Chapter 5: The Brother Who Knew Everything
My father ran toward the garage door.
"Hey!""
He pulled it open and rushed outside.
I followed him, nearly tripping over a cardboard box.
The driveway was empty.
A black SUV was disappearing around the corner.
Michael stood beneath the garage light, breathing hard.
"Did you see the license plate?"" I asked.
He shook his head.
"No.""
"Do you think it was Vanessa?""
"I don't know.""
He looked down at the document in his hand.
Then he whispered, "Tom.""
My father's older brother, Thomas Carter, had always been part of my life.
He attended every birthday party, sent Christmas gifts, and called me his favorite niece.
He had even helped my father organize the funeral after my mother died.
The thought that he might have helped someone steal from her made my stomach turn.
"Why would Uncle Tom do this?""
Michael stared toward the street.
"Because he knew about the estate.""
"How?""
"Your grandfather created the original Carter family trust. When he died, your mother inherited a controlling interest in several properties. Tom believed that money should have stayed with the Carter family.""
"But Mom was part of the family.""
"Not to him. Not after she married me.""
My father rubbed his face.
"Your uncle always thought Rachel had taken something that belonged to him.""
I looked at the documents again.
"Then why would he work with Vanessa?""
Michael didn't answer.
Instead, he called his attorney.
A man named Robert Hayes had handled our family's legal matters for almost fifteen years.
Michael put the phone on speaker.
"Robert, I need you to listen carefully.""
"Michael? It's late. Is everything okay?""
"No. I found the original estate documents Rachel left behind. There's evidence that Vanessa and Daniel attempted to transfer ownership of the estate six years ago.""
Silence.
Then Robert spoke.
"Where did you find those documents?""
"In Rachel's storage cabinet.""
Another pause.
"Michael, I need you to stop looking through those files.""
My father frowned.
"What?""
"Don't sign anything. Don't send those documents to anyone. And don't confront Daniel.""
"Why?""
Robert exhaled.
"Because the transfer you found wasn't the only one.""
I looked at my father.
He sat down on an old storage box.
"What are you talking about?""
"Six years ago, your brother filed a separate claim against the estate.""
Michael's face hardened.
"Tom?""
"Yes. He claimed Rachel had improperly transferred assets into Emily's trust before her death.""
"That's impossible.""
"I know. The claim was dismissed.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
Robert was quiet.
"Because your brother withdrew it before the hearing.""
Michael stood.
"Why?""
"I don't know. But I remember something unusual about the withdrawal.""
"What?""
"Daniel Brooks signed the settlement agreement on behalf of both parties.""
My father stared at the phone.
"Both parties?""
"Yes. He represented your brother and Vanessa.""
I felt sick.
"How could one attorney represent both sides?""
Robert replied carefully.
"He shouldn't have. There was a conflict of interest.""
Michael gripped the edge of the workbench.
"Robert, I want every document connected to that case.""
"I'll prepare everything tomorrow morning.""
"No. Tonight.""
"Michael, I need time.""
"Then use it.""
He ended the call.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question that had been bothering me.
"Dad, why did you never investigate any of this?""
He looked at me.
"Because I thought the matter had been settled.""
"But Mom left you a warning.""
"I didn't know about the letter.""
"You knew she was worried about Vanessa.""
Michael lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
"Then why did you marry her?""
He sat down.
I immediately regretted the question.
But he didn't get angry.
Instead, he stared at the dusty floor.
"After your mother died, I was lost, Emily. You were grieving. I was working constantly. Vanessa came into our lives when I thought I couldn't handle everything alone.""
He paused.
"She was kind to you at first. She helped with school, cooked dinner, remembered your appointments. I thought she wanted to be part of our family.""
I looked toward the stairs.
"She wanted Mom's place.""
"Maybe.""
His voice cracked.
"I should have seen it.""
I sat beside him.
For a moment, we were just a father and daughter sitting in a dusty room, trying to understand how six years had disappeared into lies.
Then my phone rang.
This time, the caller ID wasn't hidden.
THOMAS CARTER.
I showed Michael.
His face tightened.
"Don't answer.""
But I did.
"Hello, Uncle Tom?""
His voice sounded warm and familiar.
"Emily! Sweetheart, I've been trying to reach your father. Is everything okay?""
I glanced at Michael.
"Why?""
"Your father called me earlier. He sounded upset.""
Michael shook his head.
He hadn't called Thomas.
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"What did you want?""
"Nothing serious. I just heard there's been some confusion about Vanessa and the family paperwork.""
I looked at my father.
"Who told you?""
"Daniel.""
My stomach dropped.
"How does Daniel know what's happening?""
Thomas chuckled.
"Sweetheart, people talk. Listen, I think it would be best if we all sat down tomorrow. Your father, Vanessa, Daniel, and me.""
"Why?""
"To settle this before it becomes ugly.""
I looked at the folder.
"What's ugly about finding out someone forged my signature?""
The line went silent.
Then Thomas said, "Emily, I don't think you understand what you're accusing people of.""
"I understand perfectly.""
"Your mother was very protective of that estate. Sometimes too protective. She made arrangements that complicated everything.""
I felt my anger rising.
"She was protecting her daughter.""
Thomas sighed.
"That's exactly what she told herself.""
I stood.
"Did you try to take her money?""
Another silence.
Then his voice changed.
"Listen carefully. Your mother made a mistake. Vanessa made mistakes.
Daniel made mistakes. But your father is the one who will lose everything if you keep digging.""
Michael took the phone from me.
"Tom, what did you do?""
My uncle sounded surprised.
"Michael.""
"Did you help Vanessa steal from Rachel's trust?""
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Your name is on the original records.""
Thomas exhaled.
"Then you found the wrong folder.""
My father stared at the phone.
"What does that mean?""
"Some things are better left buried.""
Michael's voice dropped.
"Not this time.""
Thomas hung up.
My father slowly lowered the phone.
Then another message arrived.
Unknown number.
You need to leave the house tonight. Daniel has already contacted someone who can make the estate documents disappear.
I showed Michael.
He read it.
"Whoever this is, they know we're in danger.""
I looked at the storage room.
"What about Vanessa?""
He shook his head.
"I don't trust anyone right now.""
We gathered the original documents and returned upstairs.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Vanessa's bedroom door was closed.
My father knocked.
"Vanessa?""
No answer.
He opened it.
The room was empty.
Her wardrobe doors were open. Several drawers had been pulled out. Her jewelry box was gone.
Michael walked to the bed.
A single sheet of paper lay on the pillow.
He picked it up.
It was a handwritten note.
You should have trusted me.
My father read it twice.
Then he looked toward the empty closet.
"She left.""
I checked my phone.
Another message appeared.
She's not going to Daniel. She's going to the person who started all of this.
I stared at the screen.
"Who started it?""
Before I could send a reply, the front doorbell rang.
Michael and I looked at each other.
He walked downstairs.
I followed.
When he opened the door, a woman stood on the porch holding a leather briefcase.
She was in her late fifties, with short silver hair and a navy-blue coat.
"Michael Carter?""
"Yes.""
She looked past him at me.
"Emily?""
I nodded.
The woman took a deep breath.
"My name is Patricia Wells. I was your mother's personal attorney.""
My father frowned.
"Robert Hayes handles our legal matters.""
"Robert handles the family's current affairs. I handled Rachel's estate.""
She opened her briefcase.
"I've been trying to reach you for three months.""
Michael stepped aside.
"Why didn't you call?""
"I did. Several times. Someone kept intercepting my messages.""
She placed a thick envelope on the dining table.
"Your wife contacted me yesterday.""
Michael stiffened.
"Vanessa?""
Patricia nodded.
"She offered me a substantial amount of money to destroy the original trust records.""
I stared at her.
"Did you?""
Patricia looked offended.
"Absolutely not.""
She opened the envelope and removed a document.
"Instead, I found something much more disturbing.""
Michael leaned forward.
"What?""
Patricia placed the document in front of him.
It was a copy of the original trust agreement.
At the bottom was a clause written in bold.
*Upon Emily Carter's twenty-fifth birthday, all controlling rights over the Carter Family Estate shall transfer exclusively to her.*
I stared at the date.
My twenty-fifth birthday had been four months earlier.
Patricia looked at me.
"Emily, your mother made you the sole controlling beneficiary of the estate.""
My father slowly sat down.
"Then Vanessa has no legal authority over it.""
"Correct.""
Patricia opened another folder.
"Unfortunately, there's a problem.""
Michael looked up.
"What problem?""
"Three months ago, someone filed an emergency petition claiming Emily was mentally and financially incapable of managing the estate.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who filed it?""
Patricia turned the page.
The name appeared beneath the petition.
Emily Rose Carter.
I stared at my own name.
"That's impossible.""
Patricia nodded.
"Yes. Because the petition also includes a medical evaluation.""
May you like
She looked directly at me.
"Someone has been claiming that you are mentally unstable.""
