Chapter 3 - The Trust)
The next morning Margaret called the attorney who had handled Thomas's estate.
Jonathan Reese had known the Cole family for eighteen years.
He answered on the second ring.
"Margaret?"
"I need to know whether anyone has requested a distribution from Sophie's trust."
Silence.
Then Jonathan's professional tone sharpened.
"Why?"
"Please check."
"Give me a minute."
Margaret stood beside her kitchen counter while keys clicked through the phone.
Then Jonathan stopped typing.
"Yes."
Her stomach dropped.
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"Who?"
"The request lists Sophie."
Margaret closed her eyes.
"For how much?"
"Full eligible distribution."
"Two point four?"
"Yes."
"Did she sign it?"
"There's an electronic signature."
Margaret gripped the counter.
"Was my approval attached?"
"No."
"Then nothing moved."
"Correct."
Margaret exhaled.
Thomas had insisted on two trustees for distributions exceeding one hundred thousand dollars.
At the time Sophie had complained that her father was treating her like a child.
Now that restriction might be the only thing protecting her.
Jonathan spoke carefully.
"Margaret, what's happening?"
"I don't know yet."
"Should I freeze everything?"
"Can you?"
"As co-trustee, you can place a temporary dispute hold."
"Do it."
"That will notify Sophie."
"And anyone watching her email?"
"Yes."
Margaret thought quickly.
"Call her instead."
"I don't have authority to conceal notices."
"Then send nothing for one hour."
"I can delay the automated notice while we verify."
"Thank you."
Margaret ended the call.
Then she drove directly to Sophie's house.
This time the front door opened before she knocked.
Vanessa stood there.
"You again."
"I need to see Sophie."
"She's sleeping."
"I'll wait."
"No."
Margaret stared at her.
"Move."
Vanessa smiled.
"Eric said you're not allowed inside without calling."
"I called."
"He didn't answer."
"That's not my problem."
Vanessa started closing the door.
Margaret put one hand against it.
"Tell Sophie her father's attorney needs to speak with her."
Vanessa's expression flickered.
Only for a second.
But Margaret saw it.
"What about?"
"Ask Sophie."
Vanessa stepped back.
"You need to leave."
Margaret did.
But five minutes later Sophie's phone called.
"Mom?"
"Are you alone?"
A pause.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Upstairs."
"Lock the door."
"Mom, you're scaring me."
"Did you request two point four million dollars from Dad's trust yesterday?"
Silence.
Then Sophie laughed nervously.
"What?"
"Did you?"
"No."
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Did you sign any financial documents?"
"Eric had some investment forms."
"When?"
"Two nights ago."
"What were they?"
"I don't know."
"You signed documents you didn't read?"
"I was exhausted."
Margaret tried to keep her voice calm.
"Why were you exhausted?"
"I have a newborn."
"More than usual."
Silence.
Then Sophie whispered.
"I haven't been sleeping."
"Because Emma wakes up?"
"Because Eric keeps saying I need rest."
Margaret frowned.
"That makes no sense."
"He gives me something at night."
Margaret stopped breathing for a moment.
"What?"
"Just something to help me sleep."
"Prescribed by whom?"
"I don't know."
"Sophie."
"Mom, stop."
"Did your doctor prescribe it?"
"I said I don't know."
"Then stop taking it."
"Eric says you're going to do this."
Margaret froze.
"Do what?"
"Make me paranoid."
The sentence sounded rehearsed.
Margaret gripped the steering wheel.
"What else does Eric say about me?"
Sophie did not answer.
"Sweetheart."
"He says you're having trouble since Dad died."
Margaret looked out the windshield.
"He says you need someone to control."
"Do you believe that?"
"I don't know."
That hurt.
But Margaret refused to let it change her voice.
"Okay."
"You're angry."
"No."
"You sound angry."
"I'm scared."
"Of Eric?"
"Yes."
The line went silent.
Then a floorboard creaked near Sophie.
Her breathing changed.
"Someone's coming."
"Sophie."
"I have to go."
"Do not take anything Eric gives you tonight."
The call ended.
Margaret immediately called Jonathan.
"Freeze the trust."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Effective immediately?"
"Immediately."
Jonathan typed.
"It's done."
Margaret looked toward Sophie's street.
"What happens next?"
"The requester receives notice that the distribution requires review."
"How quickly?"
"Minutes."
Margaret glanced at the house.
She saw movement behind an upstairs curtain.
Then her phone rang.
Eric.
She answered.
He did not say hello.
"What did you do?"
Margaret leaned back in her seat.
"I protected my daughter's money."
"You had no right."
"I have every right. I'm the co-trustee."
"Sophie requested that money."
"No, she didn't."
"She signed."
"While you were giving her something to sleep."
Silence.
Margaret knew she had hit the truth.
Eric's voice changed.
"You need to stay away from my family."
"Sophie is my family."
"Not anymore."
Margaret smiled without humor.
"That's not how family works."
"You have no idea what you're getting involved in."
Margaret thought of Laura.
"Actually, Eric, I'm beginning to."
The line went dead.
Ten minutes later Jonathan called again.
"Margaret."
"What?"
"Someone just submitted a second document."
"What document?"
"A request to remove you as co-trustee."
Margaret stared through the windshield.
"On what grounds?"
Jonathan hesitated.
"Alleged cognitive impairment."
Margaret laughed once.
"You must be joking."
"I'm not."
"Who signed it?"
"Sophie."
Margaret's smile disappeared.
Jonathan continued.
"There's also an attached statement."
"What does it say?"
"That you've become increasingly irrational, aggressive, and unsafe around the baby."
Margaret felt the world become very quiet.
May you like
Then Jonathan said the worst part.
"It includes a video."
