Chapter 10 - The Copy in Patricia’s Suitcase
Elaine had found the document while helping Patricia unpack at a hotel.
Richard and Daniel were arguing in the hallway. Vanessa was trying to calm the children. Patricia ordered Elaine to locate medication inside the cream-colored suitcase.
Beneath a false lining, Elaine discovered a sealed envelope.
She recognized Emily’s grandmother’s name.
“I didn’t read everything,” Elaine said. “But I saw Wrenfield Residential Holdings, Margaret Carter, and Michael Vale.”
Arthur asked, “Did you take the document?”
Elaine shook her head.
“I photographed the first two pages.”
She handed over her phone.
The images were slightly blurred, but readable.
The disputed will appeared genuine at first glance.
Margaret’s signature stood at the bottom.
The document granted equal controlling authority to Emily Carter and Michael Vale upon Margaret’s death.
However, another page appeared behind it.
Not part of the will.
A handwritten letter.
My dearest Emily,
If this reaches you through anyone except Arthur, then the protections have failed.
Emily’s chest tightened.
“Can you enlarge it?”
Elaine zoomed in.
Only the top portion was visible.
Michael will come when the northern land becomes valuable. Do not believe that ownership is his only interest.
The rest of the page had been hidden beneath Patricia’s hand in the photograph.
Arthur looked devastated.
“You’ve seen that letter before,” Emily said.
“No.”
“You recognize it.”
“I recognize Margaret’s handwriting.”
“Why would Patricia have it?”
Elaine answered.
“Daniel gave her the envelope.”
Emily felt something close inside her.
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
Arthur examined the image.
“The envelope may have come from Daniel’s locked drawer.”
Emily remembered the document he photographed during the night.
“He found it in this house.”
Arthur looked around.
“Margaret kept records in the cottage.”
“The cottage was demolished.”
“Not everything was removed.”
Emily stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“There was a fireproof archive compartment beneath the old study floor.”
“You never told me.”
“Margaret asked me not to open it unless a claim was filed against the holding company.”
“Did Daniel find it during construction?”
“Possibly.”
Emily remembered one week during the rebuilding process when Daniel took over site supervision. He had told her the contractors discovered old plumbing and needed her to stay away for safety.
For five days, she had not visited.
When she returned, the original study foundation had already been removed.
Daniel had been unusually generous that week.
Flowers.
Dinner.
A surprise weekend trip.
A performance designed to redirect her attention.
Emily gripped the edge of the counter.
“He found the archive.”
Arthur’s face was grim.
“If he did, he may have had access to documents for more than a year.”
Elaine looked between them.
“Richard said Daniel has been meeting someone in the city for months.”
“Michael?” Emily asked.
“He never used a name. Patricia called the man their silent partner.”
The pieces began connecting.
Daniel had not been accidentally drawn into Patricia’s plan.
He had helped build it.
His surprise about the offshore transfer may have been real, but the larger deception was not.
Emily looked at Elaine.
“Why are you helping me?”
Elaine sat down slowly.
“Because Richard knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That Patricia planned to keep your family here until you signed.”
Emily had suspected as much.
Hearing it still hurt.
Elaine continued.
“He said it was not our business. Then he said if Daniel became wealthy, everyone would benefit.”
“Everyone except me.”
Elaine looked ashamed.
“I should have said something before we came.”
“Yes.”
The direct answer surprised her.
Emily did not soften it.
Elaine nodded.
“Yes. You’re right.”
A phone rang.
Elaine looked at the screen.
Richard.
She declined the call.
It rang again.
Then a message appeared.
Where are you?
Another followed.
Mom knows you took pictures.
Elaine’s face went pale.
Arthur said, “You should not return to the hotel.”
“My children are there.”
“How old are they?”
“Sixteen, fourteen, and thirteen.”
“Can they contact you privately?”
Elaine sent a message to her oldest son.
No response.
Richard called again.
This time, Elaine answered on speaker.
“Where are you?” Richard demanded.
“I’m safe.”
“You went back to Emily.”
Elaine remained silent.
Patricia’s voice sounded in the background.
“Ask what she showed them.”
Richard continued.
“Did you photograph Mom’s documents?”
Elaine looked at Emily.
“Yes.”
A crash sounded through the phone.
Patricia took the device.
“You had no right.”
Elaine’s voice shook, but she answered.
“Neither did you.”
“You have no idea what you have interfered with.”
“I know enough.”
“No, you don’t. Emily’s grandmother stole everything from Michael’s family.”
Arthur leaned closer to the phone.
“That allegation has never been proven.”
Patricia laughed.
“Arthur Hale. Still guarding the gate.”
“Return the document.”
“It doesn’t belong to you.”
“It does not belong to you either.”
Patricia’s voice became cold.
“It belongs to the rightful owner.”
Emily spoke.
“Then why was it hidden in your suitcase?”
Silence.
Patricia had not realized Emily was listening.
Finally, she said, “Because your husband trusted me.”
“My husband stole it.”
“Daniel recovered what your grandmother buried.”
“Why didn’t he show me?”
“Because you would have given it to Arthur.”
“And why would that be a problem?”
Patricia answered, “Because Arthur is the reason Michael lost his inheritance.”
Arthur’s face tightened.
Emily looked at him.
Patricia continued.
“Ask Arthur where Michael’s mother died.”
Arthur reached for the phone.
Patricia ended the call.
The kitchen became silent.
Emily turned toward him.
“Where did she die?”
Arthur looked away.
“On the northern property.”
“The land connected to the bypass?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“A fire.”
Emily remembered Margaret’s letter.
Michael will come when the northern land becomes valuable.
“What happened there?” she asked.
Arthur answered carefully.
“Thirty-one years ago, Margaret and Michael’s father jointly controlled several parcels near the northern road. There was a dispute. Records disappeared. A storage building burned.”
“And Michael’s mother?”
“She was inside.”
“Was my grandmother responsible?”
“No.”
“You answered too quickly.”
“Because I investigated it.”
“As her attorney.”
“As someone who was there.”
Emily stared at him.
“You were there when the fire started?”
Arthur looked toward the rain-dark windows.
“No.”
May you like
He paused.
“I arrived before it ended.”
