge of the table.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Daniel asked me not to involve you until I could verify what had happened.""
"Verify it how?""
"By examining the property's security records and the original trust documents.""
I looked between them.
"Did you find anything?""
Thomas shook his head.
"Vanessa had access to the property accounts. She also controlled the estate's administrative files after Daniel's death. Several records were missing when I requested them.""
"Missing?"" Grandma repeated.
"Security logs. A contractor's report. And an inventory of the contents of the study.""
I remembered the little room behind the bookshelf.
The brass key in my palm suddenly felt heavier.
"Why would someone steal an inventory?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Before he could speak, the meeting room door flew open.
Vanessa stood in the doorway, breathing hard. Her silver gown glittered under the hallway lights, but her makeup had begun to smudge beneath her eyes.
Behind her stood a tall man in a charcoal suit.
I recognized him from the ballroom.
He had been the person quietly filming when Vanessa shouted at Grandma.
Vanessa pointed at Thomas.
"You had no right to show her those documents.""
Thomas rose.
"Close the door, Vanessa.""
"I am not taking orders from you.""
"Then leave.""
She looked at me instead.
"Maya, sweetheart, I need you to understand something. These papers are complicated, and Mr. Reed is making a terrible situation even worse.""
I held the letter against my chest.
"Who was inside the lake house that night?""
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"Dad wrote about it.""
"Your father was taking powerful medication.""
"He wrote this before he died.""
"People who are ill sometimes become confused.""
Thomas placed both hands on the table.
"Careful, Vanessa. You have already made that claim in front of several witnesses tonight.""
She ignored him.
"Maya, give me the letter.""
"No.""
Her eyes widened.
"I'm trying to protect you.""
"From who?""
"From people who want to use your father's death to destroy this family.""
I looked at the stranger behind her.
"Who is he?""
Vanessa glanced back.
The man stepped forward.
"Richard Hale," he said.
"I'm the managing director of the company that purchased the lake house.""
I stared at him.
"Bennett Lake Holdings?""
He nodded.
"That's correct.""
"Why did you buy our house?""
He opened his mouth, but Vanessa interrupted.
"The property needed substantial work. Richard made a legitimate offer, and the estate accepted it.""
Richard looked at her.
"That's not quite how I would describe the transaction.""
Vanessa's face went rigid.
"Richard.""
He ignored her.
"I was told the property was being sold under instructions from Daniel Bennett. I paid into an account designated by the seller's representative.""
"Who was the seller's representative?"" Thomas asked.
Richard hesitated.
"Vanessa.""
Grandma stood so quickly that her chair scraped against the floor.
"You paid my son's widow to purchase a house held in a trust established for his daughter?""
"I paid the company listed in the transaction documents," Richard replied.
"I wasn't informed of any dispute regarding the trust.""
"Who owns your company?"" Thomas asked.
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"That's a complicated question.""
"No," Thomas said.
"It's a simple question. Who owns Bennett Lake Holdings?""
Richard glanced at Vanessa.
She gave him a warning look.
He swallowed.
"The company is registered to Vanessa Carter.""
Silence.
I looked at my stepmother.
"You sold our house to yourself?""
"It's not that simple!""
"But you just said Richard bought it.""
"He represents the company.""
Richard rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa, I think you should let me explain.""
She spun toward him.
"You were paid to facilitate a transaction. Nothing more.""
"I was paid to manage the acquisition. I was not told the property's beneficiary was a minor whose interests might have been disregarded.""
Thomas's expression sharpened.
"Do you have a copy of the purchase agreement?""
Richard opened a leather folder.
"Yes.""
He placed several pages on the table.
Thomas began reading.
Grandma leaned over his shoulder.
I watched their faces change as they reached the final page.
"What is it?"" I asked.
Thomas pointed to the signature line.
"This document claims Daniel personally authorized the sale on August eleventh.""
My chest tightened.
"He was home that night.""
Richard nodded.
"That's what the paperwork says.""
"But Dad was sick," I whispered.
"He could barely hold a glass.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Your father understood the transaction perfectly well.""
Thomas turned the page around.
"Then perhaps you can explain why the signature is dated August eleventh, but the attached medical authorization states Daniel was under heavy sedation at the time.""
Vanessa's lips parted.
For the first time, Richard looked directly at her with open suspicion.
"Heavy sedation?""
She snatched the document.
"This is a preliminary copy. There may be errors.""
Thomas calmly retrieved it.
"Then you won't object to an independent handwriting examination.""
Vanessa looked from one face to another.
"No.""
The word came out before she could stop herself.
Thomas raised an eyebrow.
"No?""
"I mean, there's no need to turn this into a circus.""
"That decision isn't yours to make.""
Vanessa's hands began to shake.
She turned to me.
"Maya, please. You don't know what you're holding. Give me the letter, and we can talk about everything tomorrow.""
I remembered the way she had torn my place card in half.
The way she had ordered security to remove me from a gala held in my father's name.
The way she had said, And look where that got him.
I took one step backward.
"You don't get to tell me what happens tomorrow.""
Her expression hardened.
"You ungrateful little—"
"Finish that sentence," Grandma said quietly, "and I will make sure everyone in that ballroom hears exactly how you speak to Daniel's daughter when you think no one can stop you.""
Vanessa closed her mouth.
Richard gathered his papers.
"I think I need independent legal advice.""
"You will do no such thing," Vanessa snapped.
He stared at her.
"You paid me to manage a property acquisition. You didn't tell me you were the registered owner of the buyer, and you didn't tell me the property was held in a trust. If the transaction is invalid, I need to protect myself.""
Thomas nodded.
"That's sensible.""
Vanessa's gaze darted toward the door.
For a moment, I thought she might run.
Instead, she turned toward Richard and whispered something I couldn't hear.
He shook his head.
"No. I'm not covering for you.""
She slapped his folder out of his hands.
The papers scattered across the floor.
"After everything I've done for you!""
Richard looked at her in disbelief.
"You did nothing for me. You hired me.""
Thomas stepped between them.
"That's enough. Nobody leaves until we have documented what was presented here tonight.""
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she looked at me.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"You have no idea what your father did to protect you.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"What does that mean?""
She backed toward the doorway.
"Ask your grandmother.""
Everyone turned.
Grandma went completely still.
I stared at her.
"Grandma?""
She closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she looked at me, and I saw something in her face I had never seen before.
Not anger.
Not confusion.
Guilt.
"Maya," she whispered, "there is something about that night at the lake house that your father never wanted you to know.""
And before she could explain, Thomas's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Then he answered.
A moment later, his expression changed.
"Where?"" he asked.
He listened.
"Don't touch anything. I'll be there as soon as I can.""
He ended the call and looked at us.
"The county sheriff has located the original property file.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where?""
Thomas looked directly at Vanessa.
"Inside the lake house.""
Vanessa staggered backward.
May you like
Because the property had supposedly been empty for three months.
And someone had just discovered a room inside it that wasn't supposed to exist.
