Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING
Margot did not call the police.
Not yet.
She had photographs, but Lucas could claim the documents were drafts, misunderstandings, or materials prepared for another client.
She needed someone who understood the original trust.
Someone Lucas had never controlled.
Miriam Shaw answered on the second ring.
“Margot?”
Miriam was seventy-two and had retired from law three years earlier. She had been Margot’s father’s attorney, adviser, and closest friend.
They had not spoken since the funeral.
“I need your help,” Margot said.
Miriam heard the fear in her voice.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Is Lucas there?”
“No.”
“Leave the house.”
Margot looked toward the study door.
“I don’t think he’ll hurt me.”
“Then leaving will cost you nothing. Take what you need and meet me at the Harbor Café in forty minutes.”
Margot packed the original trust documents stored in the bedroom safe, her laptop, and a small overnight bag.
Before leaving, she returned every paper to the metal box and placed it beneath the desk.
At the café, Miriam listened without interrupting.
Her silver hair was tied at the back of her neck, and her sharp blue eyes remained fixed on Margot’s face.
When Margot finished, Miriam examined the photographs.
“This signature isn’t yours,” she said.
“No.”
“But it is close.”
“Lucas has watched me sign documents for ten years.”
Miriam continued reading.
When she reached the medical declaration, her mouth tightened.
“He’s creating a pattern.”
“To have me removed from the company?”
“To have you declared unable to manage your affairs. Perhaps only temporarily. That would still give him enough time to move assets.”
Margot placed her hands around her untouched coffee.
“Evelyn prepared these documents.”
“So the photographs suggest.”
“She was my friend.”
Miriam looked up.
“Was?”
Margot felt something break inside her.
“Yes.”
Miriam returned to the revised will.
“Evelyn’s name replacing yours is interesting.”
“Interesting?”
“If Lucas and Evelyn planned everything together, why would he leave a marked draft where her name could be discovered?”
“It was hidden.”
“But not locked.”
Margot stared at her.
Miriam tapped the page.
“There may be another layer.”
“What kind of layer?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Miriam removed a small notebook from her handbag.
“We need to confirm Meridian Advisory Partners, trace the transfers, verify who prepared these drafts, and determine whether Lucas has filed anything without your knowledge.”
“Can we stop him?”
“Possibly. But if we confront him too early, he’ll destroy evidence and claim you misunderstood.”
Margot thought about the phone call.
“The man he was speaking with mentioned destroying old copies.”
“Did you recognize the voice?”
“No.”
“Evelyn has a brother named Adrian. He works as a private document examiner and notary.”
Margot remembered meeting Adrian twice at holiday parties.
He was quiet, polished, and forgettable.
Exactly the kind of person no one noticed.
Miriam leaned closer.
“You must return home and behave normally.”
Margot’s stomach tightened.
“You want me to live with him?”
“For three days. Your anniversary dinner is Friday, correct?”
“Yes.”
“That is when he expects you to sign.”
Miriam closed the folder.
“Let him keep expecting it.”
When Margot returned home that afternoon, Lucas was preparing lunch.
He stood in the kitchen with his sleeves rolled up, slicing tomatoes for the sandwich she had loved since college.
“There you are,” he said. “I was worried.”
Margot placed her handbag on the counter.
“I met Miriam Shaw.”
The knife stopped.
Only for an instant.
Then Lucas continued slicing.
“I didn’t know you still spoke to her.”
“I wanted advice about the anniversary speech.”
“That sounds like Miriam.”
He smiled.
“Always prepared.”
Margot sat across from him.
“Do you trust her?”
Lucas placed a sandwich in front of her.
“I trust you.”
It was a perfect answer.
Once, it would have comforted her.
May you like
Now it sounded like a warning.
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