Chapter 4 - The Original
Rebecca Sloan had been Thomas Carter’s attorney for twenty-six years.
When Daniel was younger, he considered her part of the background machinery of adulthood.
Mortgages.
Wills.
Contracts.
Estate papers.
She had attended Thomas’s funeral and stood quietly beside the back row.
Afterward, she handed Daniel a card and told him to call if he ever needed anything.
He never had.
Until three days before Lily’s birthday.
Daniel had been reviewing an old trust tax statement when he noticed something unusual.
The trust identification number on the statement did not match the one appearing on a recent annual report Margaret had given him.
He called Rebecca.
Her response had been immediate.
“Do not discuss this with Margaret.”
That was when Daniel understood the problem might be larger than accounting.
Now Rebecca sat in her office across town staring at the black file Thomas had ordered her never to open unless specific conditions occurred.
Those conditions were handwritten.
If Margaret seeks control over Lily’s trust.
If Daniel’s authorization is disputed.
If withdrawals occur without educational purpose.
If my family begins using one child’s future to reward another.
Rebecca had read those lines three times.
Thomas had anticipated everything.
But there was something worse.
The file contained two trust agreements.
One was the public version Daniel knew.
The other was a private amendment.
Lily’s educational trust had never been only an educational trust.
It was connected to a larger structure.
A holding company.
Land.
Shares.
Investment accounts.
Thomas had hidden part of his estate from his own wife.
Rebecca disliked secrets.
But she understood why some existed.
She picked up the sealed envelope.
FOR DANIEL, WHEN MARGARET STEALS AGAIN.
Again.
That word bothered her most.
It meant Lily had not been the first.
Rebecca checked her watch.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Rebecca Sloan.”
Silence.
“Hello?”
A distorted voice spoke.
“Do not bring Thomas Carter’s file to Daniel’s house.”
Rebecca froze.
“Who is this?”
The line went dead.
She immediately called Daniel.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Then she called Aaron Blake.
They had spoken earlier because Aaron’s dealership appeared in the trust transaction.
“Aaron.”
“Yes?”
“Are you still going to Daniel’s?”
“I’m ten minutes away.”
“Stay there.”
“What’s wrong?”
May you like
Rebecca looked toward her office door.
“I think someone knows we found the original.”
