Chapter 8 - Her Mother’s Signature
Nora stared at Helen’s name until the letters lost their shape.
Her mother had spent the last years of her life insisting she knew nothing about Caleb’s disputes with the Cresswell family.
She had said Caleb became paranoid.
She had said grief made him reckless.
She had said his final months were filled with secret meetings and imagined enemies.
After Caleb died, Helen married Mason.
Nora had never forgiven her for moving so quickly.
But she had not believed her mother might have been paid.
Evelyn read the ledger page twice.
“This could be fabricated.”
“It has my father’s handwriting at the top.”
“That does not mean he wrote every entry.”
Nora pointed to Helen’s name.
“Two hundred thousand dollars.”
“We need context.”
“My mother received money from the people threatening my father.”
“We do not know that.”
Nora turned away.
She remembered the final argument she had witnessed between her parents.
Caleb had stood in the kitchen holding a bank statement.
Helen had been crying.
Nora had heard only fragments.
You promised.
They know where Nora is stationed.
I was trying to protect her.
At the time, Nora thought the argument was about Caleb’s legal fight.
Now every word felt different.
Pike entered the room after speaking with the paramedics.
“Claire is going to the hospital. She has a concussion, but they think she’ll recover.”
Nora handed him the ledger page.
He saw his father’s name near the top.
Thomas Pike.
Amount received: thirty thousand dollars.
Pike lowered the paper.
“My father never had that kind of money.”
“Maybe he refused it,” Evelyn said.
“There’s no mark showing who accepted or refused.”
Pike continued reading.
His eyes stopped.
“Dale Mercer is listed.”
“How much?” Nora asked.
“Nothing. It says collateral.”
Nora thought of Luke’s disappearance.
“His son.”
Pike nodded.
A voice sounded from the hallway.
“You people enjoy stealing documents.”
Mason stood near the doorway with Sheriff Cresswell beside him.
Mason’s expensive suit was wrinkled, and rage had stripped away his charm.
Cresswell looked calm.
That made him more dangerous.
“This office is closed pending investigation,” the sheriff said.
Evelyn placed the ledger page inside her briefcase.
“Investigation of what?”
“Arson, assault and theft.”
“Then you should arrest whoever attacked Claire Bennett.”
“We’re determining what happened.”
Nora stepped toward him.
“Start with Mason.”
Mason laughed.
“She breaks into my sale, attacks my broker’s employee and accuses me?”
“I did not attack Claire.”
“Can you prove it?”
Pike spoke.
“She arrived after the alarm.”
Cresswell looked at him.
“Did I ask for your opinion, Deputy?”
“No, sir.”
“Then return to your patrol.”
Pike did not move.
Cresswell’s smile faded.
“Now.”
Pike slowly left.
Mason pointed at Evelyn’s briefcase.
“That belongs to me.”
“No,” Evelyn said.
“It came from my transaction file.”
“It concerns criminal payments and property fraud.”
Cresswell extended his hand.
“Give it to me.”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“Sheriff, I sent a digital copy to three separate law firms before you entered the room.”
Cresswell’s hand remained extended.
“Then you won’t mind giving me the original.”
“I mind very much.”
For several seconds, the room was silent.
Then Mason turned to Nora.
“Your mother warned me about you.”
Nora’s voice became quiet.
“My mother is dead. Don’t use her to hide behind.”
“She knew what your father really was.”
“And what was that?”
Mason smiled.
“A thief.”
Nora nearly crossed the distance between them.
Evelyn caught her arm.
Mason enjoyed the reaction.
“Caleb stole from the Cresswells. Records, money, land documents. Your mother found out. That’s why she helped me clean up his mess.”
Nora looked at Cresswell.
“Is that the story you paid him to tell?”
The sheriff’s expression did not change.
Mason stepped closer.
“Ask Evelyn why your father left her a sealed letter.”
Nora turned toward Evelyn.
The attorney’s face revealed the truth before she spoke.
“There is a letter,” Evelyn admitted.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Caleb instructed me to deliver it only if the survivorship deed was challenged.”
“It has been challenged.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“In my hotel safe.”
May you like
Mason laughed softly.
“You may want to read it before you decide which dead parent to worship.”
